The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-13

mercial corporations, which prevail large ly, are having the effect to confuse anc to delay. I regret exceedingly that most people do not seem to recognize wha1 commercial corporations have done fol the country and that they have beer the chief factors in development and growth during the last 25 years. It is matter for deep personal regret that so few of our legislators can ap- proach these great problems with busi. ness training or business knowledge. OuI Congress is made up-about 70 per cent of it-of lawyers. They have not com mercial minds nor have they been com- mercial1y educated. E., -s
 I regard it as exceedingly unfortunate that business men are not represented more numerously in Congress and the state legislatures We want. and we absolutely need, laws that will be fair and just to all treating all business men alike. protecting the consumer, compell- ing compliance in the strictest manner punishing those who transgress, encour- aging those who obey. But the men charged with the responsibility of giv- ing us such laws are without the neces- sary commercial training and experience to guide them
 What Is the remedy? What the solu- tion? I wish I felt competent to suggest more definitely. Perhaps some one more able than myself can do so.
 Look to the Press
 To the press, we must look for more help than to any other agency to set sentiment right. There the line of dis crimination between the good and the bad in commercial corporation activities should be drawn. Newspa pers and mag azines. while exposing and condemnine corporate abuses in the strongest terms, can at the same time emphasize the ad- vantages of corporations. and can com- mend what Is good in them for the pub- lie welfare. Such a policy would soon bring about a different state of the pub lie mind.
 Legislation. believe. responds quickly to public sentiment. It would be inf1u- enced greatly by the exercise of more judicial treatment on the part of the press.
 Intelligent public sentiment would soon compel repeal of the Sherman law. and the passage of a better. more definite. more effective antitrust law would come long before the United States Steel com pany's suit is decided.
 Business Mems Convention
 It has seemed to me that possibly a great convention of business men, held in the near future at some central place, lHlPnt nelD. IL SIOulu pc cOIupOSeQ OI representatives from boards of trade. merchants exchanges, business men s leagues, commercial clubs, etc. It should embrace practically every one of these organizations in the United States.
 1t should show the weakness and the dangers of present conditions; it should declare in no uncertain words for definite and just Legislation; it should serve mo- tice upon selfish politicians that the bus mess men of the country are aroused and will hold responsible any party or ganization that hereafter resorts to par tisan methods which have produced a paralyzing effect upon honest commerce.
 I quite believe that if we had man of business training in the White House say such a man as was Marshall Field confidence would return immediately. business enterprise would go forward with leaps and bounds; every idle man. who wants work, would find it. at good wages; the wheels of commerce would turn faster than ever before in our his- tory.