The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-04-26
G. W.pERKINS ON
GREAT TRUSTS
FaVOrs National Control Accom-
panied by Publicity.
ONLY COURSE, SAYS BANKER.
Declares the People Have Right to
Know What Giant Corporations Are
Doina--Why He Contends State
Control ls impossible.

4 ~~-'NN'HN~
Control lie impossible.
An argument for national control o.
our great corporations was made b.
George w. Perkins of ]. p. Morgan
Go. at the Graduate School of Admin
istrative Science at Harvard unIyer
sity, In Cambridge, Mass, the othoi
day. Mr. Perkins In his address re-
ferred TO the talk that few evil mind
cd men had brought about conditions
which Ia the end would pauperize the
people. He admitted that there were
great evils. but went on:
81 ask you to think seriously whether
II has been 50 much the Vaccinations
Of wicked men that have brought Ut
where we are or the inventions and
discoveries of the age - inventions
which in themselves have been acclaim
ed and applauded as great achieve.
ments. Were these inventions simply
TO DO laid away on shelf or were they
to be put 10 practical user Was the
long distance telephone to be play.
thing or practical instrument Of
commerce. Why applaud the inventor
and berete the user?
I'VE would have no large business
concerns and we would not be trou.
bled with some of the business ques.
tons now engaging public attention IL.
with one sweep of the hand, the In
ventions and discoveries of the age
could be wiped out of existence and we
put back into the condition under
which business had to DO transacted
about half century ago.
1.-THE attempt by humans to make
laws that win nullify conditions that
have come about through the conquest
Of the mysteries Of nature will Fever
succeed One might just as wen at.
tempt to Iegislate against lightning. IL
this country does not want business
done with the instruments that invent.
ors and discoveries have placed In the
hands OF business men, then eradicate
the causes, not the results Begin by
eiectrocnting Edison and Mareoni; ap.
prehend the wright brothers and put
,stesi behind the bars.
Glarina Abuses In Business Methods.
The people have witnessed abuses.
glaring abuses. In business methods.
They have suffered under many OF
these for years and have found no
remedy. They hive boon told that
these abuses came about largely be-
cause Of the size to which certain bust
ness enterprises had grown. For want
Of a better reason and for lack OF
real thought many have accepted that
one. How un-American to be afraid
Of q thing because Il IL Target Who
has been afraid of the United States
as Il has grown from thirteen states
to forty-sixf Who has wanted a law
restricting our population because It Il
approaching the 1o00oo.0o0 markl
The true American, he who thinks
deeply. logically, has no such fear or
belief. It Isn't the size that he fears;
L Is the methods followed. He fears
he management OF q giant enterprise
that is secretive, that does not respect
public opinion, that does not realize
hat when Its shares are owned By
he public It's managers are substan-
tally public servants. He fears the
methods of the blind pool-that is all.
he wants to know. and be has right
% know from disinterested third par
les, what IL being done by great
business enterprise IN which bis money
3 invested or which Is handling com.
modify that affects bis daily life.
The officers OF great corporations
should realize TINT such concerns are
more nearly public institutions than
,rivate property. firmly believe that
progress in this direction
$ being made. While the agitation of
he last few years has been unfair and
harmful In many Instances, on the
'ther hand It has set business men
linking. has awakened the business
conscience and has brought new re-
Illaation Of the fact TINT It IL as true
{ business as 1t Is OF the individual
hat there Is no permanent success un. !
esa It be based upon integrity Of char.
ctar.
How Trusts Would be Benefit.
Let those of Us who are In business |
e fair with the people, and the people j
VII be fair with as; let as see and
ccept the tendency OF the times; let l
8 realize our responsibilities, and our
rohIema will DO far easier OF solution.
we believe that IN our republic the
copies word Is law, let us believe 1t
. 81 things, aud IL the people have
ecided that the time has come to take
hand IN how business shall be con
ucted Is it not plain business sense
meet the question at least half way
ather than eight It all the wayf
Giant corporations would be not a
lenace. but a great public benefit. II
managed under laws that would COM
el proper publicity and punish officers
y improper methods.
How can this be done1 Here is the
roblem for us All 10 think about. For
y part, out of the multitude Of sug-
sntlons there seems to be but one
ossible course VIZ. national control