Speech

if 0 -€4-0,--14•• COMPLIMENTS OF' Ebe Eraffic (Nub of fpittsburgb ADDRESS IH1 DELIVERED AT THE FIFTH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE TRAFFIC CLUB OF PITTSBURGH AT HOTEL SCHENLEY, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 1907 BY MELVILLE E. INGALLS CHARLES S. HAMLIN W. A. TERRY 12 for your Company and not for your personal aggrandizement, you are the men to preach this new gospel and produce a higher and better condition of affairs. You would think to-day from the interviews emanating from Wall Street that the railways are ruined; you would think from the interviews of the politicians and the dem- ADDRESS agogues that railway honor had departed from this earth; OF you would think from the interviews that you read in foreign papers, where probably the wish is father to the thought, that HON. CHARLES S. I—IA/VIL,IN the day of American expansion and development had gone— CORPORATION COUNSEL, BOSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Bos- that we were unable to manage such large affairs—but if you TON, MASS., DELIVERED AT THE FIFTH ANNUAL DINNER are faithful to your trust; if you have patience; if you have OF THE TRAFFIC CLUB OF PITTSBURGH, HELD integrity, as I believe you have, you will outlive all these AT HOTEL SCHENLEY, FRIDAY EVENING, attacks—all these severe criticisms, and see a better day dawn APRIL 26TH, 1907. for the railway interests of this country, and for yourselves as managers of those •interests. Mr. President and Gentlemen: To this end every man—whether a shipper or an in- dividual—every man who loves his country—every man who It was a great pleasure to me to receive your kind invita- loves fair play—should join in aiding and abetting. tion to attend this dinner. As a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, whose best greetings I bring to you, I eagerly embraced the opportunity offered of meeting the members of this famous organization- and of seeing at close range this marvellous city, with its wealth of enterprise, public and private, and filled with a people whose indomitable energy and character have made it stand forth as one of •the most prosperous cities of the world. I have had opportunities before this of observing the keen interest shown by the people of Pittsburgh in all matters affecting their interest. For years I have met delegations from Pittsburgh at the Conventions of the National Board of Trade at Washington and their ability, energy, and earnest- ness in behalf of what they believe to be the best interests of their city and State has always called forth my wonder and admiration. The people of Boston look upon the prosperity of Pitts- burgh without envy. We realize indeed that Nature has been lavish in her gifts, but at the same time we recognize that there are deeper causes of your success—causes founded on the character and indomitable energy of your people. While, as I have said, we do not envy you your prosper- ity, we do, however, wish to emulate you. We have to face in New England serious handicaps, some natural, some im- posed upon us. We are far removed from the sources of the raw materials of manufacture, which a manufacturing com- munity must have; our natural advantage of proximity to the sea is in a large measure taken from us by the operation of national laws whose policy we almost as a unit deprecate. 14 15 There are, however, two factors which contribute in large part to the existing prosperty of Massachusetts, and these every dollar's worth of goods we buy of her, she buys over are: — two dollars' worth of us. First, the marvellous skill of our labor, and secondly We hear much of the necessity of increasing trade with the fostering care of our railroads in giving us low rates upon South America; Canada buys of us each year more than the our raw materials of manufacture and at the same time people of Mexico, Central America and South America com- bined. carrying our finished products at rates which put us on an equality in competitive markets with other more favored The people of Massachusetts earnestly desire, among communities. other things, that coal may be made reciprocally free of duty At a time when other portions of our country joined in between Canada and the United States. We know that this indignant protest, which soon turned almost into a hue and would be of benefit to us especially when there is a shortage cry, against the railroads, forgetting, for the time, in their in the United States. It will not be difficult to show that it natural indignation at certain acts which sober judgment will be of equal benefit to Pennsylvania. must condemn, that the railroad is a great and effective power Last year Canada bought of us