The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-10-03
TAFT ON THE FUTURE
The Secretary Of War Considers
the Trusts.

Regulation 10 Necessary, but There 10
Danger That In the Current Zeal For
Reform the Dsmsoosues and the 30.
eialists May Get the Upper Hand and
Garry Legislation Too Far-Faith In
the American People.
In q recent issue the Citizens Bull
lstin Of Cincinnati gives series OF ex-
tracts from the most recent addresses
Of Secretary Taft. After taking up In
some detail the evils that have result
ed from the rapid development Of cor
porations during the past few years
Mr.. Taft says:
without defending, mitigating or In
any way justifying the evils l havo
described. 1t certainly can be said that
they were the outgrowth Of the enor-
nous expansion Of business and OF
capital involved In the spreading bust
ness Of the country and that, while
they are to be deplored and to be
stamped out, 1t would be the utmost
folly to initiate and carry through
Legislation which instead of remedying
the evil shall kill the enterprise and
investments which have gone on apace
to make this nation the great center OF
industry and production Of the world
And the danger now is that In the zeal
for reform demagogues. Socialists and
enemies Of society may be given an
opportunity to carry on Legislation to
such an extreme as permanently u
hamper the business growth Of the
country.
I mo injustice reacts SO quickly as
injustice to capital, for capital can pro-
tect itself. can stand loss and with
draw and leave the community from
which It fees In condition Of help
leseness that It will take years to over
come. While this Is the danger from
the awakened public conscience on the
subject OF business integrity, let us
not fall to rejoice in the enormous ben
eft to the country which is involved In
the existence OF this public conscience,
for 1t was .Quickened into expression
at a time when the greatest prosperity
prevailed throughout the country,
when lavished wealth made comfort
for more people than ever before and
when that luxury and hunt for pleas
ure which led the Roman empire and
other dynasties Of old to destruction
1t was prophesied would bring about
the same fate for this republic. But
II has not done 80, and In the face
Of comfort. luxury and pleasure there
has arisen this protest from the many
enjoying all the prosperity possible
against the abuses and violations Of
the trust, and there has arisen a cry
for higher business morality and a
more sacred care and scruple in the
conduct Of agents and trustees.
The Publie's Demands.
ut Is becoming more and more GER
tain that the public wiz insist on
greater publicity In the management
Of these great financial trusts. and a
closer scrutiny into the methods by
which the great combinations shall
continue and maintain their business,
and a greater and greater care and re-
gard for the public with which the
railroad and other transportation COM
panies shall discharge the duties
which, in accepting valuable fran
chises, they assume to discharge to-
ward the communities in which they
carry on their business.
1.-THE various provisions Of law, the
tribunals and executive machinery by
which these results are to be accom-.
plished, will be the duty of the coming
generation to work out and develop.
The responsibility Of the wielder Of
millions of capital which has hereto
fore accompanied his exercise Of pow
or In the business communities. 1t Is
now settled. must have an end, and
the limitation which shall effectually
end 1t will be dictated by experience
and the, statesmanlike acumen Of the
coming generation.
"Such changes cannot be effected In
q short time. Such changes cannot be
brought Hhont by A mere denuncia-