New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-11

cal agitation and to the harassmehss
OF conflicting authority because Oh
varied state legislation and state com
missions. We ought TO put the entire
railway service under interstate con
troll Such a policy would save MIL
lions in public expense and put US on
a broad plane. The law making IN
dustry is too often worked overtime
The country needs to-day less legisia,,
tive bills pending and more railroad
bills of lading. 80
"A general rate advance VIII NOT
bling the complete revival OF AMER
can activity, but it will save the crash
of the temple of transportation, es-
tablish railway credit, and lead TO tina.
physical rehabilitation which is OF
prime Importance in mlnisterlng 10
greater American activities. Govern
mental assistance in the hour OF neeu
will be new assurance that IL is hot
the function or the purpose OF gov
eminent to destroy, but to foster and
protect"
Chance for Statesmen.
Mr.. Harrison began his address by
telling the diners that the railroad SIT
nation had now swung from the ex-
IRENE of irresponsible ownership TO the
other extreme Of irresponsible pubic
power.
Like the previous stage Of irrespon-
sible private control, the existing sys-
tenn Of irresponsible, rigid and divided
regulation cannot permanently endure,
he said "My present purpose is not TO
venture to suggest the solution, but the
source from which an acceptable solu-
tion must come. A solution is not II e-
ly to be accepted il the suggestion
comes from the railroad manager, be
cause he is still supposed to look az
only one side of the question and TO De
by selfish interest. lt can
not come from the mere politician, pc
cause of his temptation to keep the
question unsolved as a means OF easy
political agitation and as valuable
asset for temporary political adVan-
tage: ..
"The problem is a statesmsn's oppor-
tunity. He who solves it must be
trusted by all the people. He must
be above the suspicion of selfish mo-
tive. All the lessons of history must
be at his command. He must be a
profound student of human action and
Of human government. He must have
power 10 impress his views upon his
fellowmen. He must be able, with just
and equal hand, to divide unto Capital
and unto Labor its living.
"He must be able to assure the pub
lie of the correction of abuses, the es-
adjustment of justice and the main
tenance Of facilities adequate for
their needs, and he must be able to
assure the private owner of protection
of his Just interests and the fairness
Of his Just rights. He must be able TO
reconcile the people to mis- philosophy
Of regulation and the politician to the
loss of a highly valued political asset.
Is there a m among US who is capa-
bic of this?
Up TO President.
IL venture to suggest that the present
President of the United States is equal
to this great achievement. The time
seems ripe for him to undertake it. He
has recently in an impressive way
shown publicly a sympathetic apprecia-
ton of the railroad situation. The fact
thus made evident, that he has grasped
the point of view from which solu-
ton of this problem must be ap-
preached, has aroused in the minds of
many the hope that before laying down
the rens of government he will pro-
pose and work out some constructive
plan that will give stability to railroad
and growth"
At the afternoon business meeting
George A. Post was reelected presi-
dent; s. p. Bush. of Columbus, Ohio;
A. b. Johnson, of Philadelphia; W. G.
Pearce, of New York; w. II. Getting
ham, Of Clevelsnd; W. B. Leach, of
Boston, and f. B. Leigh, Of Chicago,