about five million tons for industrial prosperity—the people of Massachusetts re- of bituminous coal; we bought from her only one and a half million tons. mained silent, placing implicit trust and confidence in the managers of the railroad properties of New England. Our In other words, Canada buys over three tons of bitumin- people realize fully that the prosperity of our railroads is a ous coal from us for every ton we buy of her. On every ton necessary pre-requisite to the prosperity of our State; and, we import from Canada we hive to pay duty to our govern- conversely, our railroad managers keenly appreciate the fact ment, and similarly, every ton of bituminous coal imported that the lasting prosperity of the railroads can come only out into Canada must pay duties to the Canadian government. of the prosperity of the community they serve. It is not an over estimate to state that last year over a million The State of Pennsylvania is equally fortunate with dollars of duties were paid to the Canadian government by Massachusetts in the character of her railroad officials. They Canadian railroads alone on bituminous coal imported from are men of heroic mould, well fitted to cope with and solve the United States. If this duty could be abolished, it would in a satisfactory manner the important problems with which be of great benefit to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and other they are confronted. I can well say that if all of the railroad coal producing States. officials of the country were of the high standing and character From a point a little to the west of Montreal to a point of Charles S. Mellen of the New York, New Haven and Hart- three or four hundred miles west of Winnipeg, the great bulk ford R. R., of Lucius Tuttle of the Boston & Maine R. R., of of the coal consumed in 'Canada is imported from the United the late lamented President of the Pennsylvania R. R., Mr. States and a large part of this supply comes from the mines Cassatt, of the present President, Mr. McCrea, and Mr. of Pensylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and other States. Thayer, the Vice President, the existing distrust and prejudice The extensive developments in all lines of industry now against our railroads would have died before it had been born. in progress in Canada are governed as to location largely by The people of Massachusetts desire the help of our the cost and advantages in securing fuel. The general de- friends in Pennsylvania in working out our industrial salva- velopment of that part of Canada contiguous to the coal tion. We feel it to be imperative for our future welfare that fields of Pennsylvania will develop a large volume of trade we increase our trade with the great country lying to the between Pennsylvania and Canada, not only in coal, but in north of us—The Dominion of Canada. many. other lines of commerce. It should not be forgotten Few realize how far Canada projects southward into the that coal territories in other States are being developed with United States. At a point near Windsor, Ontario, Canada which it may become difficult for the operators in western reaches down almost to the. latitude of Providence, Rhode Pennsylvania to compete on account of disadvantages in dis- Island. tance, whereas the comparatively short distance between the Next to the United Kingdom and Germany, Canada is western Pennsylvania coal fields and Canada makes Canadian our best customer. territory a natural and logical market for the coal product of The Canadians bought of us last year over one hundred western Pennsylvania. and fifty-seven million dollars of our products, while we I must not forget, however, that the subject of my ad- bought of her only sixty-eight millions. That is to say, for dress this evening is the Public Duties of the Citizen, upon which subject I want to speak to you briefly: — 16 17 The citizen has various duties, just as he has various 1898, provided that: "The United States will * * * send rights and privileges, but the burden of my theme—the back to Spain at its own cost, the Spanish soldiers." principal thought running through what I have to say to- This notable change in the usage of the words serves to night is that wherever there exists a civic right or privilege, illustrate well the apparent change in the spirit of the people. there also is a corresponding duty or obligation; that the We hear much at the present time as to the need of in- former is but the complement or the supplement of the latter; creased Federal power, such increase to be accompanied neces- that the two together make a united whole. sarily with a corresponding decrease in power existing, or The citizen owes allegiance to no