New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-12
But Tells Commercial Club OF,
Chicago PubIic's Attitude !
Must Change to Effect
Real Reforms.
BANK SYSTEM is CONVICTED
Honest Men at Disadvantage
He Says, Because Trade
Methods Are Not Trusted
Preservation Not =
Conservation" :

right to growth and its duties to the
country, were discussed by the Presi-
dent-elect, Governor Woodrow Wilson
of New Jersey, in speech before tho
Commercial Club of Chicago tonight.
II do not care how big a business
grows, provided it grows big In con-
tact with keen competition" he said.
The Governor made an appeal for q
dissolution Of what he said were preju-
dices in this country between capital
and labor. Among Governor Wilson'S
auditors were bank presidents, railroad,
presidents and heads Of great business
enterprises.
Governor Wilson declared that sue
cess of enterprise depended on the
opening up to the rank and file OF the
nation, not only it's physical resources.
but the business credit as well.
Men had testified under oath, he said.
to the existence Of an "inner circle."i
by which credit was obtainable to the
exclusion of those against whom that
| inner circle sought to discriminate.
Calls Banking System Convicted.
II am not drawing an indictment
against the banking system" he said.
| That already has been convicted. But
| do refer to the basis of credit in
business.
II tell you frankly that IL I permits
ted my thoughts to dwell upon the res
sponsibiity that will fall upon me =
would be daunted. / came here to asd
your counsel and assistance.
THE business future Of this country
does not depend on the government of
the United States; 1t is dependent on
the business men. The government
cannot breed a temper; It cannot gem,
crate thought and purpose. Things
done under the whip Of the law are
done sullenly, somewhat reluctantly
and never successfully.
"The hope of America Ii the change
ing attitude OF the business men tow
ard the things they have to handle In
this country.
Il want to take sternness out Of this
country. 1 want to see suspicion dissi<l
pated. / want to see the time brought
about when the attitude. Of the rank
and file Of the citizens of the United
toward the business men Of the coun-
try, shall be absolutely done away with
and forgotten. Perfectly honest men
are now at a disadvantage in America
because business methods in general
are not trusted by the people, taken as
a whole
That is unjus(B to you; it is unjuss
to everybody with whom business deals
and everybody whom business touches.
I'm the United States they do not be~
level mean the rank and file OF our
people do not believe-that men OF
every kind are upon an equality In
their access 10 the resources of tha
country. any more than they believe
that everybody is upon equal terms In
his access to the justice of the country.
II is believed In this country that
poor man has less chance'to get Justice
administered to him than a rich man.
God forbid that that should be gem
orally true.
Must Bs Free from Monopoly.
And then, in addition to all this. We
must see to II that the business Of the
United States is set absolutely free o6
every feature of monopoly"
Here Governor Wilson paused, looked
about tho banquet room. and then
added:
Il notice you don't applaud that.
am somewhat disappointed, because
unless you feel that way the thing ID
not going to happen except by duresss
which Is the worst way to bring any
thing about, because there will be mos
nopoly I'm this country until there are
no important business men who in-
tend to bring it about know that
when they are talking about that they
say there is not anybody in the United
States who ever intended to set UP
monopoly. But know there are soQ1
gentlemen who did deliberately e
about to set up monopoly. We know
that they intended to do 1t becaua0
they did 1t.
Il don't care how big q particular
business gets. provided 1t grows big In
contact with sharp competition, and
know that business based upon genus
inc capital which has not drop Of
water in II can be conducted with
greater efficiency and economy than q
business that Is loaded with wafer"
Touching on conservation. he said:
"A policy of reservation Is not one ol
conservation"
Applause greeted this statement. and
the Governor added that the govern<
ment at Washington had been "sus,
picious Of everybody who approached
1t for water power rights and the priv<
ileges Of conservation generally"
The Governor proclaimed policy Of
accessibility TO the raw materials Of
the country to everybody on the SAND
termy. conservation policy, he dee
clared, should be free from dscrimina<
tion.
Law. ought to be based upon
premise that only the man exceptional
In character 10 going to circumvsnt I'll