The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-03
George w. Perkins Com
plains of Attitude To-
ward Corporations.
NEED PATRIOTISM
AND LESS POLITICS
Charges There Is No Logical
Connection Between Evils That
Have Existed and Remedies
IT. Sought to Apply-Sug-
gests Constructive Pro-
gram to Congress.

New York, February 2.-"somebo.ly
IN this country IS making a colossal
mistake. What we need Is more
patriotism and less politics"
George W. Perkins thus complained
or the Federal governments attitude
toward corporations In an address de-
lirered here tonight before the Traffic
Club. an organization of railroad men
and merchants
There is no logical connection"
said Mr. Perkins. between the evils
that have existed in our large in
dustrial concerns and the remedies
that the government is trying to APP
ply. In place of regulation we are
given segregation, and are told that
dissolution Is the solut'on; while
every practical man knows that disso-
ment regulation Is all right but gov
eminent repression is all wrong
Somebody In this country is mak-
ing colossal mistake. Somebody Is
woefully wrong. Is 1t the theoretical
politician or the practical business
man? Would 1t be a mistake at least
to try to regulate before we strangu
late? 1t is time that the business
men OF this country awoke to what
the theorists of this country are trying
to 40. Business men have made mis-
I
them, but these mistakes in their
costliness to the people will be but
as drop in the b. cket in comparison
with the costliness OF the mistake IS
that our theoretical friends have
been making In recent years and are
continuing to make.
Constructive Program.
"a constructive program ooes not
present insurmountablc difficulties. Its
II.
and prompt If we could have little
more patriotism and little less
politics. Congress could In a very
short time adopt policy that would
give both Immediate and prospective
relief. and this could be done By work
ing somewhat along the following
lines:
"First-Creatc at once, In or out or
the Department OF Commerce and La
Dor, e business court or controlling
commission. composed largely OF expe-
rienced business men.
"Second-Give this body power to
license corporations doing an interstate
or International business.
"Third--Make such license depend on
the ability of a corporation TO comply
with conditions lalL down by Congress
when creating such commission ano
with such regulations as may he pre-
5cribed by the commission itself.
'Fourth-Makc publicity. both before
and after license is Issued, the essential
feature of these rules and regulations.
Require each company to secure the APP
prevail of said commission of all its at
fairs. from its capita lization TO its bus
iness practices. In the beg ginning lay
down only broad principles. with view
TO celebrating and perfectinG them as
conditions require.
"F!fth-Nlake the violation of such
rules and regulations punishable by
the Imprisonment of individuals rather
than by the revocation of the license
of the company, adopting in this re-
spect the method of procedure against
national banks in case of wrongdoing.'
Prospective Relief.
AS a means of obtaining prosp active
relief, Mr.. Perkins suggested the fol-
lowing:
"First-The House and Senate to
join at once In supporting a commits.
sion to make 4 careful study of THE
Sherman law and the various sugges-
tons that have been made regarding
its repeal, amendment and ampliilca-
ton,
.'Second-Said commission 10 study
and report on the wisdom and practi-
cability of a national incorporation act.
THE time has now come when we
are obliged to stop and fight the ques-
ton out. The developments of The last
few months make 1t clear that dissolu-
tion is no solution. The wrecking crew
has been working overtime. 1t is now
time to put the construction ing on
TO the job"