personal sovereign or supposed to exist, in the individual States. Some earnest, ruler; he owes the highest allegiance to the government, public-spirited citizens believe that Federal power under the State and National, which his fathers created for him. There Constitution has been exhausted with the enactment of pres- is no conflict in this two-fold allegiance; it is recognized and ent laws, and that a more comprehensive grant of power is affirmed in the United States Constitution. The citizen needed. Others believe that the power already possessed by should render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's. the National Government is ample for present and future At different times of our National life, popular attention needs and that further exercise of this power is simply a has been concentrated, even for long periods of time, upon question of national expediency. Others seem to wish State one of these dual systems of government to the partial or to powers to be curtailed in spite of constitutional limitations, the almost total eclipse, in the popular interest, at least of if any there be. the other. At the foundation of the government under the It is not my purpose to-night to discuss the scope of the Constitution, the National idea, of necessity, came to the commerce clause of the Constitution, nor the laws passed to front, for a National Government had been created. The carry out the purposes of that clause, as interpreted by the people of the Sovereign States surrendered with much courts. Let it suffice to say that wherever there exists in reluctance a part of their sovereign power. The great builders fact interstate commerce, that commerce is subject to the of the Constitution created a new Nation and under the in- constitutional control of the Federal Government. terpretation of the great jurists, Wilson, Marshall, Webster Nor is it my purpose to discuss here to-night the legal and others, its growth has been steady and sure. proposition whether or not Congress has the present power to develop along the lines of increasing centralization, apparent- While at times the national idea, so-called, has been ly so dear to the hearts of many people The theme I wish obscured it as a whole has steadily broadened and developed. to discuss is the advisability of extending in a constitutional It finally came into conflict with the extreme States Rights manner national control to subjects over which it has no Doctrine, and out of that collision came the Civil War, from presentjurisdiction. Such centralization, in my opinion, even which the national idea emerged triumphant. The so-called if made lawful, as to concrete instances, would not, if applied States Rights Doctrine no longer, as once, marks the line of generally, enure to the welfare of the people, but would in- division between the two great political parties. In fact, to- evitably result in radical, revolutionary changes in our govern- day it serves, if the prevailing popular expression can be ment. trusted, but as a kind of pound to hold in restraint or to There are many to-day who demand Federal control over furnish shelter to a few knights errant who have strayed from insurance; others plead for a National divorce law; others the ranks of the hosts of triumphant nationalism. clamor to have the Ntional Government take over the control A striking example of this growth of the national idea of all forms of corporate activity, ultimately resulting in in- is afforded by the use of the term "The United States." In terstate commerce, even to the point of controlling production the early years of the' Nation these words were always used within the States, thus interfering with the most important in the plural; in modern times, however, the words almost domestic relations between 'the States and the individual invariably take the singular. For example, article nine, of citizens. the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain, concluded in 1814, In short, to many estimable citizens there seems to be an provided that "The United States of America engaged to put eternal, hopeless conflict between the National and the State an end * * * to hostilities * * * with all the Indians Governments, which can be abated only by reducing the with whom they may be at war. States to a condition of subordination scarcely consistent with On the other hand, article five of the Treaty of Peace be- any sovereign rights. Is such radical centralization necessary tween the United States and Spain, concluded in December, for the welfare of the people? Is it necessary to our salvation 18 19 a i w b i d t G n l n e h u h o d d m i c a v i i h o t t c v e v i , A s h i i r g p t t d d c h n m o