The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-10-30
COY. DIX WOULD CALL A HALT
GIVE Bt SINESS A REST FROM I'LL
CONSIDERED INTERFERENCE.
Great Enterprises which Make for Econ.
Omy and Emciency. He says. should
Bc Let Alone BY the Law-ShOuld he
l'urbed when They Aim At Oppression.


| lurbed when They Aim Al Oppression.
! ALBANY. OCT. 20 Gov. Dix expressed
his opinion to-day in regard TO the effect
on the country of the recently instituted
suit TO dissolve the United States Steel
Corporation and the comments OF Presi-
dent Taft in regard TO the enforcement Of
the Sherman antitrust law Gov. Dix
takes a very deep interes, in this mat =
ter, owing TO his position az Chief Execu-
tive of The Empire State, within whose
borders most Of the large corporations
have either their executive homes or their
financial footing and whose citizens are
so vitality interested in the progress and
development of large enterprises Re-
ferring to the general subject. the Gov
ernor said
1T is well nigh a national calamity to
permit the lust of personal ambition and
party conflict To mar the wonderful spec :
tacle Of national progress and efficiency
which the United States presents to all
mankind. Rational agitation demands
that We cannot rest pla, idly in the poli,i-
cal ideas Of past centuries and the indi-
vidualistic methods hat governed in the
economic world up 20 the las, decades
of the nineteenth century. The world
moves. Combination and cooperation
are the great facts and forces of the age
in which we live
The modern forces of combination and
cooperation have their origin in the spirit
OF American enterprise and national
needs and opportunity. They are forces
that had not been annihilated. but con-
served and regulated in the peoples in
terest
THE problems created by these new
conditions are in their essence largely
economic and industrial md to solve them
properly and permanently there is need
of the experience and the knowledge OF
the man Of affairs. Students and doc
trinaires es-men OF the school-have a
legitimate and invaluable task in collect
ing facts and data on existing conditions
and in formulating theories and plans Of
ameloration. But permanent and bene-
fetal results can be achieved only as
practical men of affairs join in esta blish-
ing rational and workable reforms.
The artisan. the mechanic. the worker
OF every kind who each day goes forth
from his home to add his unit Of effort
and efficiency to the progress OF industry
and commerce, contributes his all to the
aggregate Of the nations wealth and
power and has a claim upon our con-
sideration equal To the claim OF the
financier and captain of industry. The
capitalist is toiler. even il only with his
brain and the laborer is capitalist.
even il his sole capital be that of Drawn
! Capital has a just claim to remunera- =
tion commensurate with the hazard and
risk of business and financial enterprises,
and the compensation of labor should be
far above the line Of bare subsistence.
| We are suffering from plethora OF
laws and regulations aimed at the conduct
Of business. What with new interpreta- :
tions of existing laws. additions without
number to the statute books and al attempts
to regulate and supervise every effort
of human endeavor. business enterprise
is discouraged and checked. the field of
employment diminished. the rewards OF
labor decreased and the financial and
industrial future rendered unsta BILE and
insecure. Is il not time TO stop and
| consider?
Gigantic business enterprises that can
be established only 10y 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 oppression and ex-
tortion through monopoly they shou uld
be curbed and regulated
The annihilation Of so-called big bust
ness in this country is impossible and il
it were possible would force backward
step To the dark days OF demoralized con-
ditlons. with low wages and uncertain
employment for labor. and destructive
losses for employers and investors
Changes in industrial and economic con
ditions are inevitable. but il disaster il
10 be avoided they must be we'll consid
cred and based on reason and justice
rather than on prejudice and personal
ambition and greed.
The great need of the time is to cease
i'll considered interference and. consistent
with human rights. give the fullest play
possible To the energy and resourcefuness
of the American people.
1t Is not u true Conservat ion of energy
for Snen 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.
America is still the soundest invest
ment in the world. and this because OF
the virtue and industry of her people and
the honesty and enterprise and energy
OF her leaders in finance and commerce
and industry"