The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-01

~
tnal mistieeds can be proved. AL their
wealth and power cannot protect them.
innocent Stockholders.
Much is said. In these attacks upon
the policy Of the present administra.
ton ABOUT the tights OF ninnocent
innocent who voluntarily purchases
stock In q corporation whose methods
and management he knows to be cor
rupt: ana stockholders are hound to
try to secure honest management. or
elise nre estopped from complaining
about the proceedings the governs.
ment finds necessary in order TO
compel the corPorationto obey the law.
There has been In the past grave wrong
done innocent stockholders by overcap.
italizaton. stock watering, stock job
bingY stock manipulation. This we
posing tho thing done and Furnishing
the offender when any existing law had
been violated; secondb by recommending
the passage Of laws which would make
ture. The public men. lawyers and
editors who loudly proclaim their sym.
patty for the innocent stockholders"
when a great luw-defyin G: corpora ton
witt, frantic vehemence against all ef-
forts by law to put a stop to the
practices which are the real and I'll /.
mate sources OF the damage alike to
apologists Of successful dishonesty al
ways declalm against any effort TO
punish or prevent 1t, on the ground
,, that any. such effort Will Jun ct le
hi tStp fS- INT. <E-t1 tt.
acts have unsettled business: and the
very men raising this cry spend hun
drcds of Thousands Of dollars In secur-
ing. by speech editorial. brok or PAM
phlet, the defense by Measurements OF
what they have done: and yet when!
public servants correct their misstate-
men,s by telling the. truth they de.
i IsSe lest values be e. depreciated."
They have hurt honsst business men.
h3nest workinGrnen. honest farmers.
| and now they ella NOR against the truth
being told.
| ,Ioral Regeneration.
The keynote Of all these attacks g
business and in politics is we'll ex.
pressed in brazen protests against any
effort for the moral regeneration Of
the business world. on the ground that
It is unnatural. unwarranted and IN
furious, and that business panic Is
tho necessary penalty for such effort
to secure business honesty The mo-
rality OF such a plea is precisely as
great as if made on behalf Of the men
caught in gambling establish ment
when that gambling establishment IS
ra.ded by the police II such Ugh words s,, rls
whose sentiments they represent stand
against the effort to bring about a
moral regeneration OF business which
will prevent a repetition Of the 1nsur-
dals III lew York: q repetition OF the
Chicago and Alton deal: a repetition OF
| the combination between certain pro-
slonal labor leaders, and certain big
financiers, from the disgrace OF which
| San Francisco has just been rescued
q rene ton OF the success sful effort by
every compettor. to oyerawe the com
mon carriers. and to establish mo'
| nopoy which treats the public with
! a contempt which the public deserves
PRINCIPLES and such sentiments to ay,99w
and act on them with inpunity. The
cutlery against stopping d.shone-t
! practices am,nE wrongdotrs,who hap.
| to the outcry raised against every e.
| fort for cleanliness and deceney in city
government because forsooth. It VIII
hurt business; me me, same mes outsry IS
tice for prosecuting. the heads OF CO.
| lossal operations that has been made
| against the men who IN. san Francisco
have prosecuted with impartial sever
! men public Officials and labor lead
erss alike. The principle Is the same
| in the two cases. Just as the black.
mailer ana brtbe.glver stand on the Il,
/ same evil eminence Of intamy. SO the
| man who makes an Ell ormous fortune
by CORFU pting legislatures and munich
I! palities and Fleeing his stock holders
moral level with the creature who
| fattens on the blood money of the
/ gambling house and the saloon. More
\ over, in the last analysis. both kinds
/ connect ed than would at first 81 s. hit APP
/ pear; the wrongdolng is at bott the
!. same. Corrupt business ana corrupt
oreasing debasement, one onthe other;
/ the corrupt head Of q corporation and
4 the corrupt labor leader are both IN the
i same degree the enemies OF hone st cor
porations and honest Dor UNIONS; the
rebate takcr the franc hise traf Kicker y,
/ the nanipuator Of securities. the pur-
veyor and protectorsof vice, the black
msll'ng WHra the halSteoT ea s5st
i alike work at the same Web OF cor.
4 ruption, and all alike should DO abb.
Tic .sbsusiS S Which Si,; is hurt! ~ the
q movement for honesty Is the Kind of
4 business s which. inths long run, t pays ~
tne county, TO nave laurt.S " IS t!!e
kind OF business which has tend ed y
make the very, name .hlgh finance
Il term of scandal to w hicll{ al b onest,
American men OF business should JOIN
In putting an end, ii i: =.
& Fl Respect for Judges il
Our. opponent, have recently been
bitterly cri lciztng the two jud SEES re-
ferred 70 In the acco lpanylng Z COM ~,
nlllnlca tons from the # Standard OIL
Company and the SANTA E'e RAJ ll'oad for
having imposed heavy fines. on ttese
& critics OF these two Judges exhaust
a themselves IN dcnounctug the IA ost re-
: appee,ntIGl amd cautious discuss IN Of ne
nffleinl action of q judge Which re-
q srful WRONG do ers Most certainly II
Il epehu es us al to treat with theaut
. most respect the high office Of Judges
u and upright zen. I,espeut ioY the law