u o u l m t w d a n a a y h e i l t l e y e s r n a r a c o S d t n o s i l t v s o u t t l a i t h t t i r i t s o o s z o n e a b e u e u g s l b e t n l s a l , ? a e d y e i r v t t w f e o b d s e o i n e o e s r y v w m t e o g o d n u h r i l u i s e e f v d n f u l t , e g i m n y n s c , i r i u e u e n f l t t g t p c u o t o r o l t o r e o e g e o n m d n n w s r i o i o t r c z u u n n e o e d l x g g e m e e e h t m t s s r S h a u e c t i a a t n c i l a t s o t i s s t i e t l e t o f d i o s a o i n f e . w x b s i a s t y n , a t h d E w n e m t i t v h y i h v h e i l i e g e i c n d s h f e h u e t t F a x a i e o l p m n p n d f e i d r e c n a g o t t r o s r v h h h a n e d e e t e l - l o f p a a o N a f u o f n a m t r r t d o t o p m p i r h n o i r i F o s e s t o n , i g n e d p y n a t i i s e a l t a s r n . r l h x e G l t o e e d c y y o s t w e , , s v , e e c e e i a w m o v n x r s l e e e i n l r o d s t e a m r s t o c l d e i h n t n e o n e e w S g r u d t c t h , l e a t i a t g d t s o c s h i e s , h e v s a d h . i i r o a r t n n y i v h g a g e t e f h w h r b o t a t e e a r o o y c w i f t k s e i h w i n e s t i a m i a o t d p r c h o g o t t r m p s h t e u e l i h a o r a n e t S f e w g t l p s l o a a y a a u t l i r c l e r n l e k s f o t s n c u a s e o a a l x u r f l t a l v c i t a i u n h o i c n n e n o k g i a p e n f l o , d o t o r s f d l o r t i e m i u a r g t o i n e i n h n t i c s d e s - y t - d a o i s f v a i t d h Y u w e e a h t l o o t l n t h e e h e e e r t d . h f e a a r c m O e t o n i n m s g u a t s l h t m t e h o e w s b i t s e d e e v a r l e s e l r t c a o q d l g u i n e S v i s t e z t a r e s t i i e d o t s n y . s t h o a a f f t f o e a p c p i t p n i a i n r o g e n n t a t h l n e y d p o m e f o a p n i l n y e - U c — n h a i a t n s I e g i f d e n s g S t l h t w e i a e s t g e o s w u v . n o e i u r f l n o d m r e m s n i e t t c y , u r i c e n o e u w f l h f d a e c t t b , , e a o p v s p e e a r c r u e t r n h e t e d l y w , h b o m y l a e n c e y o x n t s w e t o n i u t t l u o d t f i o l t n i h a k e e l s o b w o n e o l e u u c l t o L S e d n e t l v a t y w e t n e o e u i l v s e i c e n n r o s t b t m t , r h e e i a r e a l f o d a l o w l y n o m g f t o c h s t f o e t h o n r e s e t a i x y l n d i - i e f s n o r i t e b v s i l e n w i . g o t h e f e f r S r o a u u e r t n c i m i h o f t n o o h a r f e o m f c g i a h o t S p a y v t p , n e a l g t i r b c e e n u a m t t l m e i i i i n n o t g e t n w s h . o t c o u r f i l e n d a d t t e a h i e b i n d s - g a w o W u u i o t r l r h s d o W o p s r e n o i o o , u t p f l w y l h t d e — h o ? a s s t u e I c e w h m b o i e r a n l d e ie s g n v o t e h v a e e n v x r o e p n t o . m l u a e n t n O d e t l e n y r b b e t o e h f e e f n o t r c h q o e t u n h o C t e o r t n a e s r b d t y e i , s b t t y t u o t i t i n h q o t e n e u r , o h e t i J s e g t a h s m t e e h s o s e t f m w a s r h f t w m q s g s t e i a o n u u h o e i o p o h l r a s p e n d v c e m s a o l f t i e c t h t e i i n n W a b s n f i i W f x h a o a t o g o o i S o e t d a s i t t r n t e u c t f i i i v o v o s h a s a f o s e y s e u t e f t t n s t s e p i h r i t h e o o a h h t r d c o u o q s e f f l u e o e n e l a u a u l s s b u l c e a w n s l S t r l i p c e l l l u y d d t a e o o d e o i a e d . f c a p e n f f n o r m n f o a t r n i t d p e f h n r e l e e t u c r l d o f i a a s i s s a n n a t r e l g m o a v t e i t c i h e i l t p n e h f c i t c e p h o t h e o t o n a y r n e d a a i t s e s r i s n e l b r t v t o y m e f s e h o i e h e o i f a d i i c a f v t t e a e f t d n t n e v a r t r w y e t o l u d s s e k S t o e e n e r a p e t h t w n s e r d a w e o e a o e i t ; o n a o a x n t n n s a x i d u e i e w l a d e o w c i l v r n s n c c h t c l a o c d i w a t f i u e h y t i t m t t l o l d c h e s h e i o c l n o e r e h m e f o z e y a a c s d i b d e . . r t r t p n t n n r e o i v r o r f s i i r o o o y c e e m t I S r g s n t s l w o t n . h o o i a u i e e m a t t n f l m s d c s t h g e f . e t t e s e i l T o o n i t d o s c v u t a r o h m h i i S e i c n w f e e e p t t t a n s h s f r h i t a l a e s i f e z S h t t r c m u C s o s e t e e e i e f o o c r a n l a s o n f o n v r s e n c t n t C r b s i e t c o e a c n a l t o b r t h s u l a e g i S i e n i o e r n e g t t r r g n a r t . a a t u s l e r g r s v t t h t t ; i p i e i o e o i h e a s r g I s o s t i o s l a n e h o n n s , n l e n s e t - t c n a s t r m b e t t d w o r h i h e e y x e h a h n e n e o p n e w p n t o i s u o d C o g r s s l e l s