The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-06

When we come TO deal with great cor
porations the need for the government
TO act directly IL far greater than In the
case OF labor, because great Corporations
can become such only by engaging IN In
terstate commerce. and interstate COM
merce Is peculiarly the field Of the gener-
al government IL Is an absurdity 10 ex'
pect TO eliminate the abuses In great cor
porations by state action. IL is difficult
TO be patient with an argument that such
matter should be left 10 the states, be-
cause more than one state pursuss the
policy OF creating on easy terms cor
porations which are never operated with
In that state at ALL but In other states
whose law they ignore The national
government alone can deal adequately
with these great corporations
To try 10 deal with them In an intem-
perate, destructive. or demagogic spirit
would, In all probability, mean that moth
ing whatever would be accomplished, and,
with absolutely certainty. that " any
thing were accomplished II would be Of a
harmful nature. The American people
need 10 continue 10 show the very quail
ties that they have shown-that Is. mod
Grafton, good sense the earnest desire 10
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
wha of mischief or Of evil there is
10 interstate commerce I'm the conduct OF
great corporal tions. They are acting I'm
40 spirit OF hostility 10 wealth either
individual or corporate. They are not
against the rich man 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 I'm a spirit Of Justice and de-
rd falI
porations 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 man
aged with due regard to the interest Of
the public as a whole Where this can
be done under the present law II must be
done. Where these laws come short 9TH
ers should be enacted TO supplement them.
Yet we must never forget the deter
mining factor In every kind OF work. OF
head or hand. must be the mans own
good sense, courage, and kindliness. More
important than any legislation is the
gradual growth of a feeling OF respon-
sibility and forbesrance among capital
lists and wage-workers alike; a feeling
of respect on the part OF each man for
the rights OF others: a feeling of broad
community OF interest not merely of capt.
workers among themselves. but OF capt
talists and wage-workers in their rela tions
To each other, and OF both in their re-
lations 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 em-
ployees of that system contains sound
- L..
lows
''It 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 realizing
from personal contact we serve but one
interest, that Of our mutual prosperity.
Serious MISUNDERSTANDING can not oc-
cur where personal good will exists and
opportunity for personal explanation is
present.
I'm my early business life had ex-
perience with men of affairs OF a charac-
ter TO make me desire to avoid creating a
like feeling Of resentment to myself and
the interest I'm my charge should fortune
ever place me i'm authority. and | am soii-
citous of a measure OF confidence on the
part OF the public and our employees that
| shall hope may be warranted by the
fairness and good fellowship 1 intend
sHall prevail III 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
mistake are disappearing. or that cause
for complaint Will not continually occur:
simply to correct such abuses as may be
discovered, to better conditions az fast
as reasonably may be expected. constantly
striving with varying success, for that
Improvement we all desire, 20 convince
you there Is force at work i'm the right
direction, all the time making progress
Is the disposition with which I have
come among you. asking your good will
and encouragement
The day has gone by when a corpora
tion can be handled successfully In def
ance Of the public will, even though that
will be unreasonable and wrong: A
public may be led. but not driven. and I
prefer TO go with IL and shape or modify,
In n measure. its opinion. rather that be
swept from my bearing. with loss to my
self and the interests I'm my charge.
Violent prejudice exist toward corpor-
ate activity and capital today, much OF
IL founded I'm reason. more In apprehen-
sion. and a'large measure is due TO the
personal traits OF arbitrary, unreasonable,
incompetent. and offensive men In posi-
tions OF authority The accomplishment
OF results by indrcction. the endeavor TO
thwart the intention, IL not the expressed
letter or the law Ohe will OF the people).
n disregard OF the rights OF others a dis
position to withhold what is due To force
by main strength or inactivity a result
not justified, depending upon the weakness
Of the claimant and his indisposition To
become involved I'm litigation. has created
a sentiment harmful In the extreme and
a disposition to consider anything fair
that gives gain TO the individual al the
expense OF the company.
"If corporations are TO continue to do
the worlds work. as they are best fitted
to. these qualities In their representatives
that have resulted IN the present preju-
dice against them must be relegated TO
the background. The corporations must
come out into the open and see and be
seen. They must take the public into
their confidence and ask for what they
want, and no moro. and be prepared TO
explain satisfactorily what advantage will
accrue To the public II they are given
their desires: for they are permitted To
exist not that they may make money