New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-01
ATTACKS CORPORATIONS.
Professor Clark Talks to Meeting of
Federation of Churches.

Professor John Bates Clark. OF the department Of
economics OF Columbia University the principal
speaker at the second yearly meeting Of the Fed
Grafton OF Church Clubs last night. on the subject
The Parsons Relation TO Social and Economic
Questions and the Duty of the Layman 10 Urge
Them Upon His Attention delivered himself Of
caUstio criticism OF the present day rnonop-
Olisuo corpora tons Bishop Henry =. Potter. who
to have spoken on the subject. sent a note re-
GREETING his inability 10 attend on account OF Ill
ness. Resolutions sympathz with the Bishop
and expressing regrets AZ his absence were adopted
with rising vote. The Rev. Melville X. Bailey.
president OF the federation. presided
Professor Clark was the first speaker. He called
the corporations souless and criminal. and made
a comparison between the monOpolies OF to-day and
the indivlduaIsm in commerce OF bygone days
Some OF the things done by the directors OF these
corporations he said. were only a sad ad-
mixture OF moral obiquity. but of absolute Grim
inality. The corporation laws Of the country, he
said. were inadequate. Professor Clark did not
adhere strictly 10 the subject OF the evening. but
his address made an impression on his hearers and
aroused much enthusiasm. He said. in part:
I am usually receiving admonitions and Swing
jeot 10 the attention OF the clergy. They are the
great enough TO mould church as they want be
cause moral energy is too scarce and the struggle
ot a football game wherein a mass play appears 10
be nothing more intellgiole to the amateur than
planned it TO me and l believed them ] took it on
faith. But the economic struggle in the modern
phase seems TO be eeasng rather than beginning.
In recent times when competition very active
there were struggling more laboTers than you could
s sood under Ia" that would bring out something
The thing we notice the most IS the struggle Of
the classes against the corporation interests. In
each one relied on Individual effort, and out
OF this effort came good In so far as IT required
moral guidance, and the Church and the people
were brought close together.
Tho work of the Individual no longer counts; It
to manage and 10 appeal TO. Even when the appeal
is made it Is not heard. as the corporations have
not soul enough TO appeal to- The corporations
must be handled IN the fashion Of the police quell-
ing riot IN a modified form
The powsr, devslopegd Hoped. 6y the monSpoLes is mo-
good monopoly OF any size is a dead II alive
ana OF any size, it makes great mischief
sense Of fustice There were no n1ononoIies ana
not the opportunities for plumber there are now.
There are no complete monopoes at this time. but
are got rid OF the better In the present day it is
the survival Of the ffttest whether honest other
It must be regulated by the government. The gov
eminent IS supposed 70 be tho creature OF the
people.
II IN the end. providing the game has been a
clean one. IL Is successful In bringing about COM
plete understanding between class and corporation
this struggle OF the classes be clean as there
is no type OF virtue where there is no struggle. I
not only regard corporations as an evil, but
rested progress Socialism would put an end to the
struggles. but would undoubtedly cause others.
The Rev. DR. Robert L. Paddock appealed to the
lawmen for advice to the clergy. saying that in
city ministers subjected to greater tempta-
tons than in New York Without the guidance OF
as worldly other
Some churches" he said. appealed only 10 the
hurcb ~ which I We he Belong will be- dsnocrsic
believe IN Christian socialism"