The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-15

more or less weakness owing to the ap- preaching session of Congress and an undercurrent of uneasiness regardings President Taft's attitude towards corpor- ations. The President has just finished a tour of 130O0 miles throughout the coun- try, traversing the populous districts of all sections. He has thus come in close touch with political sentiment, and has evidently found the so-called "Roose- velt policies" popular. Having been elect ed on promises to carry out these poli- cies. it is to be expected that he will more or less favor legislation unacceptable to corporations and that agitation on these lines will be renewed when Congress opens. To the disinterested observer this Is not altogether surprising. strong hostile public opinion has unfortunately been created against our large corpora tions, chiefly because Of abuses incl dental to their recent rapid growth. It will be conceded that these corporations possess enormous power, and that by means of further combination they might be able to exercise an influence that would by corruption or other means threaten supremacy of the government itself. The placing of such vast interests in the hands of few men. who absolutely con- trol the destinies of hundreds Of thou sands if not millions of our population, cannot reasonably be expected to be permanent. The people will rule. They will insist upon the open field and fair chance. This is the foundation of our government, and no power that Is able to seriously interfere with that object will be tolerated. The threatened control of our industries and our railroads by small groups of men, organized for purely selfish purposes and having little or no regard for public ciples of the government. which aim at feeling of uneasiness among the masses and is really the chief incentive for most of the socialiEtic propaganda which is spread broadcast today. MT. Harri- man was a man of vast ability and un- doubtedly achieved great results, but the system of excessive centralizatlon in in- dustry for which he pre-eminently stood is in violent conflict with all the prin- ciples of the government, which aims at Squ6ltty oA oPpcituiiily " aiA- AsoN-S~'~% tremendous popularity in this country was based upon his clear recognition or the fact that public welfare was being frustrated by our great railroad and in- dustrial combinations. His method of cure may not always have been the wisest. but his purpose was sound and his policy will prove a winning one, although in the rough and tumble of battle more or less injurious agitation and legislation may have to be endured. Pres ident Taft has evidently sufficient politi- cal sagacity to recognize these conditions. and 1t is quite likely that he will vigor- ously carry out the Roosevelt reforms. Should he not do so, there is little doubt whatever that Mir. Roosevelt himself would be recalled to perform the task. There fore our captains of industry and rail- road magnates may as well choose as to whether they would prefer to have Con- gress devise a scheme of wholesome reg ulation of corporations under MT. Tafts moderate and kindly hand, or whether they would rather take the chances of dealing with Mir. Roosevelt, who would undoubtedly be less gentle and more radi- cal. The choice is with them now; later on it will be with the people if they do not act