Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-29


reasonable treatment Of the business de-
pendent on the tariff, or against the
solution Of the monetary question, which
appeals to ell reasonable and experienced
men.
Work of DemaEogues.
we in this country are in the same
boat Speeches made in one part Of the
country to arouse the people OF that
region against the enterprises or business
of another are made by the blindest men.
Let there be prostration Of business in
one large section and that prostration
will spread quickly to all the rest.
What makes men happy? What
furnishes shoes and Globes and good,
wholesome food to the family Of father
and mother and children but prosperous
times, in which labor is in high demand,
wages are good, sales are plenty, prices
are normal, and everybody is sharing In
the general prosperity?
In attempting to rid ourselves OF the
evils that were growing in business so as
to put dangerous power into the hands
OF concentrated wealth. we had to do
many things that savored of hostility TO
capital, at least to the capital which was
engaged in those things that II was
thought necessary to enact statues to
condemn. Ia am no defender of those
evils. On the contrary. l have been as
strongly in favor of their suppression by
statutes made effective as anyone; but
think we have arrived at a time when
the people themselves ought to acquire
sufficient perception into the operation
OF economic forces to realize that a sec
tional prejudice leading to legislation
against the interests of one part Of the
country will as certainly rebound to the
detriment 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 for
tunes OF any man or set of men to mis-
lead us into hostility toward parts of
the country is certain TO work injury to
all?(
Meaning of Progressive.
1T is not a progressive policy in any
true sense to be hostile to prosperity of
any part OF the country. II is not pro-
gressive to be against railway corpora
ton because II is a railway corporation.
II Is progressive to take measures by
statues which shall regulate railways
and prevent them recurring to evils of
which they have been guilty in the past
but assuming them to be engaged in
lawful business, it is Of the highest in
terest that we should secure to them
reasonable rates, so that their share
holders may have 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 II we have done something for
the public good. Any other view is lack
ing in sanity. and 1t is that spirit of un-
reasoning and unreasonable antagonism
which political exigency seems to de-
velop and against which the complaints
OF business men may with propriety and
good reason be directed.
"Of course. we are all anxious 70 pre-
vent the acquisition OF undue profits by
anybody, whether In the form Of dis
eliminating rates and rebates or by q
combination in restraint OF trade. or by
any other means which Is unlawful or
improper; but we ought not to allow our
fear that something OF that soft may
happen TO lead us on TO a general atti-
tude or enmity toward the accumulation
OF money by thrift and foresight and to
its lawful investment in great enterprise
for reasonable profit
Misfortune of situation.
THE misfortune OF the situation per-
fectly realize 1t Is one OF the inevitable
consequences OF deep-rooted evil. You
can not eradicate it by popular move
ment without the movement becoming so
very strong as TO be carried for the time
beyond the medlan line Of common sense
and into the extremities Of unreasonable
ness.
we have reached point where we can
call a halt. not in the progressive move
ment to keep business free from these
abuses, but where we can call a halt
against appeals 10 a spirit OF pure hos-
tility to prosperity on the theory that no
one can be prosperous without being his
honest or violator OF law in securing
the profits OF his business
Let us put our shoulders together in
movement 70 promote the business
prosperity OF the country by frowning
down those attacks that are engendsred
not by real desire to eliminate abuses
but by a wish 10 arouse In the people
an unjust prejudice and take away from
them their clear perception as to their
real interest IN encouraging the invest
ment OF capital. in commanding It's
thrifty. wise. and lawful use to secure
good and reasonable profit. and 20 enjoy
the widespread influence OF the pros
perity that business thus encouraged IL
bound to shower upon the people At large.
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