The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-14

/ llc'u 10! operation IN this GiTecLipii- -h"'S
have the idea that IN order to get capital
one must so to rich men. But there are
thousands and millions Of capital In the
hands OF comparatively poor men, and
If this could be organized it would be a
power for good
Organization i the order OF inc. day
and the much abused corporations about
! which so much has been said are operated
By organized capital. 1t is not one man,
hut many that make corporation. and
the corporation furnishes the men liz
moderate circumstances with an oppoT-
tuni;y for profitable investment. The
railroads of the country are not
owned. as some people seem to think
by few rich men. They are
owned by hundreds and thousands OF men
and women in moderate circumstances.
The unn.tiaited would be amazed TO find
how many comparatively poor men and
women in Virginia are owners of stock
in railroad corporations and industrial
corporations The poor own a few shares
each, but taken together the money thurs
invested furnishes a large working cap
ital. There has been a great outcrv
against organized wealth. but it is n foo1-
ish cry. The greatest need of the South
to-day is organized capital, and if all the
idle money in the South could be orga-
nfzei 1t would make a magnificent fund
for industrial development
The second suggestion which Mr.. Miller
makes is that the Southern press Shall
change from the ferment of politics to
the practical benefits of industrial pro
gress.' There can nc but little Of just
complaint against the Southern press
on this score The papers do talk politics
and they ought to talk politics. Ii is their
business to discuss political questions
and to induces the people TO take an active
part in the affairs of Government. But
the newspapers Of the South devote more
I space, year in and year out to practical
questions Of industry ana commerce than
they do to politics. But after all the
newspapers can do nothing more than to
quicken public sentiment and crystalline
it. If the people themselves do not act
the newspaper can do very little more
than to advertise the community which
it represents. Still agitation of this sort
is worth a great deal. for constant agita-
ton is very apt TO arouse the people. and
when the people are aroused they are apt
TO act. Mr. Miller may be sure. however
that the press will do its part if the peo-
pie will but do theirs.
The third and greatest remedy for our
trouble, says he, is to change commerce
from east TO west parallels TO north and
south lines And he adds:
This is the great industrial and COM
mcrcial era of the worlds history. EN-
pansicn of trade; a chance to sell more
agricultural and manufactured products.
so that we az Il people can make more
money and have more prosperity, is the
vital living issue before this nation. The
expeditions that have been held, those
now advertised to be held the industrial
conventions recently held, all tell Us
that the entire people of our nation are
alive to this one great issue, which has
for its foundation more factories and
more output from factories, hence more
labor employed, hence more circulation
| of money and better chance to make
| money.
| In this great work all Of the South can
| unite. because it will locate factories
! South: and in general concert Of action
| a benefit comes TO every locality in the
| South. The scope of the work is SO great
| thai ali of the people. from the sources
| of the Ohio along the Allegheny and
| Monongahela 20 the Yellowstone and
! Missouri in Montana. have with the
| South common purpose demanding
national legislation to secure foreign
markets for the rapidly increasing ag-
ricultural and manufactured products of
the Mississippi. Ohio and Missouri river
valleys. which are now restricted be-
cause Of high freight rates that prevent
sales to the nations south via the North
Atlantic seaports
This means nothing more or less than
that the South is in favor of trade ex-
pansion- 1t is in favor of keeping the
doors to eastern trade wide open and
this is true in spite Of the fact that the
South may have appeared in the late
campaign TO be opposed to such a policy.
The Southern people want 10 see the
Government utilize and turn to practical
account the commanding position which,
it now holds in the East. They want to
see exact justice done TO the Fillinios,
and they do not want to see this Govern
nent become entanGled in what is called
European diplomacy. and for al that
they demand shat The Government take
advantage of all the opportunities which
the Spanish war ana the occupation OF
the Philippines have given them God
forbid siiat the Southern people should
ever sacrifice principle 10 commerc;alism,
and This viii never be until Southern
character is changed. But withou. any
surrender of principle the commercial!
question VIII undoubtedly play a moro
conspicuous part in the politics of the
South than has hitherto been the case.
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TIME TO STOP.
We have received the following letter:
Old Town. Grayson cunty, Va,
December Sth, 1900.
editor of TIE Times:
Sir.-yopr letter os She 18th instant to
hand. aHd. in reply. will say: like your