Arizona republican., 1911-10-03


tility TO capital, at least to the capital
which was engaged in those things
That 1t was thought necessary to enact
statutes to condemn. 1 am no defen-
der OF those evils. On the contrary. I
nave been as strongly in favor OF their
suppression by statutes made effective
as anyone: but / think we have ar
rived at time when the people them
selves ought to acquire sufficient per-
ception into the operation of economic
FORCES TO realize that a sectional pre-
Judlce leading to legislation against the
interests OF one part OF the country
VIII as certainly rebound to the det-
riment OF another as night will follow
day. We are in the same boat. We are
all tossed by the same waves Why,
then' should we allow the political
fortunes OF any man or set q fmen TO
mislead us into a hostility toward parts
OF the country which is certain to
work injury to all?
II is not a progressive policy in
any true sense to be hostile TO pros
perity of any part of the country. II
is not progressive to be against a
railway corporation because it is a
railway corporation. 1t is progress
sive to take measures by statutes
which shall regulate railways and
prevent their recurring to evils of
which they have been guilty in the
past; but, assuming them to be en-
gagged in lawful business, it is of the
highest interest that we should Sc
cure to them reasonable rates. so
that their shareholders may have a
profit. and that we should not enact
legislation in a spirit of hostility and
think that merely because we have hit
a railway corporation and injured
1t we have done something for the
public good Any other view is lack
ing in sanity, and it is that spirit
of unreasOning and unreasonable an
tagonism which political exigency
seems to develop and against which
the complaints of business men may
with propriety and good reason be
directed.
OF course, we are all anxious to
prevent the acquisition of undue prof
its by anybody, whether in the form
of discriminating rates and rebates
or by a combination in restraint of
trade. or by any other means which
is unlawful or improper; but we
ought not to allow our fear that
of that sort may happen to
lead US on to a general attitude of
enmity toward the accumulation of
by thrift and foresight and to
its lawful investment in great enter
prise for reasonable profit
The misfortune of the situation l
perfectly realize. 1t is one of the
rooted evil You, can not eradicate
1t by popular movement without the
becoming so very strong
as to be carried for the time be-.
yond the median line of common
sense and into the eXtremities Of
We have reached n point where
we can call a halt not in the pro-
gressive movement to keep business
free from these abuses, but where |
we can call a halt against appeals |
to a spirit of pure hostility to pros
Derity on the theory that no one |
ran be prosperous without being dis
honest or a violator of law in securing |
the profits OF his DuSlHtSS.
Let us put our shoulders together |
in a movement to promote the bust |
ness prosperity of the country by |
frowning down those attacks that are |
angendered not by a real desire 10 |
eliminate abuses. but by wish to
arouse in the people an unjust preju-
lice and take away from them their
clear perception as to their real in
.erest in encouraging the investment
If capital. in commencing its thrifty.
wise. and lawful use to secure good
and reasonable profit. and to enjoy
he widespread influence Of the pros
Derity that business thus encourage
ID is bound to shower upon the peo-
pie at large.
We must have investments from
which to secure a large wages fund
which is needed to support the wage
,arners. We must inspire in the
business men who control those IN
,estments the confidence that they
will not be driven out of business.
II railroads are unjustly !egisiated
against by state legislation to the
point where they can not do prof
table business, the injury Is more
lirect to the wage earners OF the
-ailway than IL is to the sharehold-
II. because the shareholders pre-
,umably are people who have some
,ther means OF livelihood than the
dividends from the stock, while the
wage earners are entirely dependent
IN a continuance of conditions which
make the wages fund large and sup
ports the wage Garner and his faml-
y.
Let us reason together. Let us be
charitable and kind. Let US not be
20 suspicious and ascrlbe corrupt
motives to everyone in the commun-
ty but our particular friends and
political associates Let us do team
work in the community. Let us have
egislation that helps, or an absence
If legislation II 1t be unnecessary.
And let us approve and praise the
treat business enterprise and genius
hat honestly and by proper methods
property and puts it into
productive industries. supports the
thousands of workmen, and furnishes
profit to those whose savings have
rome into the shares and bonds OF