Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-11
Forbes Believes President viii
Seek This Means as Aid in the
Settlement of Problems That
Are vexing the United States.
Business Expert Also Suggests
Recasting Entire System of
CapitaIistic Directorates, Max
ing Them Truly Representative.
BY 3. c. FORBES.


NEW YORK, Jan. 10.-President
Wilson, if l may hazard a guess based
on no definite knowledge. will rec
ommend the formation of an indus
trial commission as one step toward
the solution of the nations industrial
problems.
Instead OF frightening business in
terests, such a proposal would have a
good effect This assertion may oc-
casion establishment, but 1t is made
after an exhaustive canvass of finan-
eial and industrial leaders.
| find that the brainiest men OF ar
fairs in the United States realize
something tangible must be done to
meet the universal dissatisfaction
with the existing methods of running
the countTy's business. The unrest,
the antagonism to capital the clamor
for restrictive laws-all are having a
gripping effect upon enterprises, and
II continued, can not fail to hurt the
progress of the country.
! find wide differences of opinion
prevailing as TO the best way to
bring industrial peace, but the ma
3ority Of thinking financiers, corpora
ton officials and others interested in
big business are inclined to favor an
Industrial commission, with powers
similar to those possessed over rail-
roads by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. This innovation might
or might not, satisfy the public.
Present System Useless.
My own suggestion Is that, in ad-
dition to appointing an industrial
commission, it will be necessary, in
order to insure ar adequate measure
of Industrial democracy, to recast our
entire system of capitalistic directo-
rates and to have small well -paid
boards constituted along some such
lines as these:
One representative of the Federal
Government
one representative Of the employ
ees.
One representative Of a nation
wide association of investors, prefer
ably an expert in the business ham
died
The president and perhaps one 9TH
er Official of each company.
Two or perhaps three, financiers,
capitalists or others to represent those
having large holdings in the com
panN.
Have directors held directly respon-
sihle for illegal acts have frequent
reports made to stockholders; have
every corporation doing an interstate
business under Federal charter, and
have all issues of securities vtsed
by the industrial commission and for
the railroads an Interstate Commerce
Commission.
There does not seem TO be anything
revolutionary, confseatory or de-
structively sociaiistic about such
proposal
Need for Industrial Bodies.
Might It not remove prejudice
against mere bigness, and thus facil-
itate the upbuilding Of American en-
terprises powerful enough to compete
successfully with foreign rivals in the
worlds markets?
Our troubles in large part, have
sprung from the cross purposes of
capital and the Administration The
unhealthy state Of mind-indeed,
acute nerVousness-w created last
fall, but now that the Government is
manifesting a distinctly friendly ati-
tude toward large employers of labor,
better times should be expected. As
read the business horoscope, the
history Of 1914 will he shaped in no
slight degree by The handling of these
vital matters.
1. The personnel OF the Federal Re
serve Board. to be selected by the
President in q ftE days.
. The Interstate Commerce Com
missions decision on the Eastern
railroads application for per cent
advance in freight rates
g. The Administrations antitrust
legislative program and Its general
attitude toward the business inter
ests OF the country.
4 Developments In Mexico
There are, of course several prob
lens less within auyone's control
which will have more or less in
auapca t,upp tho ,-par's entertainments