The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-23

munty. as the history of many labor or
ganizations has conclusivey shown,
wealth, not merely individual, but corporate,
when used Alright is not merely benefit to
the community a whole, but indispensable
to the upbuilding of the country, under the
conditions which at present the country has
grown not only to accept but to demand as
normal. This is so obvious that it seems
trte even to state it, and yet If we are to
judge from some of the arguments advanced
against and attacks made upon wealth as
such, it is fact worth keeping in mind.
Great Fortunes Dangers.
great fortune If not used Alright makes its
possessor in a peculiar sense menace to the
community as whole, just a great intel,
lect does if it is unaccompanied by developed
conscience, by character But obviously this
no more affords grounds for condemning
wealth than 1t does for condemning intellect.
Every man of power, by the very fact of that
power is capable of doing damage to his
neighbors, but we cannot afford to discourage
the development of such men merely because
1t is possible they may use their power to
wrong ends. If did so we should leave
our history blank, for we should have no
great statesman, sildiers or merchants, no
great men or arts, or letters or of science
Doubtless on the average the most useful
man to his fellow citizens is apt to be he to
whom has been given what the psalmfst
prayed for, neither poverty nor riches, but the
great captain of industry, the man of wealth,
who alone in combination with his fel-
lows, drives through great business en-
terprlses is factor without which this
country could not possibly maintain its PRES
ent industrial position in the world. Good,
not harm, normally comes from the .piling up
OF wealth through business enterprises. Prob.
ably the most serious harm resulting to u.s.
the people of moderate means, is when We.
harm ourselves by letting the dark and evil
vices of envy and hatred towards our fellows
eat into our natures.
Still there is other harm of a more evident.
kind and such harm it is clear duty to try,
to eradicate, if possible, and in any event to
minimize All corporations, and therefore
these great corporations containing some tend
| ency to monopoly which have grown to
speak of rather loosely as trusts, are the crea-
lures Of the state, and the state not only has
the right to control them but is in duty bound,
| to control them wherever the need for such.
control is shown. There is clearly a need Of
supervision-need to exercise the power of
regulation on the part of the representatives
OF the public, wherever as in our own coun-
/ try at the present time, business corporations
become SO very strong both for beneficent
work and for work that is not always benef-
cent.
| 1t is idle to say that there is no need for
such supervision A sufficient warrant for it
various evils resulting from the present sys-
| TEN, or rather lack of system. . I
There is in our country peculiar difficulty
| in the way of exercising such supervision and
| control because Of the peculiar division of
governmental power. When the industrial
conditions were simple, very little control
was needed and trouble was caused by the
doubt as to where power was lodged under
| the constitution. Now the powers are corn-.
plicated and we find it difficult to frame nat
ional legislation which shall be adequate,
| while matter of practical experience state
action has proved entirely insufficient and in
| all human probability cannot or will not be
made sufficient to meet the needs of the case.
Nation Must Assume Control.
Some of our states have excellent laws
laws which it would be we'll, indeed, to have
enacted by the national legislature. But the
wide differences in these laws even between
adjacent states and the uncertainty of the
power of enforcement result practically in
altogether insufficient control. - &.
1 believe that the nation must as
sumo this power of control by Leg
isla tion, and if it becomes evident,
that the constitution will not per-
nit needed legislation, then by con-
stitutional amendment. The imme-
diate need in dealing with trusts IL
to place them under the real, not
nominal control of some sovereign
trust shall owe allegiance, and in
whose courts the sovcreign's orders
may with certainty be enforced.
:. This is not the case, with the ordinary So
Jod sfrnc of trI1Sf is
large state corporation generally, doing ,busi-
ness in other states also, and often with q
tendency to monopoly. Such trust is an
artificial creature not wholly responsible too
{ or controllable by any legislature, nor wholly
subject to the jurisdiction of any one court.
Some governmental sovereign must be given
full power over these artificial and very pow
erful corporate beings. In my Judgment this
/ sovereign must be the national government.
When it has been given full power, then this
full power can be used to control any evil in
| fuence exactly as the government is now
using the power conferred upon it under the
, Sherman antitrust law.
Even when the full power has been con-
ferred it would be highly undesirable to at.
tempt too much, or to begin by stringent
legislation.
! The mechanism of modern busi-
: ness is as delicate and complicated
t more productive of evil to all of us
and especially tdsthose least well on
. in this worlds goods, than ignorant
: NEEDING with this mechanism, nnd
> above all. if the meddlfnx was done
in spirit of class or sectional
rancor. ---E 81
j It is desirable that this power should be
e possessed by the nation but 1t is quite as
r desirable that the power should be exercised
a with moderation and self-restraint. The first
. exercise of that power should be the secur-
: ing Of publicity among ali great corporations
8 doing an interstate business. The publicity,
: though non -inquisitora should be real and
r thorough to all important facts with which
t the public has concern.
r TIE full light of day is great discourager
o of evil. Such publicity would by itself tend
t to cure evils of which there is Just COM
: plant and where the alleged evils are imagin-
e airy it would tend to show that such was the
: case. When publicity is attained it would be
: possible to see what further IS needed in the
r way of regulation.
o Distrust the man who offers you patent
cure all for the evils Of the body polite. jus,