The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-07-03
Business Men Of Country Should Be
Given Banking and Currency Sys-
tenn Which Will Make Possible
Individual Initiation.

season of the year is upon us, that
work in these chambers and In the
committee rooms is likely to become
burden as the season lengthens, and
that every consideration Of personal
comfort, perhaps, in the cases OF some
Of us. considerations Of personal
health even, dictate an early conclu-
sion of the deliberations Of the ses-
sion; but there are occasions OF pubic
duty when these things which touch
us privately seem very small; when
the work to be done is so pressing and
so fraught with big consequence that
we know that we are not at liberty to
weigh against 1t any point of personal
sacrifice. It is absolutely imperative
that we should give the business men
of this country banking and curren-
cy system by means of which they
can make use of the freedom Of enter
prise and of individual initiative
which we are about to bestow upon
them.
We are about to set them free; we
must not leave them without the tools
of action when they are free. We are
about to set them free by removing
the trammels of the protective tariff
Ever since the Civil war they have
waited for this emancipation and for
the free opportunities it will bring
with it. It has been reserved for us
to give it to them. Some fell IN love,
indeed with the slothful security OF
their dependence upon the govern
nent; some took advantage OF the
shelter of the nursery to set up
mimic mastery of their own within
its walls. Now both the tonic and
the discipline of liberty and maturity
are to ensue There will be some re-
adjustments of purpose and point OF
view There will follow period CT
expansion and new enterprise, fresh
ly conceived. 1t is for us to deter
mine now whether it shalt be rapid
and facile and Of easy accomplish"
ment This it can not be unless the re-
sourceful business men who are to
deal with the new circumstances are
to have at hand and ready for use
the instrumentalities and convenleDces
of free enterprise which independent
men need when acting on their own
initiative.
1t is not enough to strike the
shackles from business. The duty of
craftsmanship is not negative merely.
It is constructive also. We must show
that we understand what business
needs and that we know how to sup
ply it. No man, however casual and
superficial his observation Of the con
ditions now prevailing in the country
can fail to see that one of the chief
things business needs now, and will
need increasingly as it gains in scope
and vigor in the years Immediately
ahead of us, Is the proper means by
which readily to vitalize its credit
corporate and individual and It's orig
NATIVE brains. What will it profit Us
to be free If we are not to have the
best and most accessible instrumen
talities of commerce and enterprise
What will 1t profit us to be quit o
one kind of monopoly if we are to re
main in the grip of another and NOR
effective kind? How are we to gail
and keep the confidence of the bust
ness community unless we show tina
we know how both to aid and to pro
tect it? What shall we say If w
make fresh enterprise necessary an
also make it very difficult by leaving
all else except the tariff just as W
found it? The tyrannies of business
big and little, lie within the field o
credit. We know that. Shall we no
act upon the knowledge? Do we nc
know how to act upon it? If ma
cannot make his assets available q
pleasure, his assets Of capacity an
character and resource, what satisfa
ton is it to him to see opportunit
reckoning to him on every hand, whe
others have the keys of credit
their pockets and treat them as all bl
their own private possession? 1t
perfectly clear that it is our duty
supply the new banking and currene
system the country needs, and that
will Immediately need it more tha
ever.
The only question is, When shall v
supply lt-now or later after the
mands shall have become reproach
that we were so dull and so SLOW
Shall we hasten TO change the tar
laws and then be laggards about ma
ing 1t possible and easy for the cou
try to take advantage of the chang
There can be only one answer to tn
question. We must act now, at wh'
ever sacrifice to ourselves 1t is
duty which the circumstances forb
us to postpone l should be recrea
to my deepest convictions of pub
obligation did not press 1t upon "
with solemn and urgent 1nsistence.
The principles upon which we shou