popular judgment, let me assure you that in this country it is idle to inveigh against it. You must abide by it. And the security of business is in the provision of adequate means for responsible government, in holding officials strictly to account for their performance of duty, and in a compliance on the part of those in charge of our great business enterprises with the obvious demands of justice.

V.

Speech before the Elmira Chamber of Commerce, May 3, 1907.*

I

I did not come here to-night to join in a debate. It is entirely true that I had purposed to say some things in regard to the very measure about which my friend Mr. Stanchfield has spoken, and I shall not say any less, but perhaps something more. In distinction from my learned friend, I am here under a retainer. am here retained by the people of the State of New York, to see that justice is done, and with no disposition to injure any investment, but with every desire to give the fullest opportunity to enterprise, and with every purpose to shield and protect every just property interest. I stand for the people of the State of New York against extortion, against favoritism,

* Governor Hughes had prepared a speech for this occasion but Mr. John B. Stanchfield, who spoke before he did, made an attack upon the Public-Service Commissions bill, saying as he did so that he was "under no retainer from the railroads," and the Governor abandoned his prepared speech to make an extemporaneous reply to Mr. Stanchfield's arguments.

against financial scandal, and against everything that goes to corrupt our politics by interference with the freedom of our Legislature and administration. I stand for honest government and effective regulation by the State of public-service corporations.

Now, I am fully conscious, as is every one who professes to have a modicum of intelligence, of the tremendous advantages which the country and every community in it have derived from the extension of our railroad facilities. Our communities would be lifeless, our trade would collapse, we would all be worse than dead, were it not for these opportunities of communication and these facilities of transportation. We honor every just effort to make these possible. We want every opportunity afforded to enable the people to move their produce, and we want fair treatment to those who are engaged in this very necessary activity. Yet it is said that, despite the prosperity of the country and the great benefits that have been derived from the extension of our transportation facilities, there is a state of unrest; that there is a general condition of discontent throughout the country. Why? Is it because of extension of means of communication? Will any one

suggest to an intelligent audience that American citizens are in revolt against their own prosperity? What they revolt against is dishonest finance. What they are in rebellion against is favoritism which gives a chance to one man to move his goods and not to another; which gives to one man one set of terms and another set to his rival; which makes one man rich and drives another man into bankruptcy or into combination with his more successful competitor. It is a revolt against all the influences which have grown out of an unlicensed freedom, and of a failure to recognize that these great privileges, so necessary for public welfare, have been created by the public for the public benefit and not primarily for private advantage.

There has been a determined effort through the State to make it appear that the Chambers of Commerce in New York and the business men composing those Chambers of Commerce are opposed to an effective scheme of State regulation of public-service corporations and opposed to the specific measure now pending in the Legislature having that object in view.

I do not believe that the resolutions that have been passed reflect the sentiment of the business men of the State of New York. It

would be most unfortunate were it so. There are undoubtedly many whose interests are directly affected, and who desire to maintain existing conditions and to enjoy unrestricted freedom in order that they may give rein to their own selfish purposes, who undoubtedly are frankly and consistently against the proposition. There are others who throw a sop to public opinion by saying that they believe in regulation and who then will contest with you any provision that promises effective regulation.

I heard a distinguished railway man the other night speak of the great difficulties under which railroads are now suffering, endeavoring to keep up with the extraordinary demands that are incident to our very rapid improvement and development in commerce. I sympathize with those difficulties. I sympathize with the operating man who lies awake nights trying to devise means by which he can improve traffic facilities. I sympathize with the great army of active railroad men who, under severe conditions, are trying to perform their duty. There is nothing antagonistic to them, or to anybody who desires to deal squarely with the public, within the four corners of that bill. This gentleman said,