New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-24
A CONSTRUCTIVE POLICY
Writer Urges It's Importance to Inter
state Corporate Business.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In all the recent discussion Of trusts
no saner words have been spoken than
those Of George w. Perkins. when he said
10 the Congressional investigating commit
tee that what the country needed was a
Constructive policy" with regard to inter
state corporate business. The period of
destructive criticism, undertaking and aem-
agogic investigation has long overrun. II
the Republican party is any longer ft TO
govern, why do not its responsible leaders
promulgate some definite intelliglble, con-
struc,ivc programme under which the in
dustry Of the country may proceed I'm nor
NAL, unconstrained development? With
natural resources, capital. business genius.
inventive skill and labor in abundance, will
any man outside Of a lunatic asylum give
any other honest reason why there should
not be Notwithstanding prosperity-eX-
cept the Tack of craftsmanship at our state
capitals, and particularly Washington?
our economies, our politics and our law
seem To be based upon the delusion that
the beginning and end of all Industrial vi
tality and growth is competitions multi
plcity of independent, unco-o rdinated, war
ring units. We dissolve the oil Trust into
thirty-thne distinct and Independent com
panies. II the philosophers Of twopeuly
business and chaos. and overzedlous attor-
neys general have their way We shall soon
cut up the Steel Trust into IA slices; then
We shall proceed 20 dissolve every other.
business institution which has cared to
apply the laws of economy and efficiency
on a large scale.
If the doctrine Of Industrial anarchy is
sound, why not apply it TO the political
field? There are plenty Of abuses i'm gov
eminent Why not remedy these evils by
dissolving the state governments and the
national government? II man cannot be
trusted with the powers Of industrial or
ganzation, then how may he re trusted
with the powers Of political organization?
If the natural laws Of Industrial evolution
are free TO operate, as they should be- how
can we escape national organization, mo-
nopoly. i'm the great branches Of manufact-
ure transportation, commerce and finance?
Why should we desire to escape such an
integrated industrial system when our eco
nomic salvation-the salvation, indeed Of
our whole social observation-disclosures upon
that very thing? The evils of private mo-
nopoly will disappear under social control
and democratic adjustment
The chief problem to which American
statesmenship should now address itself is
this How may We facilitate and encourage
the organization and coordination OF the
forces of industry so that material welfare
may reach its maximum and the interests
and rights of all-investor producer, con
sumner. employer and cmploye-ma be
fully conserved? How may We permit men
Of practical business knowledge and enter
prise TO build up, without the fear of public
abuse and criminal prosecution--to build
the business structure according TO 'he
requirements of efficiency and economy and
in accordance with the principles of JUS
tice? In other words how may Ne Iiberate
the forces of wealth production on the basis
OF democratic equality?
DELMAR T.. HAWKINS.
Syracuse. y. y, Aug. is, 1911.