The Atlanta constitution., 1901-12-09

gains not by genuine work with head or
hand, but by gambling in any form. are
always source of menace not only 10
themselves but to others. If the business
world loses its head, il loses what leGlsla-
ton cannot supply. Fundamentally the
welfare of each citizen, and therefore the
welfare of the aggregate of citizens which
makes the nation, must rest upon indi-
vidual thrift and energy. resolution and
intelligence. Nothing can take the place
of this individual capacity; but wise leg
islation and honest and Intelligent admin
istration can give ii the fullest scope, the
largest opportunity To work to good et-
feet.
The tremendous and highly complex
industrial development which went on
with ever accelerated rapidity during the
latter half of the nineteenth century
brings us face to face, at the beginning
of the twentieth. with very serious social
problems.
THE growth of cities has gone beyond
comparison faster than the growth of the
country, and the upbuilding of the great
Industrial centers has meant startling
increase, not merely in the aggregate of
wealth. but in the number of very large
individual. and especially of very large
corporate, fortunes. The creation of
these great corporate fortunes has not
been due TO the tariff nor TO any other
governmental action, but to natural
causes I'm the business world, operating
in other countries as they operate in our
own.
THE process has aroused much antag-
onism. a great part of which is wholly
without warrant. 1t is not true that as
the rich have grown richer. the poor
have grown poorer. On the contrary,
never before has the average man, the
wage worker, the farmer the small trad
er, been so well off as in this country
and at the present time There have
been abuses connected with the accumu-
lation OF wealth; yet il remains true
that "A fortune accumulated in legitimate
business can be accumulated py the per-
son specially benefited only on condition
of conferring immense incidental dement's
upon others.
'"The captains of industry who have
driven the railway systems across TINS
continent. who have built up our com
merce. who have developed our manu-.
factEres. have on the whole done SreaI
good to our people. The business ann
ity of the man AT the head of any huSl-
ness concern big or little. is usually the
factor which fixes the gulf between strlh-
ing success and hopeless failure.
An additional reason for caution III
dealing with corporations is TO be iounu
in the International commerclal conui-
tions of today. The same business con-
ditions which have produced the great
aESf cations 0l corporate anu iiiAi
wealth have made them very potent lac
tors in int irrational commerClai Colh-
petition. Business concerns wnlch nave
the largest means AT their disposal ana
are managed by the abcst men are nat
uraliy those which take the lead IN the
strife for commercial supremacy among
the nations OF the world. America mas
only just begun to assume that command
ing position in the International business
world which We believe VIII more ana
more he hers 1t is of the utmost I'M
portance that this position be not Jeopard-
ed. especially at "A time when the over
flowing abundance OF our own natural
resources and the skin. business energy,
and mechanical aptitude oi our ptupi"
make foreign markets essential. | ndcr
such conditions il would be most uh-
wise To cramp or TO fcttcr the youlhlul
strength of our nation.
Moreover II cannot too often he point
ed out that to strike with ignorant VIZ
lence at the interests of one set OF men
almost inevitably endangers the interests
of all. Thc funda mental rule IN our ma :
tional lifc-thc rule which und"rles an
othcrS-is that. on the whole. and IN the
long run. We shall 90 up or down toSeth-
or There are exceptions; AL II times
of prosperity some Will prosp iar more,
than others. but speaking generally, "A pc
riOd of good times means mat All snare
more or less in them, ana in the period
of hard times all feel the stress to "A
greater or less degree. IL surely ought
not to be necessary to enter INTO any
proof of tilis statement. the memory or
the lean years which began IN lS95 Is
stir vivid Disaster To great business
/ enterprises can never nave ~ ELECTS
limited TO the men al the top. Tn" cap
italist may he shorn of his lIXuri's; but
The wage worker may be deprived Of even
bare necessities.