The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-12-10

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with them In an Incorporate. destructive.
or demagogic spirit would. In all proba-
| bility. mean that nothing whatever would
be accomplished. and. with absolute GER
talnty that II anything were accom-
plishsd II would be OF a harmful ma
ture.
The American people need to con-
tinus to show the very qualities that they
have shown-that Ia. moderation. good
sense, the earnest desire to avoid doing
any damage. and yet the quiet deteFmina-
ton to proceed. step BY step. without halt
and without hurry, In eliminating or AT
least in minimizing whatever Of mis-
chief or OF evil there Il to interstate edrn-
merce In the conduct % great corpora
tons. They are acting In no spirit Of
hostility 10 wealth. either individual or
corporate. They aFa not against the rich
mar any more than against the poor
man. On the contrary, they are friendly
alike toward rich man and toward poor
man, provided only that each acts in a
spirit OF justice and deeency toward his
fellows.
Great corporations are necessary.
and only men OF great and singular
mental power can manage such corpora
lions successfully. and such men must
have great rewards. But these corpora
tons should be managed with due re-
gard 10 the interest of the public as A
whole Where this can be done under
the present laws Il must be done. Where
these laws come short others should Le
enacted to supplement them
Sense, Courage and kIndlIness.
Yet we must never forget the deter
mining factor In every kind OF work
OF head or hand. must be the uan's own
good sense. courage and kindlinssa
More Important than any iegislAtion
Is the gradual growth Of q feeling OF
responsibility and torbearance among
capitalists and wage workers alike: a
feeling Of respect on the part OF each
man for the rights Of others: a feellaR
OF broad community OF intereatn, not
merely Of capitalists among themselves.
and of wageworkers among themselves,
but or capitalists and waRewOFkars In
their relations to each other. ana OF
both In their relations to their fellows
who with them make up the body pol
ttie. There are many captains Of in
dustry. many labor leaders. who roaIlns
this.
A recent speech % the pru.idsat
OF one Of our great Railroad syutsma 70
the employees Of that systam contains
sound common sense II runs In part
as follows:
III Is my belief We can better serve
each other. better understand the man
as well as his business. whsn nesting
face 70 face. exchanging viswA ana
realizing from personal eontaet we
serve but one interest. that OF cur mu-
tual prosperity.
Serious Observation-Disclosures can not o.,
cur where personal good viii exists ana
opportunity for personal explanation Il
present.
In my early business life I had IN
perienes with men Of affairs OF a char
acter To make me desire TO avoid creating
a ike feeling Of resentment 70 myself
and the interests IN my charge, should
fortune ever place me In authority, and
l am solicitous CO a measure Of eonn-
dence on the part OF the public ana our
employees that I shall hope may De- war
ranted BY this fairness and good fellow
ship intend shall prevail Ia our Fsla-
tioEship.
But do not feel am disposed TO grant
unreasonable requests. spend the rnonay
Of our company unnecessarily OF without
value received. nor expect the DAYS Of
mistakes are disappearing. or that cause
for complaint viii not continually o.car.
simply to correct such abuses as may 81
discovered 10 better conditions a. fast
as reasonably may be expected. constant
ly striving with varying success for
that Improvement we all desire TO con-
vince you there Is a force at work IN ths
right direction. all the time making prog
Z L
come among you. asking your good viii
and announcement.
The day has gone By when q coFpor-
alton can be handled successfully In de-
hancs OF the public will. even though
that will be unreasonable and wronR.
a public may DO led. but not driven.
and l prefer to 30 with Il and shape o.
modify. In measure. It's opinion. rather
than be swept from my bearings, with
loss to myself and the interests In my
charge.
Violent prejudice exists toward cor
porats activity and capital today. much
OF IL founded in reason, more IN appre-
hsnslon. and a large measure IL due
to the personal traits OF arbitrary. IN
reasonable. incompetent and offensive
men In positions Of authority. The ae-
cOmplishmeut OF results by lndirsction.
the endsavor to thwart the intention, II
not the expressed letter Of the Law 1.-THE
will OF the psople). a disregard Of the
rights OF others. a disposition 20 with
hold what IL due. to force By main
strength or inactivity a result not JUS
the claimant and his indisposition To be-
come involved In litigation. has created
a sentiment harmful In the extreme and
a disposition 10 consider anything fair
that gives gain to the Individual az the
expense OF the company.
If corporations are 10 continue to do
the worlds work. as they are best atts,i
TO. these qualities In their Representatives
that have resulted in the present pretu-
dice against them must be Felegated 10
the background The corporations must
come out into the open and see and %
seen. They must take the public into
their confidence and ask for what they
want. and no more, and be prepared 10 81
plain satisfactorily what advantage will
accrue to the public u they are given
their desires: for they are permitted to
exist not that they may make money
solely. but that they may effectively
serve those from whom they derive their
power
Publicity. and not secrecy. viii win
hereafter. and laws Ds construed by their
intent and not BY their letter, otherwise
public utilities will be owned and oper.
ated BY the public which created them
even though the seryiee be less efficient
and the result less Satisfactory from a
financial standpoint"
Bureau Of Corporations.