The Washington herald., 1906-11-25

make money. But there is more than one
way 10 make money-it can be done by
wise economy or by harsh eXtortion. and
before Judgment is pronounced upon a
trust it should be ascertained which pur-
pose has been in view and how well Il Is
observed.
A general condemnation of corporate in
terests is to-day as unreasonable as was
the prejudice years ago against labor
saving devices The capital that IS now
released bv the elimination of wasteful
duplication can be put 10 the develop
rnent Of new industries, as the labor that
was made useless by machinery has found
employment that is remunerative and
productive We look back with sympa-
thetic scorn upon the people VINO op-
posed the introduction of locomotives be-
cause they might displace the stage coach
and deprive the farmer OF a market for
his horses. and il with difficulty that
we can realize that even the wheat grow
ers fought against the reaper. fearing
that in throwing out the scythe and
sickle men would be idle.
But one locomotive Is now drawing tons
Of freight that waited for the strength
Of scores Of horses TO bring to its train.
and hundreds of men can have their daily
bread come from the reaping OF single
binder. These benehcent results from
agencies, at one time In disrepute, come
from a wise correlation Of parts and
such adaptation Of means to ends that
are novel. may enjoy Federal protection
through government patents.
- - s.-.rr try I
Gated and the greatest efficiency Is at
tanned by a tudicious correlation Of parts
Il may happen as in the case OF the IN
ventor and maker Of the best machines,
that this correlation and combination or
contributing elements rebounds to the
profit Of a small group, but if a great
number is benefited and none injured, the
success Of the few, though arousng occa-
sional jealousies. does not merit blind
abuses.
Many trusts have, under privileges
thoughtlessly given, been oppressive, and
10 them punishment should be admins
tered. Corporations may be sOulless, but
they are managed by men having souls;
they are inanimate, but living beings
control every action We may speak Of
them individually as it" but every ac-
ton, wise or foolish, gentle or cruel,
benehcent or injurious. was conceived in
the brain of a man or woman. ordered by
q human being and executed by living
hands. There is, therefore, personal re-
sponsibility for every move and action,
and to each should be given the praise
OF censure that is due. The men who
organize and direct corporations must be
held to the same standard Of conduct and
judged by the same rules that apply to
those who hold individual relations TO
their fellow-men. They cannot be Chris
tians and control the management of
shining trust; nor as moral men, direct
thieving corporation. The ethical aspects
of trusts will find their own adjustment
in the recognition of the individual re-
spOnsibility Of its managers, and not in
legal restrictions based on the assump-
Jion that commercial virtue and corporate
interests are incompatible Such laws
make enterprise intelligence. and indus
try a misdemeanor. They are the products
of the socialistic dream that the majority
in numbers can hold the minority pos
sessing the skill and strength down to
"a dead level of endeavOC and reward.
The consumer can see two advantages
resulting from the doing Of business on
q large scale. He realizes that 1t is pos
sibIe to reduce the cost of administration
and management in proportion to results
raw material can be bought and trans
ported TO better advantage in large
quantities; the operations Of production
in huge plants where different processes
are assembled in close proximity and
systematically arranged with reference
TO each other result in greater efficiency
and reduction in COST all the materials
can be better utilized for by-products and
waste prevented, and products can be sold
at a lower price TO consumer and assured
a more uniform quality at the same time
that a reasonable profit is maintained on
the large capital invested
II addition TO these clements conribut-
ms 10 the cheapness Of the product,
there is the equalization Of supply and
demand, and its great influence in pre-
venting panics, or at least In lessening
their intensity Individual manufacturers
could not take advantage Of low prices
in material 10 lay I'm sufficient stock TO
carry them over period of higher prices,
ant She consumer for lack Of capital and
ignorant CT manufacturing conditions
would be unable to make purchases suffi-
Cient TO tide him over the periods when
the producing is stopped Strikes can
close shops, and small warehouses Of in
dividuals would soon be emptied with
no supply 10 meet an lnsistent demand.
y large business can pass safely over
these slight shocks and arrangements; ;
they can manufacture FOR a season at
a loss, knowing that more favorable
conditions will enable them To recoup.
and even If the wheels stop and the men
be idle the great stock held in reservc
can be called upon 10 feed the market
without the consumer realizing the ex-
istenCe of anything unusual Individual
efforts could not accomplish this and
Loose combinations would fal! apart under
such a strain. 1t is the trust and the
trust only that can perform this steadying
function and to destroy it or cripple its
efficiency would be as harmful as it
would be to demolish the reservoirs Of gas
or water, which though spasmodic in
securing their supplies, furnish the con
sumer without fluctuations IN quantity OF
qgality
This storing value Of great industries
IS brought home 90 us, if we will hold
IN mind a single industry-the making
or harvesting machinery Here the year
is roughly divided into two parts Nine
months, during which the bulk Of the
manufacturing is done; and three months.
IN which the product must be sold II
any definite estimate could be formed
as to the number Of binders that would
be required for the coming season. the
lii -