Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-06-25
Ought to be a Good Thing.
COMMERCIAL SECRETARIES ARE
HEADING A MOVEMENT TO
GET RID OF CUMBERSOME
LAWS AND IMPROVE
OTHERS.

railroads, the insurance com
panies, as a rule the press of the
State, ETC., are all hearty en-
dCrsers of this commercial en-
terprise.
This is certainly move in the
right direction. 1t ought to be
a good thing. 1t will be a good
thing if it can inspire the bust
ness men of Texas to study poll
tics. The business man as a rule
has always been the "boss poll
teal chump" of the earth. This
has not resulted from lack of ca
pacity. The keenest and broad
est intellects are engaged in COM
mercial pursuits. But the bust
ness man as rule absolutely re-
fuses to study politics. 1t is
deserved reproach that he does
this-for the reason that it is
gross neglect of his greatest per-
sonal interests and an evidence
of small patriotism. 1t is COM
mon thing for the business man
to regard men who take interest
in political matters as political
tricksters and demagogues. Yet
they have from year to year
been intrusting to them all their
political interests. This does not
even smack of common sense. 1t
is every mans duty to take in
terest in politics-study politics.
No man should be more vitality
interested in the study of poll
tics than the business man.
While the commercial secre-
taries's association ought to be
good thing, there is danger
that it may, instead, be very
bad thing. In fact, if the bust
ness men are content to have the
Commercial Secretaries Asso-
citation run State politics for
them, it is almost certain to be
a bad thing. Judging by express
sions of certain of the young
men promoting this association,
it may be made an enginery for
"the interests" unless the prac-
tical business men of the State
the rank and file of CONNER
cial clubs, boards of trade, etc.
shape the policies of the associa-
ton.
Some very adroit lobbyists
have already identified them
selves with the movement. A
great furore has been raised
about some insurance companies
having been run away from the
State by drastic legislation. A
law can seldom reach perfection
in it's original shape. Most good
laws in fact result from wise
amendment of originally bad or
defective laws. No doubt there
may be some wise amendments
of the insurance. aw so much
complained of. The evident in
tent of the law is in the right di-
rection. One OF the greatest
taxes upon the people is the life
insurance business, as is prov
en- by the colossal fortunes piled
up by the various companies.
However, people will and should
insure their lives. 1t is beyond
question just that life insurance
companies that get millions of
dollars in profit out of Texas
should invest g reasonable
amount OF the revenue in Texas.
If the commercial secretaries
will evolve wise amendments Of
the law, well and good. If they
undertake to annul it, they will
hear from the people. What the
commercial secretaries and the
business people should under
stand is that business is the Sec
ond estate, so to speak-produc-
ton being first and consumption
third. Now, if it be the purpose
to secure laws that bear justly
upon all classes, well and good.
But if the idea is to take care of
the business people only, then
they must expect war.
There is one work this asso-
citation should do. as we think.
1t should take hold of the rail-
road freight question with en-
phasis. The present commission
system is a farce. 1t amounts
to a pool in favor of the rail-
roads, the immense expense be-
inc maid nv the naonle What