Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-19
THE UNREWARDED LABOR
OF FRANKLIN K. LANE
Another Man Who, Being Rich In Sym.
pathy and Understanding, Had
TO Die Relatively Poor


AN ARDENT and generous and sipsu-
"A larry gifted spirit passed out OF the
public life Of the country with the sudden
death of Franklin X. Lane. No man iden
tilted with the administrative affairs of the
Government in the present generation re-
fected more clearly than he the quality OF
wise and devoted citizenship. He worked
hard and successfully in the service OF the
country and died poor
Lane was a progressive in politics with
out the habit OF unquestionng allegiance
that so often binds good minds to bad causes
and destroys the critical faculty in otherwise
rational men. He was recognized, liked and
trusted by Roosevelt, who appointed him to
place in the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion--an agency Of Government which he
believed in and fought for at time when
almost oil other lawyers regarded it with
resentment and suspicion
IL it we're possible to define the philosophy
that animated him in his public service it
might be said to be a belief iu the need Of
better political expression for the everyday
concerns of the crowd.
1t was Lane who first proposed TO Mr..
Wilson the scheme for an industrial con
ference organized to formulate in public o
humani5ed philosophy OF industrial rela
tionships. He merely carried forward and
expanded the principle successfully demon
strated in the beneficial operation Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
The work done by the industrial commits
sons under Hoover's direction has been
almost forgotten. At least it has been gen
orally ignored. But it will be appreciated
in the future, because men of all sorts in
the ranks of capital and labor and in the
opposed social and industrial groups will
gnr aAttr MI thair hor md
futile conflicts, to find guidance and some
thing like general peace through the codes
Of action formulated at the suggestion of an
unassuming Cabinet member.
Lane did more than any other man
quietly to untanse the unhappy complicn
tions that grew out Of our informal invasion
OF Mexico after the Wilson Huerta deadlock.
He presided at a conference of American
and Mexican commissioners and proved
equal to the task of placatinc a pnssionately
angry group of ENJOYS who were convinced
that the United States had at last luuged
southward after their oil and their silver
Personally. the former Secretary of the
Interior was one of the least ostentatious
of men. He died believing in the actual
practice between man and man. in politics
and in business, of the rule of equity Too
few agreed with him. Too few would agree
with him now. But sooner or later it will
be apparent to everybody that wisdom in its
ultimate form must find expression in the
tolerance. the unseihShness and the charity
that were his characteristics.
The United States is. OF course. not with
out many men Of a similar type. But the
distressing thing to observe is the difficulty
that they meet with in getting audiences
to say nothing OF disciples and followers.
In the organizations of industry, in the labor
unions, among fnanciers. in conspicuous and
isolated social groups. they are a small but
persistent and growing minority Until
they attain far more influence than they
have now we shall not have social or indus
trial peace or anything like a right national
spirit.
Too many of these pioneers will die poor
or, at least, poorer by far than those who
oppose them. But they will continue to rise
and to object at labor meetings among cap
tains of industry. in bankers meetings or
wherever they happen to be associated.
They will be eternally at war with any one
who believes that it is right for him or his
particular group to endeavor to monopolize
the social and economic advantages of the
times They are the universally minded men
who will save the day for our present civil.
zation II anything can save II. For they
know that any institution, any code. any
political or economic creed. any social stand.
ard that is established without care for the
common moralities reflected in q decent re.
gard for the other fellow and the under dog
must collapse after t,iumphs accidental and
short
The relative poverty in which Franklin X.
Lane died will seem tragic to many people.
But he could have been rich had he so
desired He NAV have preferred relative
poverty. Occasionally you will find in public
life man who regards wealth as A too
costly luxury.
Lincoln be it recalled left an estate of
only $4,000. But he left something far
greater than riches for the inheritance of
his family and his fellow countrymcn.