The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-11-17

we agree that government itself Is
a business proposition, requiring the
| application of business experience.
OF business sense. Of business judg.
ment, as absolutely free as possible.
from petty politics and political in
trigue, no more the proper subject
Of favoritism than is the business
of the bank itself. We have but TO
/ look around US, weigh our own ox.
| periencc Of recent years and the
conclusion is inevitably upon us, that
we have gone through almost half
score OF years, deluded by words
slmplyords-but not bcst by deeds
or action. Fully do we realize that
one. made with the love for military
display. for the ringing sound OF
fierce declarations, unmindful of the
value of a dollar. whether the dollar
be in his private pocket or the pub
lie treasury, naturally leads our
country to the very brink OF com
mercial destruction. The declara.
tlons have been so emphatic that I'm
the absence of reflection we are apt
to imagine that something has ac-
tually been accomplished. My Gre
dulous friend If you believe you
have had deeds along with the ava.
anche of words. | should be glad TO
hear those deeds enumerated. The
last six years has witnessed the
multiplying of trusts and monopolies,
Of Illegal and burdensome combiu.
ations depressing the people to such
an extent as 10 make that which
existed prior thereto look insignifl-
cant. and yet there has been, during
these years, no dearth OF pleasing
words and fierce declarations.
Let us hope for the day when
the spectacular will be employed
less and honest conduct of cor
porate business be assured. This
country with its multitude of inter
ests. each one In part dependent
upon the others. has become too
great to be the plaything of the no.
vice in business or statesmanship.
The recent assessment of a fine OF
twenty-nine million dollars against
one of the business corporations OF
our country, while spectacular to
degree. was more far reaching in its
III effect than the inexperienced au-
thor ever imagined. AS a punish
ment to the offender II was nothing
The real offender. might ultimately
escape this tremendous fine. At
most. that corporation would ulti.
mately collect the money from the
people of the country and laugh a.
the punishment sought to be i'm
posed upon it, To have given the
particular official who offended
against the law of the land a peni-
tentiary sentence of a year or more.
would have been real punishment,
which he could not have assessed
against the consumer OF tho pro
duct they market. But this enor-
nous fine proves punishment to
the people OF our country in two
ways.- =
"First-rhey contribute to it's
payment by an increased price on
oil.
"Second-It startled the whole
financial world. IL said to very
man and woman on earth who has
a dollar to invest. in the securities
OF American properties. that there is
power vested in somebody to ami
hilate the assets of any business
concern In America, no. matter how
great that volume of assets may be.
and this fear OF annihilation abso.
lutely destroyed the confidence Of
the investing public in every bus.
mess enterprise of the United States.
They say to themselves II a twenty
nine million dollar fine may be i'm.
posed. conflscating the assets Of one
corporation today. a dozen fines may
be imposed tomorrow and there be
no end OF destruction OF business
interests and enterprises.
Inspiring confidence in the people
is not question Of the enforce
ment OF criminal law. When a cor.
poration violates the law. that vio.
lation is necessarily the act OF some
individual officer OF the corporation,
We say. punish that offending or.
eer.. A Ave years sentence in the
penitentiary would have accomplish
ed more good than twenty-nine
million dollar fine and the real OF.
CONTINUED on page four)