The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-07

, establish protective restriction upon the work
In another State having tho same industries,
30 that the worst tends to drag down the bet
ter. For this reason It would be we'll for the
nation at least to endeavor to secure compre-
hensive information as to the conditions OF Ia
investigation and publication by the national
Government would tend toward the securing
OF approximately uniform legislation of the
proper character arnong the several States
When We come TO deal with great corpora
tions the need for the Government to act d.
rectly 10 far greater than in the case of labor,
because great corporations can become such
only by engaging IN In
Cornorafions terstate commerce and
interstate commerce II
peculiarly the rield of
the General Government. 1t Is an absurdity to
expect to eliminate the asuses IN great cor
porations by State action 1t IL difficult to be
patient with an argument that such matters
should be left to the States. because more than
cns State pursues the policy Of creating on
easy terms corporations which are never op-
Grated within that State at all, but In other
States whose laws they ignore. The National
Government alone can deal adequately with
these great corporations. To try to deal with
them iE an intemperate. destructive. or dena-
gosic spisit would. in all probability, mean that
nothing whatever would be accomplished. and.
with absolute certainty, that II anything were
accomplished It would b OF q harmful nature.
The American people need to continue to show
the very qualities that they have showp-that
Is. moderation. good sense. the earnest desire
to avoid doing any damage, and Jet 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 act
ing In no spirit OF hostility to 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 men and toward poor men, pro-
vided only that each acts in spirit Of Justice
and decency toward his fellows Great cor
poratcns 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 In
terest Of the public a whole. Where this
can be done under the present laws Il must be
done. Where these laws como short others
should be enacted to supplement them.
Yet we must never forget tho determining
factor in every kind Of work. OF head or hand.
must be the mans own good sense. courage and
kindliness. More important than any legisla-
uOn u the Srnuu4l grown OF . 1eeunB OF re-
sponsibility and forbearancs among capitalists
and wage-workers alike: feeling Of respect on
the part Of each man for the rights OF others:
a feeling Of broad community of interest, not
merely Of capitalists among themselves. and Of
vase-workers among themselves. but Of capt.
taiists and wass-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 tho employees OF that system contains
sound common sense. It runs in part ~ fol-
lows:
at n my bslief We can better servs each
oehsr. better understand the man ~ wen a.
his business. when meeting face - facs. az
changing viswa. and realizing from personal
contact We serve but ono interest. that Of our
mutual prosperity.
Serious misunderstandingS cannot occur
where personal good will exists and opportu-
nifty for personal explanation il present
In my early business life had experience
with men Of afraiss Of q character TO mako me
desire to ayoid creating like feeling Of
resentment to myself and the interests In my
charge. should fortune ever place me IN author-
ity. and am soiicttous Of measure Of con-
ndencs on the part of the public and our en-
ployes that Ahan hops may Be warranted
By the fairnsss and good fellowship intend
shall prevail IN our reistionship.
s;Dut d not feel am dlspesed to grant IN