The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-07
A BREEDER OF SOCIALISM.

robber; Vanderbilt as public benefactor.
Vanderbilt sought his gain in others gain,
not IN their loss. He used his power of
combination TO make railroad freight
cheaper, thereby increasing the volume of
traffic to such an extent that he himself
was more than repaid and those who had
intrusted him with the administration of
their money. The profits of the New York
Central and its connecting lines are not
made by cheating the shipper, but by
offering him lower rates than the world
had ever before dreamed of, lower than the
state railroad systems of Europe, managed
by the representatives of the socialistic
principle, have even yet been able TO at
tain. In the years from 1870 to 1879 the
rates charged by the New York Central
railroad fell from $1.ss per ton per mile to
IS cents, but the stockholders found a rich
profit in the increase of the traffic from
769, OOo. 600 tons miles to 1926 0O0, 900.
Vanderbilt compelled a general reduc-
ton in railroad charges unexampled in
any other country, which meant quick de-
velopment for the United States and plen-
tiful food for the world, and his business
methods and business management raised
the transportation system of the country
to higher degree of efficiency and higher
capacity for public service than govern
ment management in Europe or Australia
has been able TO secure. On the other
hand Jay Gould was the supreme genius
of that class of business men who seek
their gain in others loss; men who did
not hesitate to use their positions of trust
and authority to plumber those whom they
were supposed to represent; who took adj
vantage of the intricacIes of railroad &C
counting to deceive investors as to the real
condition of affairs, and used their own
superior knowledge to buy stocks cheap or
sell them dear. Such mems gain was rep
resented by no public service. 1t was not
based on the creation of wealth, but on its
diversion from the purse of some one else.
Destruction might serve such mems pur-
poses as we'll as upbuilding.
Mr.. Hadiey points out that the Ameri-
can public did not acquiesce in Gould's
methods; 1t passed laws to prevent the
repetition of his worst offenses:
What he did in Erie could not have been re-
peated in Union Pacific half dozen years later.
What he did in Union Pacific was worse than
he was allowed to 90 in Manhattan. What he
did in Manhattan could hardly be repeated in
the same form today. Loose as are our financial
methods even now, they show a tremendous
advance over the worst days of Erie and Kansas
Pacific. Nor was society ready to forgive and
forget the fragrant violations of business morals
which dc of
career. The newspaper comments ON his life
furnish sufficient refutation of the charge that
America cares for nothing else in comparison
with success In the pursuit of wealth.
The radical evil of Gould's financial
career was identical with that of Ma
poleon's military career after the peace of
Tilsit in 1907. Up to 1907 the Napoleonic
wars were justifable; they were in vindi-
cation of the right of France to resis. sub
version by England and Continental
Europe. After 1907 Napoleon, as he con-
tessed at Elba to Lord John Russell,
treated war as grand game instead of a
means of public service to France and the
patriotic defeat OF her enemies. SO with
Gould, the evil of his career lay in his
conception of business as game instead
of public service. He not only played
the game unfairly. but in treating business
as game instead of q public trust he did
more than any other man in America to
create the popular movement in the direc-
ton of that socialism which iustifies its
projected industrial tyranny and policy of
contiscation and paralyzing paternaIism
by quoting the abuse of the public
through the popular practice of Jay
Gould's commercial ethics on the part of
altogether too many American capitalists
and leaders in trade, transportation and
finance. Mr.. Hadley says:
Society gives its great fnancers a trust, COM
pared with which sll other trusts sink into IN
significance. 1t gives them the power of direct
ing the labor and capital of the country. Nc
have seen how man like Vanderbilt deserved
that trust, by using il for the benefit of society
What does man OF the opposite type do 10 d.
serve II? Less than nothing.
The argument of Mr.. Hadey is that the
Vanderbilt philosophy OF business is the
true cure for socialism; that the Gould
theory of business as a mere game" in
voIyins no public trust, no obligation u
society, is what breeds socialism and will
continue to breed it, il American leaders
III trade. transportation and finance do not
recognize the necessity of taking a broader
view of their duties under modern condl-
tons and accept the ethics Of Vanderbilt
rather than the ethics of Gonid. and treat
business no; as "a game but As a trust.
Mr.. Hadiey says on this point:
There is a whole set Of new duties which the
financial worlt mast recognize if II would re.
tain that industrial power IN the future Il ia
not enough TO sbstslu from Iohhing some one
else of the enjoyment which money commands:
We must also use tue power wAtcA money gives
rs as 8 0eaus o! positive service. The obliga.
tion i ignored IL the thoughtles- gambling of
every day life. violated in much Of the hahit}lal
practice of reputable uuaac,ers, sud autsgnu-
ICED aDd undermined ty tha WORK OF some al!
the most en- men; members of the legal profess
sion. Il man sells his labor. our chief fear q
that ne MAY do &c injustice II himself II he
sells his vote. We Auow that lie Is doing an in.
Justice to society. society Iatrlsts is voters
WIKI ro.itics power ana its property owner.
with industrial power, n the te..el that their
Intelligent judgmentN IA direct Is affairs 70 the
best advantage. Is they refuse 70 exercise that
.udgmea: the penalty ~ either case Is AMI must
oe Acknowledgement
Next 20 the Jay Gould type Of bandit in
business ana finance. and almost equally
responsible breeders Of pernlcious social
ism, Mr.. HA3lcy rates the great LAWYERS Of
the country Who taSe large fees foc teach.
ing ueop,e how q come as close as r,nssihfe