The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-21

giving fun scope for the bes. ente.pr.se of their
managers within these limits
BANKS AND RAILROADS
Now. Of course. savings banks are as hixhiy
specialized a class CT corporations as railroads
and We cannot force too far the analogy with
tons which think we can lay down as inc,s-
pensible to the proper treatment OF all corpora
tiens which from their size have become impor-
tant factors in the social development Of the
community.
Before speaking. however. OF what can be done
BY way Of remedy. let me say word two as
to certain proposed remedies which, In my tudx-
ment. would be Ineffective or miscnievous
The first thing TO remember Is that II we are
to accomplish any good at all IL must be by reso-
luteiy keeping in mind the intention to do away
with any evil in the conduct of big corporations
while steaifastiy refusing 20 indscrirnl-
nate assault upon all forms Of corporate capital
SUCH ,
The line of demarkation we draw
must always be on conduct, not ON
wealth; our objection to any given
corporation must be. not that II In
big, but that IL behaves badly.
Demagogfc denunciation of wealth
Is never wholesome. and generally
dangerous; md not a few of the pro-
posed methods of curbinE the trusts
are dangerous. chiefly because all in-
sincere advocacy of the impossible In
dangerous.
the appeal is made TO follow course which
those who make the appeal either do not or ought
to Know cannot be followed: and which IL fol-
lowed would result in disaster to everybody.
KILLING MONOPOLY.
Loose talk about destroying MONOPOLY out os
hand without hint TO how the monopoly
should even be defined offers a case in point
,saos ca, can We anord to tolerate any proposal
which, Will strike at the so-calIed trusts only by
striking al the general well being.
are now enjoying period OF great pros
pef1J Ihis prosperity Is generally diffrsed
through all sections and through AL classes
Doubtless there some individuals who do
not get enough of IL. and there others who
ger too much But this Is simply another way
OF saying that the wisdom OF mankind /, finite.
that eyen the best human system canno. work
the evils of the trusts by measures
which Will do away with this general
weli-beiuE, advocate n policy which
would not only be n damage to the
community, us whole, hut which
would defeat Its own professed OBJ
Jeet.
IL we are forced to the alternative of choosing
system under which most OF US prosper some
vaai. though n few OF US prosper too much. or
else a system under which no one pro-De -
enough, why. Of course. We Will choose the for
nc-.
destructive as 70 Involve the whole community
In the crash OF common disaster. 4, Is as certain
- anything can be that when the disaster has
occurred all eaoits TO regulate the trusts VIII
;sas-. and that the one efTort win be 10 r-sto-e
'rCspertty-
TARIFF CHANGES
4 remedy much advocated at the moment 1. to
ke on the tarin from all articles which are
de by trusts.
J do this It will Be necessary frst to define
: language commonly used by the advocate.
ot method Implies that they mean all articles
Ia -
} in in are 10 made with punitive intent
'S5 these large corporations
, ourse. IL the tariff Is 10 Re changed in order
W ish them. II SHOULD be changed so TO
pun tho-e that do III. not merely those that |
are srerous.
!. liquid neither be Just, nor expe-
aie.o punish the big corporations, |
Corporations; what we wish 10 !,
do protect the people from any .
: tt may grow out of their eI- |
. isten or maia dmI nistration.
. Sontf these corporations do well \
? aLa FRS do III
N ny ease the tariff q. found to
|, roster monopoly which does IN,
E Why pourse, NO protectionist would |
E oo1eet modinca fion of the tarfn /
suhetefo remedy the evil.
! Due ny fen cases does the s.l-caiied tru~t
, ,saAS n-olize the market Take any very J
o.s SStrn which controls. say. something
o.s- n1AA products cf given industry
surrey; ,rarranging the schedules affecting /
sncu ~ fpororoa u goud be necessary 10
eIns'Sel .1ferests OF Its smaller cocpstito.s.
: wien eont the remaining pirt- and vh-ca.
q c-.hs Would suffer most from any taffR
. oes'sneu .tnish all the producers. for. NJ
| us mrst be made Light or helvy
iot ok Anfs producers alike.
e. SIDER woRKNEN-
z Moreover. q corporation necessarily en- !
( ploys very mshou.arts q vorkrp-n ana -.
I : min7te we pied srora tenuncdztsoa 20 actioa L
3 Soee ~ fm1 70 eonz1Ht ~ ntezps<s
..