The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-04-30
EDITORIAL COMMENT

EDITORIAL COMMENT
The following article taken from the st. Louis
G,lobe-Democrat will prove Of more interest than
usual because North Dakota is the hot bed Of anti
corporation legislation and agitation. The lndepen'
dent believes that corporations are quite necessary
lin a way aud will prove boon to any state with
sensible legislation to regulate them in reasonable
manner. But in that regulation, great care should
be taken that the corporations are not driven out OF
the state entirely for their money is quite neces-
sary in the development Of this great state OF ours,
which is yet in its infancy
WARNING OF CORPORATIONS
The idea that all corporations are evil and that
hostilities should be carried on Unfortunately
against all met with setback in Democrat1c con-
yention of Hot Springs County held at Malvern,
Ark few days ago Arkansas has been carried TO
extreme lengths in the antcorporation direction by
It's legislative executive course in the last few
years. and is beginning to realize taat the crude
theories on which this action based nave been
above everything a detriment and an Injury to the
state. A resolution adopted at the Malvern conyen-
ton recited that too much illconsidered Legislation
has been enacted in Arkansas against business IN
teres the damage of farming and other Industries,
and that the country in general is suffering from the
sane tendency The financial furry was attributed
chiefly this cause, and conditions were pre-
dcted unless encouragement and protection are CIV
en- to- large business enterprises. In accordance
with this view the convention resolved that I'VE de-
mand Of county representative and state sena-
tor to institute immediate projections in our next
Legislature looking forward to the repeal Of the
WingO and Combs laws and to encourage CAPITAL
sather than drive it out by such drastic measures;
at the same tine reserving the right to regulate
these corporations by law in legitimate and moder
ate way
These are the words of practical common sense,
and the Democrats of Hot Springs County are not
the only ones in Arkansas who see and feel that a
serious mistake has been made by acting on the
opinion that every large incorporated business is
oppressive monopoistic and the predatory enemy OF
the people in general. For six or eight years the
party controlling Arkansas has legislated against
what are called outside corporations, those en-
gagged in such protective work as insurance, and
citizens of the state beginning to comprehend
the effects Of this movement to isolate themselves
to put their vocaons at the mercy of political
fads and shallow. mouthing politicians. A special
need of comparatively and undeveloped state
like Arkansas is capital 1t must from the
outside if 1t at all. 1t will go elsewhere il
met at the state boundaries with legislative enmity
and a general threatening attitude. Arkansas has
unquestionably hurt itself by listening to dema-
gogues other false leaders, and is suffering from
sefimposed handicap more than at any other
time during the last twenty years.
The time is past to question the need of combined
capital and industrial effort. Their proper reSula
lion is the true issue and this is matter to be care
fully deliberately weighed. Arkansas has hearkened
to frothy politicians who Shift their talk In any dl-
rection to catch votes and who fulfill their purpose
if they manage TO hold the offices and run the
finances of the state Arkansas is getting more than
it's share of their bghting influences. Some Of the
beneficial corporations upon which was has been
made have lost something, but Arkansas itself has
oeen hit infinitely harder It has railroads to build,
mines to open, lands to SELL and towns to advance,
and opportunities unlimited for newcomers indlvidu-
al and corporate but confidence has been shaken by
such freaks as the Combs and Wingo acts denounced
by the Malvern Democratic convention. Visionary,
radical legislatures have been making the state
more and more difficult and uncertain business
proposition 1t is the fault of Arkansas itself If cap
tal flows around instead Of into it.