e m o I " E u d e a t o e f d n n e o u l v T n r r r , s c d t s a e y a e d o i o t i b ? i t h t x w d e r u i e e e i i l t o s r s t y s s s o s e u e w u g n W u n t n o t e m a c t c r q a p h h t f i r i v a o u o a u t e p o i t e u e n o s a n o t i n l l f l r t t d t t t z h r a n d e i r , h e h e e l t t o f u e e n b d e h t i t s p x c e C C e e h w u r s e b h p o f o . d d i o c c h l a r n u U y n r t p e u o h s e n t a n i g f h e t u t s u f g t i n t r i r l i t e r a e h t d e o l i t d v n t e e n s e s n y n u i t o , t d . s g t g c o p h e b i t w o o m f e S a e x e o h c r n h C o t o l t n e o s e a p a m o r i o . m u i a t l r u a o n n m e l d e e e e o r x g s p e d s n s r i e t o r , t i c t d t t c g s o e n o h w i u u b c o e g n i u n t o t n a e t l v a s d l a i r h u r h e c e d r v e t a e l e p t u r y f e h t m d a g s u p n a i F t u t o l d s t o m t d e i h l h c v e u n e t d n e y t e h p e c e c e n d h m a r h t r d r e t w e p n a r n e a h c s h e o t n a d m l e l e e e b c s w m e d a x e t m e y e d e s e r t G n h s ? a e p n e r r o t s e d o p t a t o v a s r h t o s a s f o r e J y t i a r i r y v u s r o m f f s d s t s e e o i n p t m o m l t b l r r n g . e m o d e y a e a r " m e w e n t a w r e t t n h b e r d s s y a h o e s e t - r n o , , t e f t o o f s a u n W W W p y e e e e r c s o s s s e u h h h d r o o o e t u u u l l l t t d d d h h e r h h h o a a l a u v v a v g e e w e h s t o t t o o u o o t f p f r t r t t o a a h h v k m e e i e e d U i e u n n a n d i f i d n o t v a e r e i t r d t d i h u o n S e a n a t l a s t a l e i t S r o e t c v n a s o i a t : d c l e e e s c . o o o f f n t l c r e r o g i l a m l i a n p l a r l l o p c l r e a o s w - s o o m b t f e u h n r t e t d h r T i e e o n h p n s e a u b r o S l W m f a i y a n c t , t h r w o e w o i D D P r t e h o k h i p m s l a , i i r r n p i i t p v s g m e i o e r f n . a e n i a s t r , n , l d t y e h s n e h t g a a r C r g o a b g s n o e s a r r e l i d i n Z m g o w p n i r u t e o n h , v d e a e t m r n h e d e t n h C t m e t s a t n a b a d a a n d , g i d n e t o i m w t o e i n n t t a h o t l s o i d u f n u p c g e t p i r i W r n v o o t e i n d e s , u r e s c s w d h t t h o a i e b t u o t e y l n h d c e t w o h r h o m a e c u m v o l e F e r d e r p t d c o o e h e r r r a a , a e v t a l g e e n u o G l d t r a o o t t v p o e e r b r i t d e v h n o a e m t t t e a e p h n k , r i e i t s i v n n . e a f a t o f e n v e y c e l t i r i w v , v e a e s r l y e o y g , f c u o e t l n v h a t e e t e r e p m y d e p k o l a i p a n n l t d e d - c t I p o o n u r b d r l i m u i a e T p c n n h t t m e i a i a o f o t f n I n a t n i r t e r t e e r s r c h s , i e e p o n n r a t p o t l u D w e y b n e l u t a p i s n s c a , e s r a i l A t r g a l m t n n a e h e d s e d n k d s t a t . y , o h s a a t i s t n e , m d a a , l m l t w h o i i e t n t c o g h a t n h w t e h h d r e i o c T v h e t a r o s a r t r i m e t f a o r p n r a e i a u n e g d s s e , i a o n t n n o h s d t e , o d f iv o t r h W c e e e U l s n a h i w o t s u e . l d d S h t a a v t e e s t o b e y n ac e t n a a c t na i t n i g o n n a a l t l i a on w a a l s t m o a r t r h i e a g d e e sc a e n n d t v c i u c p e i , e T c d h o e a w s i t t D h e s p u t a r h v r e e t y c m , e e n n f s i t u s s h o e , f r b i e u C s r o , e m i a m m u e m o i r f g c r e n a a t v a i i n o g n d a , t i C L o h a n i b , n o l e r i s g e h i s t e h x w o c e u l l s u l e s i s o o e n c r , - - 20 the bureau of labor, the investigation of corporations, and 21 other important branches. The statement is often made that the President of the The Treasury . Department, almost broken down with United States is the representative, the only representative of work, has only recently had to be relieved by giving many of the whole American people, and that accordingly it is fitting its duties to the new department of Commerce ana Labor. to place in his hands the almost illimitable powers which in- The State Ddpartment seems fairly well occupied in creased centralization would entail. The claim that President managing the foreign affairs of the country. Jackson was the representative of the whole American people It may be replied that new departments could be created. was thus answered by Daniel Webster in a speech delivered A little reflection, however, must surely satisfy one that such in New York City— new departments, necessitating the employment of perhaps "In addition to the establishment of this power of un- thousands of national officers and inspectors, would not be, limited and causeless