The Detroit times., 1912-01-17
BUSINESS MEN SHOULD
SHUN LAW VIOLATORS
,,ax.,~,,,,~rx~
Michigan Man Talks To National
Board of Trade On Sub
ject of Legislation A
TOWNSEND.
tFrom a Special CORRESPONDENT

From a Special Correspondent.) !
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-Senator
Townsend, OF Michigan, spoke before
tho National board OF trade today on
legislation and its relation to bust
ness.
IF combinations are TO be permit
ted they must be regulated in order
that they may serve the general well
fare" he said. IF these combinations
are to be discouraged and prohibited,
a law to that effect must be passed,
and that necessarily involves the ques-
ton OF reorganization. | repeat, some
thing has got 10 be done and what
that thing shall be is just now troub-
ling the legislator From whence
arises the need OF legislation? The
selflshness and carelessness OF some
business men. Few people would COM
plain and the professional agitator and
demagcgue would be out OF employ
ment If so-calied trusts and combina.
tons were organized and conducted
on principles harmonizing with the
general good, but when, through UNI
fair competition or through restraints
OF trade. wrong is inflicted either upon
competitors or upon the consuming
public, then the necessity for control
ling such malefactors becomes evil
dent.
These evils are the result either
OF intentional misdoings, or, of what
Ia almost as bad, careless neglect on
the part Of business mens believing
as ] do in the superior intelligence
OF the so-called captains OF industry
and OF large business men generally,
/ cannot believe that they are sincere
when they say there is doubt as TO
what Is and what Is not permitted
under the law. No court would per-
NIT the highwayman who, with dark
lantern and bludgeon, waylays a trav-
eler on the highway and robs him or
his goods, to say that he did not
know there was law against such
acts OF violence. Every business man
knows when he Is conspiring to wrong
his neighbor; every man knows what
he Is doing when he destroys COM
petitors to enrich himself or increase
his power. In the course OF a some.
what close study OF big business
methods during the last few months
have concluded that the highest ser
vice the business a.. can render
honest business II to condemn and
outlaw the man who has a different
and lower moral and ethical stand
ard for business than the one he has
for social or religious life. II ought to
be very unpopular for a man to cry.
wolf" wolf" when he is In the
sheep-stealing business. Personally, I
believe in the general high character
of the great majority OF the business
men OF this country. do not believe
they are violators of law, nor do I
think that their legitimate business Ia
threatened. | do feel, however, that
the ordinary business man has been
too much absorbed in his business to
notice the cause of the dlsrepute into
which the wicked acts OF some have
placed all large business.
Public sentiment Is the final law
maker and sheriff You gentlemen
and those you represent can shape
TO a great degree that sentiment. Let
good business ethics and moral con-
duct be insisted upon as part and
an indispensable part Of a business
mans equipment and antitrust laws
would have no terrors and profession,
al political hucksters would have no
market for their wares
you do we'll TO become interested
in matters OF legislation affecting your
business. but that interest should be-
gin before those matters reach Con-
gress." SCOTT.