Evening journal., 1909-01-25
Monday, January Is, 1909
NO CLASS CAN LEAD.

- ROFESSOR EDWARD A. ROSS, a noted
4 sociological writer, laments that business
men are coming to dominate the country and be
lieves that a rampant commercialism" would
sacrifice national health safety, morals and
truth. He urges that common sense and the con-
science Of the non-commercial classes shall con-
stanty assert themselves and promote the higher
and deeper interests of the nation.
Professor Ross, we believe, takes rather too
pessimistic view of the matter. Years ago there
was complaint that the voice of the business man
or OF the captain of industry was not heard loud
enough in the halls of legislation Many people
declared that il things were run in a business
manner, that if business men and not profess
sional men-lawyers chiehy--were put in con-
troll, things would be better. There would be
more economy and excellent management
Professor Ely, then at the Johns Hopkins Uni
versitv pointed out however, that such results
would not necessarily follow the rise OF business
men. Despite misgivings the rise of the business
man in affairs and in politics continued, and the
acme was reached when Mr. Hanna and those
OF his cult gained the ascendency. Things on
the whole did not become better
1t is true that men not of the socalled
professions have made rapid strides in po-
Tics. Here in Delaware. for example, we have
two United States Senator's who are not profess
sional men, Years ago it was accepted almost
an unwrttcn rule that our United States SEN
ators should be lawyers But few men not law
yers have represented this State in the Senate.
But the business man has come to the front.
The professional classes and the other classes
have their faults bat it seems to us that the
proper thing is an even balance i'm the manage
mcnt OF affairs among all classes. There will be
both business men and professional men in the
highest positions and a combination of the two
should bring betNr results than could be OBJ
tained blythe exclusive control of either. 1t must
be remembered that with the growth and deve-
opment Of the country the importance of the
business man increases. Business men are bet
ter educated, arc brighter today than ever.
Formerly practically all the graduates of the
higher institutions of learning entered the pro-
fessons, but how different now The techn-
cal schools graduate hundreds of young men. and
many young men from the colleges enter bust
ness careers.
1t does not follow that the conscience OF busi-
ness man should be inferior to that of profess
sional man The great wealth that is devoted to
all the humane institutions comes large, from
the business men. The standard of business
morality is getting higher today than ever,
I'm some cities the Civic Clubs and the Com
mercial Associations are among the most "ac-
tive agencies in civic and social reforms. Many
business men are in the movement against child
labor. They favor Fairgrounds they be-
ginning to favor profit sharing, cheap insurance
and other things In Philadelphia for example,
the business men have certainly been up with
the professional men in the efforts made there
for civic improvement.
On the whole, then, it appears that no espec-
ial class Of society is TO be depended upon to lead
the battle for light and learning, but professional
men, business men and laboring men must work
together