removal, another doctrine has been put in the long run, for the best interests of our people. forth, more vague it is true, but altogether unconstitutional, It should not be forgotten that there may be almost as and tending to like dangerous results. In some loose, in- much danger to the Republic from national centralization definite and unknown sense the President has been called the carried to the extreme limits as from the extreme expression representative of the whole American people. He has called of the States Rights doctrine which so nearly overthrew the himself so repeatedly and been so denominated by his friends Republic. a thousand times. Acts for which no specific authority has Nor should we forget that if these subjects should be been found either in the Constitution or law, have been justi- given over to the national government every State law fied on the ground that the President is the representative of governing these matters would be null and void. National the whole American people. Certainly this is not constitu- laws, as is well known, are often the product of compromise. tional language. Certainly the Constitution nowhere calls the Out of the conflict between rival claimants for the dredging pf President the universal representative of the people. The local rivulets, for example, there might be evolved a Federal constitutional representatives of the people are in the House insurance law which, in efficiency, might fall far below the of Representatives, exercising powers of legislation. The present high standards of the laws of Pennsylvania, Massa- President is an executive officer, appointed in a .particular chusetts, New York, or of many other sovereign States. manner and clothed with prescribed limited powers. It may What guarantee, however, is there that such a vast in- be thought to be of no great consequence that the President crease in Federal power would result in more efficacious, con- calls himself, or that others should call him, the sole repre- trol than is to-day afforded or could be afforded by the in- sentative of the people, although he has no such appellation dividual States? In my judgment, in the long run, national or character in the Constitution. But, in these matters, words control is bound to be less effective than State control. In- are things. If he is the people's representative, and as such fluences are more easily evoked to delay action at the Capitol may exercise power, without any other ground, what is the of the Nation, perhaps thousands of miles from the locality af- limit to that power? And what may not an unlimited repre- fected, than in the home State. The gain from uniformity sentative of the people do? When the Constitution expressly would be, to my judgment, swallowed up in the loss of local created representatives, as members of Congress, it regulates, State control, always more effective when called into action defines and limits their authority. But if the Executive Chief in response to public sentiment. Magistrate, merely because he is the Executive Chief Magis- There is another problem for thoughtful citizens to con- trate, may assume to himself another character, and call him- sider—is it prudent or safe to increase in this extraordinary self the representative of the whole people, what is to limit manner the powers of the Chief Executive of the Nation? or restrain this representative power in his hands ?" It is hardly necessary to state here that in what I have to say on this topic I have in mind only the office of President, Nor can I believe that there exists any necessity for without the slightest reference to any of the distinguished oc- further centralization of power. I believe that the people of cupants of the office since the Constitution has been in force. New York, of Massachusetts, of Pennsylvania and of the other We must not forget that powers which we would cheerfully sovereign States, if aroused to the necessity of such action. accord.t o individual Presidents we should never think of giving are competent to enact all needed legislation cOncerning the to others, although granting to all intelligence, ability, and the matters reserved to the States and never surrendered to the deepest patriotism. Federal Government. Each 'State, however, should carry out faithfully its duties 11111.m..‘. 