Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-06

with them in an intemperate, destruc
tive or demagogic spirit would, in al
probability, mean that nothing what
ever would be accomplished, and, will
absolute certainty, that if anything
were accomplished it would be of 8
harmful nature. The American people
need TO continue to show the very quail
tiles that they have shown--that is
moderation, good sense, the earnest de-
sire to avoid doing any damage, and
yet the quiet determination to proceed
step by step, without halt and without
hurry, in eliminating, or at least in
minimizing whatever of mischief or of
evil there is to interstate commerce in
the conduct of great corporations. They
are acting in no spirit of hostility to
wealth, either individual or corporate.
They are not against the rich man any
more than against the poor. On the
contrary, they are friendly alike toward
rich man and toward poor man, provided
only that each acts in spirit of Justice
and decency toward his fellows. Great
corporations are necessary, and only
men Of great and singular mental
power can manage such corporations
successfully, and such men must have
great rewards. But these corporations
should be managed with due regard to
the interest of the public as whole
Where this can be done under the pres
ent laws it must be done. Where these
laws come short others should be en-.
acted to supplement them.
Yet we must never forget the deter.
mining factor in every kind of work,
of head or hand, must be the man g
own good sense, courage and kindliness.
More important than any legislation is
the gradual growth of feeling of re.
sponsibility and forbearance among
capitalists and wage-workers alike; a
feeling of respect on the part of each
man for the rights of others; feeling
of broad community of interest, not
merely of capitalists among themselves
and of wage-workers among them
selves, but of capitalists and wage
workers in their relations to each other,
and of both in their relations to their
fellows who with them make up the
body polite. There are many captains
of industry, many labor leaders, who
realize this A recent speech by the
president Of one of our great railroad
systems to the employees of that sys-
tenn contains sound common sense. In
runs in part as follows:
at is my belief we can better serve
each other, better understand the man
as well as his business, when meeting
face to face, exchanging views and real |
izing from personal contact we serve
but one interest, that of mutual pros
perity.
"Serious Misunderstanding cannot
occur where personal good will exists
and opportunity for personal explana- |
tion is present.
"In my early business life had ex-
perience with men of affairs of char.
acter to make me desire to avoid Great. |
ing like feeling Of resentment to my
self and the interests in my charge
should fortune ever place me in author
ity, and 1 am solicitous of measure |
of confidence on the part of the public
and our employees that 1 shall hope may
be warranted by the fairness and good |
fellowship intend shall prevail in our '
relationship.
'But do not feel am disposed to
grant unreasonable requests, spend the
money of our company unnecessarily or |
without value received, nor expect the
days of mistakes are disappearing, or |
that cause for complaint will not con-
occur, simply to correct such
abuses as may be discovered, to better ,
as fast as reasonably may
be expected, constantly striving, with !
varying success, for that improvement |
we all desire, TO convince you there is
a force at work in the right direction,
all the time making progress--is the
disposition with which | have come
among You asking your good will and
"The day has gone by when cor.
poration can be handled successfully in
defiance of the public will, even though
that win be unreasonable and wrong.
A public may be led, but not driven,
and J prefer TO go with it and shape
Or modify in a measure, its opinion,
rather than be swept from my bearings,
With loss TO myself and the interests in
my charge.
evident prejudice exists towards
corporate activity and capital today,
much Of il founded in reason, more in
and large measure is
lue to the personal traits of arbitrary,