The Washington herald., 1912-04-11
Il Is Inevitable.

II must have seemed strange to buSi-
ness men of Washington. gathered at the
Chamber of Commerce, 10 hear the sug-
gestion that they curb their activities
toward any industrial development Of
the city, even when uttered by the sweet
ly persuasive tones of DR.. Harvey Wiley
who enjoys the esteem of the people in
very great degree.
If the history of industrial enter-
prise the world over teaches anything,
its very plain lesson must be that it is
not to be diverted from its natural chan
ncis nor cajoIed into unnatural ones
with any profit Its coming and going
is as inevitable and immutable 'as are
any of tie laws OF nature. The con-
ditions where it thriyes best is in close
touch with its market
Whenever there are gathered togethe.
a sufficient number of consumers OF 4
product, it is inevitable that human en-
terprise and business acumen viii see
10 it tfat the demand is supplied in the
most profitable manner to all concerned
in is production Any diversion FROM
fixed principles, any interference with
the natural flow of trade, is certain to
be attended with greater inoonven 'enceS
than by any counter-advantages
The proposition against which DR..
Wiley has set himself is this: Wash
ington is growing and growing rapidly
by just the very agencies which !Ie ad
vOcates, namely by simply being Ike Ma
t;onal Capital That is attracting resi-
dents to the city in great and ever
greater numbers With this continuous
increase, the demand for commodities
increases. This demand will be sup
piled up TO certain point by Wash
ington retailers and wholesalers of
goods manufactured outside. But there
must come a time when the genius of
American manufacturers, always watch
ful for opportunity. will seize upon the
situation and mold conditions with that
success which is source of national
pride.
Sumptuary laws in restraint OF trade
or limiting the freedom of the individ-
ual find no place in American legisla-
ton. and their very suggestion is alb
horrent to American people. Their i'm
position, even in slight degree, works
more harm upon the people as whole
than it does good, except to very few.
Ever the most ardent advocate of
manufactures here does not desire to
see them in the city proper. Contigu-
ous to the District, and close enough to
supply its needs and to benefit its peo-
pie, is to be found ample accommoda-
ton for the establishment of what the
trade knows as light manufactures. The
history of Berlin, Paris, London, and
other world capitals will be repeated in
Washington so far as manufactures and
industries are concerned. The condi-
tons which attend them will be quite
compatible with the highest ideals of
American civilization, and no amount of
opposing sentiment or active discourage
ment can prevent their establishment
when the time is ripe.
1t is hard to believe that the TuiIeries,
the Luxembourg, Unter den Linden,
Westminster Abbey or other glories
of the capitals of Europe have suffered
by the great volume of industries of
all sorts that are at once the support
and pride of its people. Washington has
often been idealized by some as the
"drawing-room of America" Even so,
the worEingmen will not be excluded
from il.