Resolution, Mr. Frederick Kelsey
Mr. Frederick Kelsey (Orange, N. J.)—I would like to offer this resolution:
Whereas, Under the laws of the District of Columbia and some of the States, fictitious and fraudulent overcapitalization of corporations is permitted; and
Whereas, Under the operation of these promoter-made laws enormous and widespread losses to innocent persons all over the country and throughout the civilized world have resulted;
Resolved, That this Congress earnestly favors the amendment of these laws and calls upon the President and the United States Congress to enact such legislation affecting the incorporation and control of corporations as will bring the creation and conduct of these creatures of the State back to the moorings of common honesty.
I would like to say that, like most of the previous speakers, I have given this subject very careful attention. I was chairman of a committee, a civic and economic committee of our State, which committee spent eight months in considering this subject, and I want to say that you cannot appreciate the widespread loss, the injury, the injustice of improper concentration of wealth that has been the direct outgrowth of these laws in our own State and other States of the Union.
President White—The resolution will be referred to the Resolutions Committee.
The Congress now stands adjourned until 2:30 o’clock this afternoon.
[EIGHTH SESSION.]
The Congress assembled at the Coliseum, at the State Fair Grounds, Indianapolis, on the afternoon of October 3, 1912, and was called to order by President White.
President White—This Conservation Congress was to have been addressed today by the Governors of two of the States. I am very sorry to announce that Governor Hadley, of Missouri, is unable to attend.
This Congress is greatly honored today. The city of Indianapolis is greatly honored today. The State of Indiana is greatly honored, and I personally am greatly honored. I feel honored in having the privilege of presiding over a meeting at which our distinguished guest is to speak.
He who causes two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before is a public benefactor. He who with one talent helps one child, one boy, to rise to manhood and usefulness, is a great and useful citizen. He who is fortunate enough to possess ten talents and who is an inspiration to thousands of the youth of the land, who has planted in their minds and in their hopes the desire to become great and useful in this world, to become great and good, efficient citizens—he is the greatest of all.
He is the Governor of a great State, and has inspired the citizens of mature age to a better government for the people and led them on to a greater field of usefulness. We feel perfectly safe in trusting him. To whatever position duty may call, whatever fortune may trust him with, the people will be safe under his guidance. (Applause.)
I feel unworthy to present to this audience one who has been the leader in so many good works, one who has been a practical conservator of human effort, but I take pleasure in introducing to you as the speaker of this day one who has come here to get closer in touch with the Conservationists of the United States, to gather from this audience an inspiration as to the great force of Conservation which is to lead the world—the Hon. Woodrow Wilson, Governor of New Jersey. (Great applause.)
ADDRESS BY THE HON. WOODROW WILSON, GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY.