which these franchises should be conducted, and to see that every citizen of the State gets good service at reasonable rates; and that is what we have been trying to provide governmental machinery for in this State. I believe that we have accomplished a great deal in this direction. We have men devoting themselves exclusively to the understanding of these problems. We are going to have things done right, -thoroughly, fairly, and as the people want them done, in recognition of the obligations of these corporations to the State.

And in these matters, as I have said, the great thing is to provide machinery so that the people will feel that they are represented; that they are not held down; that they can get at things; that there is someone with the original power of investigation; that there is a board representing the government that can act, with adequate power to enforce a fair rule when the justice of it has been shown. Now we have looked at the matter squarely and with the approval of the people of the State from one end to the other have got that machinery; and now we are going to see that it works well and that everything that can be done is done to protect the people.

We have a great variety of questions. Of

course, fundamentally, the thing is for every individual to have a fair show to do his work. Fundamentally, the thing is to have the greatest freedom of opportunity and not to interfere with individual exertion. But, on the other hand, the State, representing-being, in fact— all the individuals of the State together, must see that no one individual gets an opportunity at the unjust expense of his neighbor, and that those matters that can be taken care of only by concerted action will be taken care of in a way that will defend the interests of all.

For example, the State has entered upon a great undertaking for the development of our roads,—a matter of the greatest advantage to the agricultural communities of the State, in order that they may get to market and the exchanges and that their intercourse may be facilitated. But in connection with that, while I am going to say nothing about it in detail to-day, let me suggest this,—that it is perfectly idle to have new roads unless we have a proper means of maintaining and keeping roads fit.

With regard to the adulteration of foods; in all matters affecting the public health; in the operations of commerce; in all those things which are essential to the public good, the State must interfere and by a strong hand protect

the people. I shall not attempt to go over the various steps taken at the last session in this direction, but we have made great progress in connection with the Agricultural Department; in connection with the Labor Department; in connection with our public-service regulation; in connection with a great many subjects in which you are all interested.

Let me say this in conclusion: You can't do anything by multiplying these efforts of the administration unless you can get the men to run the machinery; unless you can get men with a sense of honor and fidelity to duty who can be depended upon to take the State view, not against your view, but against their own interests. That is the test. To take the State view, the high view of citizenship, the sense of honorable obligation to all the people which would make a man rather cut off his and than cheat a man who does n't see him when he does it.

The great point is to have that self-respect which will make it the greatest service that a man can render, in his own opinion, to be true to a sense of duty when he has a chance to serve the people; to take up the work with the proper sense of responsibility and devote himself to it, not because he wants a re-election;

not because he wants another office; not because the people will shout their applause, but because it is right and his own conscience will not let him do anything else.

We can't do anything in regulating corporate business; we can't do anything in attempting to protect public health; to encourage agriculture; to make industry safe and prosperous,we can't do anything unless human character which enters into all administration is the character upon which you can depend, as citizens, for fidelity and honesty. And the development of that character depends in turn upon the standards of the communities just like this. What will you tolerate in public life? Whom do you allow to represent the people? Let us have it thoroughly understood that a man walks to his political doom who thinks of anything else but the public welfare in connection with public office.

VIII.

Speech at the Dedication of the McKinley Monument in Buffalo, September 5, 1907.

The memorials of a free people are erected to commemorate public service and the distinction of noble character. The conqueror, lustful of power, and the seeker after selfaggrandizement are not counted among the heroes of democracy. The people honor those who, in their service to their fellow men, honor humanity.

Here was marked the tragic termination of a great career. Here in an awful moment there were revealed in sudden lurid flash the opposing forces whose conflict is the history of mankind. At a time of rare prosperity, when American industry and commerce were celebrating their triumphs with every circumstance of proud display in a city of almost unprecedented progress, the powers of darkness moved to their attack and, in an infernal frenzy of hate, an abject creature struck down