Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-28

there must be a division Of prosperity
60 that all shall benefit, and second
that there can be no such division Of
prosperity unless the prosperity 10
there to divide.
Scores Violent Conservatives
IT is curious to see how often the
extremists on both sides combine
against the sane and moderate men
who are striving to fight a real battle
for justice l use the word moderate
aovisedly for the violent self-styled
conservative is just as wild an ex-
tremist as the most violent OF the self
styled extreme radicals. At the pres
ent day the reactionary who wishes
that the great corporations shall re-
main absolutely unbridled finds his
most effective ally in the make believe
extremist who desires to pose as the
ultra -enemy Of the trusts. The small
business man and the honest big bust
ness men are alike interested in So
curing a definite, settled and clearly
defined governmental policy about
business. The great lawbreaking trust,
on the other hand, objects much more
TO definite and clearly settled policy
CT governmental control than he does
TO the policy Of make believe extinc-
ton; and therefore he halls with sar-
comic pleasure the attitude of the ex-
Temist who is always declaimins
about his intention Of killing all the
trusts: for the trust magnate knows
that this particular kind OF aeita.or
VIII not kill the trusts at all and will
as matter Of fact accomplish nothing
" Whatever except to divert attention
from the real remedies which would
cure the evil
Present Policy One Of Chaos.
our present policy Of chaos can no.
permanently continue. It hurts US at
nome. and i, irPairs our chance TO se,
our proper share OF foreign commerce.
We are giving about IS per cent OF
our time 70 fighting among ourselves
about ourselves. and only about 25 per
cent 10 prom citing our foreign trade.
When We act in this manner we may
De sure that We shall suffer in com
petition with such an admirably or
gained international rival as for in
stance Germany. where the conditions
are exactly The reverse. Now I have
unlimited faith in the energy. initiative
and common sense o. our business men.
aid | have no fear for ,he result il
they are placed ii fair con- ti.ion with
any foreign com pvtitors. But we our
->.:S --2cs- make -he conditions fair
L -hsy a-s 20 have a decent chance.
To DO SO We must get before them an
accurate chart CT what they can co
and what Iaey can not DO in the bust
ness world. We must endeavor 10 en-
courage legitimate and honest business.
and Ct the same time war against
business c-ooke6ness and injustice.
There should be q competent admin
istTaI,ve body, an interstate industrial
commission OF something OF the kind,
which would DO for the world Of in
dus--ial production what the inter
state commerce com mission is doing
for the world OF industrial t-anspo-ta-
ton. TIE effort to DO this work thru
law suits and by courts has proved
fat failure. What is necessary is
administrative work. The creation Of
commerce court IN dealing with in
re-state comm cree has been a step
backward. not step forward. Il has
represented the un6oing Of some Of the
good work that has been done in inter
state commerce: and We mus: not re-
peat the mistake.
Injustice to Small Business.
i want 20 do full justice 10 the big
business man, but l also want to 90
full justice to the small business man.
and the .1liddle-sized business man. 1t
should be the policy Of the government
clearly 70 define and punish wrong
doing, TO give in advance iull infor-na-
ton TO every man just what he can
and what he can not legally do. But
with the big business man there is
need for especial precautions which
are unnecessary as regards the small
business man The people OF this coun-
try are not afraid OF the mere size
OF business enterprise provided il is
honestly organized and honestly man
aged. But they feel that such size
carries with Il potentially Of wrong
doing that makes it necessary that the
nation and if necessary the states
shall exercise over big business a con-
troll and supervision which are IN
necessary as regards small! business. 1t
is OF the utmost consequence that We
shall get permanent business prosper
ity. and il can only De permanent if il
is On safe basis. and II can only be
On q safe basis il there is effective
governmental control OF big business
including the issue and the sale OF
stocks and bonds SO as to prevent all
SUN ~ us DIS cSeI 6i!A
the aagrant abuse Of power by exploit
ing the business interests Of the people
FOR the personal gain OF the few. Re
member that water in stock. means
unjust taxation OF innocent people in
order 70 get dividends. 1 call this I'M
just taxation; ii could be ca4ed by a
much narsher name, did l not wish to
speak moderately; for this unjust tax
alton, this extortion, Is practiced at
the expense alike 81 innocent stock
holders anG Of the great outside public
Of consumers. 1t is hard to over esti-
mate the widely ramifying damage Of
this, as Of all other kinds, Of business
corruption.
stransins Big Business.
The effort to strange big business
according 10 the methods Of tic ex-
tremists has only been successful TO
the extent Of alarming all business, and
has failed completely a. regards ade
quate controlling the very kinds of big
business which it is necessary most to