Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-16
WAR AND COMBINATIONS
THEMES OF GOV. DIX
Tells Chicago Bankers Co.
Operation in Business Is
Essential These DAYS.

CHICAGO, October 14.-War and the
modern tendency to combination IN bust
ness were touched on by Gov Dix OF
New York in an address he delivered a,
the banquet of the Bankers Club here
tonight
The governor said in part:
THE skillful conduct of business and
finance is a prominent element in the
greatness and prosperity of a nation
and the skill and genius which gives to
America her present high position in the
industrial and financial world are urgent
ly needed in the conduct of government
and the settlement of controverted eco.
nomic. social and political problems.
1T is not true conservation of energy
for men of power and influence in Ameri-
can life to exaggerate existing evils and
by vituperation and appeals to prejudice
and passion seek to array brother
against brother and class against class.
The time has come for words of peace
and justice. Economic and political evils
have existed and do exist; they exist in
every country in the world. Reform is
needed in many directions. Yet 1t re-
mains absolutely true that this nation
of ours Is sound in every fiber. is still
the land of opportunity and that in busi-
ness and finance it's leaders and promi-
nent figures are unsurpassed In the world
for high aims personal honesty, clean
conduct and fidelity to ideals.
Origin of Combinations.
The modern forces Of combination and
cooperation have their origin in the
spirit of American enterprise and national
need and opportunity. They are forces
that should not be annihilated, but con-
served and regulated in the peoples inS
terest. Government no longer fulflls its
function by limiting it's powers: to the
guarantee of the public peace and the
sanctity of contracts. Government in
these days must build up a higher type
of social life, based upon economic justice
and the denial Of privilege.
THE problems created by these new
conditions are in their essence largely
economic and Industrial and to solve
them properly and permanently there Is
need OF the experience and the knowledge
of the man Of affairs.
I'VE are suffering from plethora Of
laws and regulations aimed at the con-
duct of business. What with new inter-
pretations of existing laws additions
without number to the statute books and
attempts to regulate and supervise every
prise is discouraged and checked, the
field of employment dimin she'd the re-
wards of labor decreased and the fiancal
and industrial future rendered unstable
and insecure. Is 1t not time to stop and
consider?
Necessary in Modern Times.
Gigantic business enterprises that can
be established only by combination and
cooperation are as necessary in these
modern times as long distance telephones.
four-day steamships between New York
and Europe and eighteen-hour trains be-
tween Chicago and New York.
when great enterprises make for
economy and efficiency they should be let
alone by the law: when they aim at OPP
preston and extortion through monopoly
they should be curbed and regulated.
You bankers can do. and are doing. a
great work for the welfare of mankind
by Withholding financial supplies for war
ma king.
I'VE need not discuss the question
whether there can be such q thing as q
good war. or a bad peace: but let our
bankers covenant with their cOnsciences
that they will never again finance a war
of exploitation. OF mere aggression. OF
conquest. or of plunder-in short. that
they will not finance any war that Ia
avoida ble-and the day of the war lord
will be near its end, and that Of world
peace. founded on arbitral justice, will
soon have dawned."