The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1901-12-03


~ well or as IN this country and
az the present time. There havc
been abuses connected with the ac-
emulation OF wealth. yet Il remains
true that a fortune accumulated Ia
lcgltimate business can be accumu-
lated BY the person specially bcne-
fited emily ON condition % comforting
immense Incidental dement's upon
others. Successful enterprise. OF the
type which benefits all mankind. can
only exist II the conditions are such
rs 20 offer great prizes as the re-
wards OF success.
Captains Of Industry.
The captains OF Industry who have
driven the railway nyssema across
this continent. who have built up
our commerce. who have developed
our manufactures. have on the
whole done great rood 20 our peo-
pie. Without them the material de-
veiopment Of which we are 30 Justly
proud could never have taken place.
Moreover, we should recognise the
the immense Importance to this ma
terinl development OF leaving as un-
hampered nx Is compatible with the
public good the strong and force
fui men upon whom the aucceea of
business operations Inevitably rcatn.
The slightest study OF business aon-
dlslons viii satisfy anyone capable
% forming judgment that the per-
scnaf equation Is the most important
factor IN a buslnces operation: that
the business ability Of the man at
the head of any business concern.
bis OF little, il usually the factor
which nxea the gulf between strik-
Ing success and hopeless failure.
An additional reason for caution
in dealing with corporations Il 10
be found IN the International COM
rnerclAl conditions Of today. the
same business conditions which have
produced the great aggrcEations Of
corporate and Individual wealth
have made them very potent factors
In International commercial compe-
tition. business concerns which have
the largest means at their disposal
and are managed by the ablest men
are naturally those which take the
/ lead In the strike for commercial
supremacy among the nations Of the
weird. America has only just be-
gun 20 assume that commanding no
sitl0n I'm the International buninesa
world which we believe viii more
Must Exercise Great Care.
and more be hers. II IL OF the ut
most Importance thar this position
he not 3eopardlxed. especially az n
time when the Overlooking ahun-
dance Of cur own natural resources
ard the skill. business energy. and
mechanical aptitude % our people
make foreign markets essential. tn
der such conditions II would be most
urwise 20 cramp or 10 fetter the
! youthful strength OF our naticn.
Moreover. II cannot too often be
pointed cut that o. strike with iE-
norRnt violence at the interests ~
one set OF men almost inevitably en-
dangers the interests % all The
/ Fundamental rule in our national
z llfe-~the rule which underiies all
others-iH that. on the whole. and
In the long run. we shall 20 up or
down together. There are excep-
items. and IN times o. prosperity
aone VIII prosper far more. and IN
times Of adveraity some viii suffer
FAR more. than others. but speaking
generally. a period OF good times
I means that AL share more or less
in theu1 and fn a period or hard
times AL feel the stress 70 n greater
or less degree. II surely ought not
Ito be necessary TO enter into any
proof OF this statement. the nert-
orv 81 the lean years which began
In fsas IL stili vivid. and we can
.
this very year which r. now closing.
Disaster 20 great business enter
priseE can never have It's effects
limited 70 the men at the top. II
spreads throughout. and while u u
had for everybody. IL ia worst for
these farthest down. The capitalist
may be shorn Of hts Injuries; but
the wage worker may be deprived Of
even hare necessities.
Consideration Of Trusts.
The mechanism az modern business
II so delicate that extreme care
must be taken not 10 interfere with
III in a spirit Of raShness ar iguor-
ance. Many OF those who have
made * their vocation 20 denounce
the great Industrial combinations
which are popularity, aithouEh with
technical inarcuracy. known as
trusts" appeal especially 20 hatred
and fear. These are precisely the
& two emotions. particularly when
combined with ignorance. which ufl-
1T men for the exercise OF cool and
steady judgment In facing new
industrial conditions. the whole his
tory OF the world shows that leEisla-
ton will generally be both unwise
land Ineffective unleas undertaken
after calm inquiry and with sober
fi0n directed ct the trusts would
have been exceedingly msschievous
had II not also been entirely inef-
fective- In accordance with a we'll
known sociological law. the Ignorant
or reckless agitnfor has been the
really effective friend OF the evils
which he has been nomipallv OPP
posing. In dealing with business in
terests. for the government 70 un-
dertake by crude and ill-considered
I legislation 10 do what may turn out
20 be bad. would be 10 incur the risk
of such far reaching national dis
aster that IL would be preferable to
/, undertake nothing at all. The men
/. who demand the impossible or tho
I Undesirable serve as the allies OF the
I forces with which they are nofnin-
ally az war. for they hamper those
VINO would endeavOr to find out In
: rational fashion what the wrongs
; really are and 10 what extent and
/. apply remedies.
Evils Must Be Corrected.
All thls IL true: and yet Il IL also
: true that there are real and grave
: evils, one OF the chief being over
!. capitalization because Of its many
baleful consequences; ana 4. resoltite
and practical effort must be made Il
|, correct these evils.
There is widespread conviction
: ia the minds of the American peo-
2 pie that the great Corporation
Z known as trusts are In certain M
Z their features and tendencies hurt.
: ful TO the general welfare. Thl,
3 springs from no spirit OF envy Or nn.
= charitabienesa, nor lack OK pride II
Z the great Industrial achievement
+ that have placed this country at III
: head OF the nations struggling 70
: commercial supremacy. IL does no
e rest upon a lack Of Intelligent ap
i probation OF the necessity OF meet
ing changing and changed condll
lions Of trade with new methods
nor upon Ignorance Of the fact tina
y combination Of capital In the effof
Z 10 accomplish great thinHs ls nscss
: aarv when the worlds progress dc
/ mands that great things be done
:. II Is based upon sincere cOnvictiol
Y that combination and concentrate
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