23 22 and its responsibilities under the National and the State Con- He should have sympathy for public officers and respect for authority. stitutions. If a State deliberately refuses to exercise its duties and permits the stream of interstate commerce to be fouled. He should attend the primaries with the same interest by its inaction, in my judgment it would be far better for the with which he attends to his private business. National Government to exclude its products from interstate He should see that his vote is recorded at elections as an almost sacred duty. commerce, if it has that power, until the State performs its duty, than to enter the State and perform this State duty by He should faithfully discharge the obligation imposed National inspectors. upon him of jury service. It may be well for a time to cease talking of States' rights He should never forget that the so-called right of suffrage and to talk of States' duties; to cease discussing individual is not a political right at all; it is a duty imposed for the rights and to take up the subject of individual obligations. public good rather than for his private benefit. Let each State enact constitutional laws for the greatest good Yet we see many men at the present time who deliberately of the greatest number of its people; if those laws are found elect to keep aloof from all participation in civic affairs; many to conflict with the laws of other States, it will be for the most there are who never attend a primary, and with whom failure part, because different conditions prevail which no uniformity to vote at elections is the rule rather than the exception. imposed from without could effectually control. No citizen has a right to refuse to perform his civic duties. S6ch refusal should be visited with indignation and con- - We should not forget, however, that in the bringing tempt; he should be lashed to the polls with the indignant about of reforms the public should cultivate and keep in mind voice of public opinion. an accurate sense of perspective and should maintain a proper If a State should 'refuse to participate in constitutional balance of legislation. This is peculiarly true as regards rail- government it would amount to secession; the duty imposed road legislation, whether State or National. upon the State is of no greater obligation than that imposed At the present time we have secured the passage of a upon the individual citizen. national law which has absolutely wiped out rebates and all The citizen also should insist that, if further centraliza- forms of favoritism among shippers and which will place every tion is to be brought about, of course by constitutional shipper upon an equality. While there may be instances methods, all representatives of the people should be elected where rates on individual products are too high, the national directly by the people, and to this end we should insist that law, as recently amended, provides a simple and efficient United States Senators be elected directly by popular vote, method of correcting such abuses. The people of Massa- the necessary constitutional changes being made for this pur- chusetts, at least, believe that there are other evils necessitat- pose. This method of election was advocated by James Wil- ing reform which must now be taken up. We believe that son, and thoughtful people will be forced to conviction that the question of freight rates, important as it may be, is com- such a change may become imperative. paratively insignificant when compared, for example, with the There are many signs to-day that there has been an all important question of tariff taxation. We realize that awakening; popular interest in civic duties was never keener. freight rates, when the same for all, add very slightly to the The citizen realizes more and more keenly the necessity for cost to the consumer. We can bring a barrel of flour from personal participation in civic matters and out of this aroused Minnesota to Boston for fifty cents. It will cost fifty cents public sentiment will surely follow increased civic prosperity, to carry that barrel of flour from the station three miles to the both to the individual States and to our great natonal Re- consumer's house. In other words, the local charge for three public. mile carriage is exactly the same as the railroad charge for fifteen hundred miles carriage. What then is the duty of the citizen in the present state of affairs? He should strengthen in every way the government of his State to restore to it the balance of power which, under the Constitution, belongs to it. He should n respect and render obedience to the laws of the land. I

Charles S. Hamlin (1907, April 25). Speech. Speeches, Federal Reserve. https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/speech_19070426_hamlin

@misc{wtfs_speech_19070426_hamlin,
  author = {Charles S. Hamlin},
  title = {Speech},
  year = {1907},
  month = {Apr},
  howpublished = {Speeches, Federal Reserve},
  url = {https://whenthefedspeaks.com/doc/speech_19070426_hamlin},
  note = {Retrieved via When the Fed Speaks corpus}
}