The Washington times., 1911-08-08
WANTED, A CONSTRUCTIVE
NATIONAL POLICY.

death of commercial and industrial
equality and justice, Mr.. George w
Perkins struck new and true note
in his Houghton addfess, printed else
where in The Times today.
Business in this country has been
trying to adapt itself to a legal rule
that is neither commercially feasible
nor economically sound. In day OF
great things we cannot return to the
small things. .....
The giant strides of business devel-
opment following the civil war carried
industry into a new realm. Power,
machinery, the factory system, cheap
and universal transportation, division
of labor, and concentration of executive
responsibility, revolutionized the mech
anism of production.
Yet, with a persistence worthy of a
more intelligent understanding, legisla-
tive authority insisted in imposing the
old, out-worn legal conditions upon
business. 1t did even worse. Through
the voice of State legislatures it said
Thou shalt" to the men who sought
economy and efficiency in concentra-
ton; through the mandate of the Ma
tional Congress it retorted with Thou
shalt not"
The Supreme Court has directed that
this complication shall be resolved with
view to existing conditions, estab-
lished interests, and modern economic
necessities, in the light of reason"
For a sincere, earnest, and broad mind
ed study of our problems, under that
illumination, Mr.. Perkins makes a pow
erful plea. Business and legislation,
he tells us, are out of joint; he ap-
peals for such a constructive policy as
will bring them into harmony with
each other and with the manifest ten
denotes of the times.
Mr.. Perkins comedies that both busi-
ness and legislation have made mis-
takes. Neither has duly considered the
other. Mr.. Perkins suggests a Con-
gressional inquiry to learn:
Has the cost of articles made by
so-called trusts increased or decreased?
Have wages increased or decreased
Has labor been more steadily EN-
ployed and better housed-more gener-
ally employed and better satisfied?
Have there been fewer failures in
the lines of business involved?
Have the so-called trusts increased or
decreased our foreign trade balances?
Have the so-called trusts devised
ways and means and provided capital
for saving and utilizing waste products?
Certainly these are pertinent in
quiries, without accurate answers to
which no carnival of Congressional in
QUESTION can possibly be of real utility
in shaping a constructive program. Mr.:
Perkins, for himself, is courageous
enough to declare fatty against the old
superstition of competition. He de-
mands:
What has given us the sweat shop?
Competition.
What has given us child labor? Com
petition.
What throws labor out of employ
ment? Competition.
What causes low wages? Competi-
ton
What brings panics and \failuresH
Competition.
AND WHAT IS OUR CONGRESS AT
THIS MOMENT CALLING LOUDLY
ON OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO
ENFORCE, EVEN TO THE DOOR OF
THE JAIL? COMPETITION.
y This very universe" says Mr.. Per-
kins, teaches us regulation, supervis-
ion, and control by one great central
power. Individualism must
be preserved, but rather through emu
lation in collective effort than through
competition by individual effort"
Altogether. Mr.. Perkins has made
the most striking, courageous, and eff
fective statement of the present day
problem that has come from any pub
licist in recent. time. He demands a
national legislative policy big and
broad enough to see all these aspects
That we have never had, and that
we need more imperatively than ever
before.
Mr.. Perkins proposal is not of the
stuff of which dreams are made. Even
today there is pending in Congress the
Newlands bill looking to Inauguration
of such a great constructive program.
Senator Clapp,. chairman of the Inter-
state Commerce Committee, has de-
clared strongly for the principle of such
legislation. The determined efforts Of
such business men as Mr.. Perkins, CO.
operating with uch'public men as Sen
ators Newlands and Clapp, will give
us a true constructive national policy,
if only they can command the under
standing and support of the people
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