The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-25
MIR. Eckels' Warming.

bank clerks and their guests Satur-
day evening, Mr.. Eckels laid down in
a clear and satisfactory manner some
principles with regard to the functions
of government which would be ac-
copied by practical business men gen.
orally as sound and well-considered.
Mr.. Eckels would limit the func-
tons of government, and particularly
Of municipal and state authority, to
protection of persons and property,
the exercise of the police power for
sanitary conditions in the community
and the education Of the people. The
main thought was to emphasize the
Importance of leaving to individual in
itiative and accomplishment every
thing that might be regarded as
business enterprise conducted for
profit. He would have the state re-
frain from engaging in any kind Of
Industrial, or trade enterprise not
necessarily connected with the main
tenance Of order, the establishment of
sanitary conditions and public educa-
ton. All industrial activity, whether
it be in the nature of public service or
private enterprise, he would leave
within the domain of individual effort.
In other words, Mr.. Eckels has no
| sympathy with the theory Of munich
| pal ownership and operation of street
railways, lighting plants, and other
| forms of public service about which
there is more or less agitation.
Carrying his idea further, Mr..
Eckels would deprecate anything
| which would tend to restrain or re-
strict Individual or corporate enter
prise, particularly in the field Of trans
portation. He paid high tribute to
the courage and foresight which takes
the risk of constructing great railway
systems thru as yet comparatively UNI
developed regions, and contended that
the public service rendered was vastly
superior to any private benefits de-
rived. ' fla -. r..' a'.. #-s#
Perhaps none Of Mr.. Eckels' hearers
will be inclined to take exception at
any point to his propositions, but
doubtless it must have occurred to
some Of them that in these days OF
corporate aggression and concentrated
wealth. with it's concentrated power
which is becoming so formidable and
has not neglected to exercise it's power
in seeking to shape legislation and in
fuence it's administration, it would
have been equally pertinent to have
considered the wisdom and necessity
Of such measure and form Of govern
mental control as would best protect
the weak against the strong the pub
lie against it's creatures. For this
fact must not be lost sight of-tha
none Of these great corporations
which exist for the purpose of doing
certain things better than the state OF
the Individual can do the same thing!
for themselves, exists primarily fol
the benefit of those who compose 1t
These corporations exist for the bene
fit Of the public; the private benefit il
, a mere incident. A necessary Incl
: dent, of course, because there must b.
{ some inducement to, attract private
{ capital and private effort, but the.
!, would not be created and endowed
/. with extraordinary powers II 1t wer
f not for the public benefit which SHOULD
: result and which is the only excuse TO
l their existence. ,'~a. IS -- s.-. ,,ea,...
3 And when the public makes rule
r and regulations under which thes
creatures are endowed with peculia
g power delegated by the state, 1t be
. comes of the highest Importance tina
o these corporations shall respect i
o every particular the rules and regula
O tons established. When it appear
unwise the same public which ha
created the corporation and endowe
it with it's extraordinary powers, wi
}, make other regulations and prescrib
;, other rules and establish other cond
tons which shall contribute to tn
;, highest degree of efficiency of II
:, agent, the public-serving corporation
: Unfortunately there was no note {
this kind in Mr.. Eckels' address, an
: it was not reached until it came frol
the speaker who followed him, Mr..
B. Gilfillan, who, in his suggestion {
: government control for public servie
= corporations, adapted to the require
y ments of the case, but holding them
as strict an accountability as the sta
. now holds the banking institutions I
the country. expressed sentlmel
which is quite as important, and or
% which it seems to us should always
;. coupled with the very wholesome a.
u vice which Mr.. Eckels gave again
"a present tendencies toward socia
. ism. Indeed, nothing makes, f
resistance against this socialist
q tendency more effectively than fl
} recognition Of the ability of Il
lie state to control the great pow
T. which it has called into actie
Is thru the creation Of the corporate
$ Unless the state shall possess and e
r ercise this authority there is no SAT
lie guard and no sure guarantee again
$. certain and inevitable drift iowa
e. that condition of things against whit
a. Mr.. Eckels uttered so able and Who'll
IS, some warning. Not until the publ
service corporation is made to reali
he and to act upon the theory that it e
of lists not for private profit, but for pu
Of lie service, and that it's first obligati,
ny is public service and strict sobedien
i'd to the public law, will we be able
ne lay the menace of socialism.
\ Q