New-York tribune., 1906-06-23
SAYS FOG BLINDS ALL.
Judge Grosscup Citicises Corpora
tions and Their Critics.

Ottawa, Kan. June 22.-Judge Peter s. Gross
cup of the United States Court of Appeals. de-
Iivered an address here to-day at the ottawa
Chautauqua. dealing with corporations
Judge Grosscup spoke of the great growth OF
corporations since the Civil War. declared that
ownership OF the country's industrial properties
should be restored to the people. and as step
in this direction favored state as well as Con-
gressionaI action He said that out Of recent
revelations of the manner of conducting certain
corporations there had come spirit Of indts-
criminate distrust. spirit Of criticism. 'in too
many places a blind fury. that continues still
to envelope our Judgment. fog blinds the
eyes to intelligent study Of some great build
ing" The first thing TO do he said. IN the move
to restore to the people their rights was to dispeI
this fog. TO see things in their right place and
proportions. Continuing. he said:
constant duty, Of course, is TO see to it that
the particular corporations that are breaking the
law be made 10 obey the law. To the full extent
that the national administration, sincerely ana
intelIigently is pursuing this duty, public opinion
will remain behind 1t. But if the administra-
ton and the Republican leaders think that the
disease will be reached and eradlcated soIey
through continuous campaigns against lhls OF
that Incorporated enterprise, If the corporation
in itself as the embodiment of modern enter
PRISE were some alien enemy-I entirely dissent
When Mr. Bryan denounces the particular cor
poratiOns that by discrimination and favoritisrn
justly oppress the public. L agree with him.
Every species Of device that puts it within the
power of an outside party to choose which or
two more competitors shall succeed and Wnlch
shall fail Is a crime against that first principle
Of American business life-equaltty of Opportun-
tty But when Mr.. Bryan, the already chosen
leader of the Democratic party. sees no further
than thfs-when he cOnfuses what under Just
corporate, policy corporate enterprise could De
come with particular corporations that nave
abused their opportunities. dissent again.
Judge Grosscup said that the incorporation OF
enterprise is not itself a sin. True, cOmpett-
tion in many cases had been unjustly sup
pressed and in many lines almost destroyed. but
the chief cause was in the fact that under our
present corporation policy the people at large,
though they have abundant means, have no
reasonably secure corporate way offered TO them
TO raise up competition. The thing TO do 70 raise
up competitors he said, lis not indisCrimi-
nately 10 denOunCe the corporation. The thing
to do is to raise UP competition, is to rehabtli-
tate the corporation, 10 purify 1t. to restore 70
IL character and responsibility that the people
may come back into the ownership of the cOun-
trys Industrial properties. For until that is
done ali opportunity for new or competitive en-
terprise will be in the hands Of those who al
ready have monopoly of the field"
The message that 1 have come 10 deliver"
said Judge GrossCup. in closing, lis 10 urge the
people of this state take the lead in giving to
the Industrial life of the Union embOdi-
ment that. instead of losing sight of. will again
lift up to his rtghtful place in his countTys
prosperity the individual man"