The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-14
THE POINT OF HIEW.

It Is now pretty generally accepted among men that the erring insurance officials who by their conduct made it possible for the friends of Governor Hughes of New York to mention him in connection with the presidential nomination were not moved by the criminal instinct when they used the funds of the big companies to line their own pockets. They were slowly introduced to the budding methods of high finance and by the time they had blossomed into habits, which have since been found to be contrary to the well fare of society, they were so accus- tened to them that of all the people who were surprised by their condemna- tion they were the most so. Their point of view made 1t impossible for them to realize the seriousness of their con- duct. The world is familiar with the reforms which have come in conse- ouence. Decent finance has by order of the law become the successor of high finance.
 John D. Rockefeller, who gave yes terday morning a remarkable interview to a representative of the New York World, is another victim of his own point of view, which is not the point of view of society at large and can never become so without loosening the foundation stones of firm building. MT. Rockefeller sees serious trouble as consequence of the batting of corpora tions which control millions and em- ploy hundreds of thousands. "The policy of the present administration" says he, towards great business combinations of all kinds can have only one result. It means disaster to the country, finan- cial depression and financial chaos" Leaving entirely out of consideration that result as the possible outcome of 
 the strenuous attitude of the adminis- tration towards the big concerns, or as the possible outcome of a lack of business confidence on the part of trad CTS, we are for the moment more in terested in MT. Rockefeller's point of view as expressed in his arguments proving to his mind the existence of this lack of confidence and hence the preparation for trouble which he fore sees. When confidence was high he found it difficult to get time to consid- er new syndicate undertakings, Neith- CT MT. Kuhn nor MT. Morgan would give him the time he asked to estimate the chances of success. To-day extraor- dinary opportunities are given hin with the privilege of thinking then over as long as he wishes. The diff1cul. ties which beset swift if not high fl. rance convince him that the attitude of the federal administration is makins for disaster.
 That is the point of view O man whose dollars contro him; 1t is not the point O view necessarily of the grea majority, who, lacking the genius fo wealth-making as well perhaps as tn, taste for the job, are forever reach ing out as more beneficial to societ, for the means and methods by whicl the business of the country may b. carried on more orderly and with higher respect for good morals. Tn conflict between the two is irreconcil ale; the points of view clash a weapons in bloody war. The man ner in which MT, Rockefeller says tn great oil company was organized car ries conviction with it. Fierce com petition was fatal; in combination la strength and success. Smaller mel than he have tried 1t and will con tinue to try 1t. but it is not this kim of protecting consolidation that tn majority object to; 1t is the use t which the power is put later in orde to command the field. It is at thi point too, that the Rockefeller poir of view conflicts with the most seri ousness with the opposing point ( view. He cannot possibly understan
 it, since he is confessedly deprived (
 the opportunities to invest he had bt fore, which with him constitute tn barometer of progress, The popula
 point of view cannot reconcile itse
 with his point of view because it's ail
 in life has more to dc with commo
 prosperity under equal enforcement
 the law. It may err in underestima
 ing the benefits which have been d'
 rived from great trust undertaking
 and in underwriting the lower scale
 prices which has been made by ther
 but the popular point of view still at
 heres to its contention that one Jof