The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-12-21
A CHALLENGE, THAT sHoULD BE
ACCEPTED.

ACCEPTED.
Secretary RedfeId fatty challenges the creeds
Of Theodore Roosevelt as so frequently enun-
ciated during the last presidential campaign, and
the theory OF Kari Marx, the great Socialist
writer. and the theory long since accepted by
most people because Of its constant reiterauon,
when he denies that huge corporations are more
economical than number of smaller ones, and
asks an investigation to prove his contention.
The difference between Roosevelt and Marx
is that while both hold that trusts are inevitable
development OF our industrial system and that
monopoly is desirable, the former believes in
regulating and controlling them by law, while the
latter, deeming this to be impossible calls for
public ownership as solution The one SHES
at the logical conclusion, while the other boldly
advocates It, or rather predicts It.
During the presidential campaign the dif
ference between Wilson's views and Rooseyelts
strongly accumulated. Roosevelt contending
for recognition and protection Of monopoly as
inevitable and suggesting government regulation
and control and Wilson arguing strongly against
the view that monopolies are necessary or even
desirable and proclaiming the virtues Of COM
petition. Wilson was elected and chose Con
gresham Redfeld for his secretary of com
MERGE for the reason, evident now, that Mr..
Redheld held his views on monopoly, assuming,
as we we'll may. that the report of the seere.
tary has Mr.. Wilson'S approval.
Mr. Redheld challenges the Rooseveltian.
MARKHAM theory and offers to bring the matter
to an issue. He asks for appropriation to
study tho problem and to investigate the huge
corporations OF the country 10 discover If they,
in reality and as so often claimed without con
tradiction. are the highest and most efficient
means Of production. There seems to be no
real reason why he should not be allowed to
make the test. II the large corporations are
successful because Of their efficiency and not be
cause OF the power to break other and com
peting industries with their wealth. an investi
cation win not hurt. If illegal methods and I'M
fair methods and ability to juggle the stock
market and shrewd finance. amounting almost
to swndling have been the means whereby tbs
great corporations have been built up and ms
smaller concerns eliminated-if. In short. The
smaller independent corporations have beer
crushed rather than absorbed with profit to al
concerned. such an investigation Secretary
Redheld proposes will disturb business IT viii
depress the value Of stocks The huge cor
porations built upon the power derived from
wealth wrongly acquired and wrongly used and
upon power lent by the government witt
favoritism. with not. of course. view withou
alarm an attempt to uncover the truth. Even II
such case however, the inquiry should be pushed
II trusts and monopolies are not great and power
ful because Of their efficiency, the fact shoult
be made known and II temporary hardship &C
| company the process temporary hardship Is
penalty that must be endured for the sake o
the truth: for the sake OF knowledge which
win enable us to readjust our Industrial system
upon a srner and juster basis