The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-09

in a spirit of justice and decency to-
ward his fellows. Great corporations
are necessary, and only men of great
and singular mental power can manage
such corporations successfully, and
such men must a great ewards
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 laws it
must be done. Where these laws come |
short others should be enacted to sup
plement 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 re- |
| sponsibflfty and f~orbearance among |
capitalists 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 capitalists among themselves, !
n 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-
TEN contains sound common sense. II
runs in part as follows:
1T is my belief we can better serve
each other. better understand the man
as we'll as his business, when meeting
face to face. exchanging views, and
realizing from personal contact we
serve but one interest, that OF our mu-
tual prosperity.
Serious MISUNDERSTANDING can not
occur where personal good will exists
and opportunity for personal explana-
ton is present.
In ny early business life I had ex-
p~erience with men of affairs of a char
acter to make me desire to avoid Great
ing a like feeling of resentment RI my
self n the interests in my charge.
should fortune ever place me in author
ity, and 1 am solicitous of a 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 I intend shall prevail in
our relationship.
iu dO III leel L dIu OISpOS6Q 10
grant unreasonable requests, spend the
money of our company unnecessarily
or without value received, nor expect
the days of mistakes are disappearing,
or that caus for complaint will not
continually occur; simply to correct
such abuses as may be discovered, to
better conditions as fast as reasonably
may be expected, constantly striving,
/ with va wing c,,ooacc for tb,t ,Dro,
ment 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 l have
come among you. asking your good will
and encouragement.
The day has gone by when a corpor-
alton can be handled successfully in
defiance of the public will, ever though
that Will be unreasonable and wrong.
A public may he Ted, but not driven,
and 1 prefer to go with it and shape or
modify, in a measure, it's opinion. rath-
er than be swept from my bearings,
with loss to myself and the interests
In my charge.
violent prejudice exists towards cor
porate activity and capital today, much
Of it founded in reason, more in appre-
henSion, and a large meaSur is due
to the personal traits of arbitrary, UNI
reasonable, inc~ompentent, and offensive
men in positions of authority. The &C
complishment of results by indirectiOn.
the endeavor to thwart the intention,
If not the expressed letter Of the law
(the will of the people,. a disregard OF
the rights of others, a disposition to
withhold what is due. to force by main
strength or inactivity a result not JUS
titled, depending upon the weakness of
the claimant and his indisposition to he
come involved in litigation, has created
4 sentiment harmful in the extreme and
a disposition TO consider anything fair
that gives gain to the individual n
the expense OF the
IF corporations are to continue to do
the worlds work, as they are best fit
ted to, these qualities in their repre-
sentatives that nave resulted in the
present prejudice against them must be
relegated to the background. The cor
porations must come out into the open
and see and be seen. They must take
the public into their confidence and ask
what they want, and no more, and be
prepared to explain satisfactorily what
advantage viii accrue to the public if
they are given their desires; for they
are permitted to exist not that they may
make money solely, but that they NAV
effectively serve those from whom they
derive their power.
Publicity, and not secrecy. will win
hereafter, and law be construed by
their intent and not by their letter. 9th
erwise public utilities will be owned and
operated by the public which created
them, even though the service be less
efficient md tho roCI,It 1acC On 2 ;cfo otar1-
from a financial standpoint"
Bureau of Corporations.
The Bureau Of Corporations has made
careful preliminary investigation of
) many important corporations. 1t will
: make a special report on the beef in
2 dustry.