Evening journal., 1914-04-01

""N Noi"Cutntll lhtit nave DCeh
woven into the fabric forms of co-opera-
tive endeavor which have resulted IN po-
tentialities not now regarded as favor
able to the public welfare, and in some
cases practices always condemned by the
common law and abhorrent to men of
high character is equally true of the de-
ivelopment of the rest of the world, and
has been just cause for governmental
action and regulation, though it may
not be amiss in thorough discussion of
this subject to point out that in some
other countries with equal standards of
civilization and morals. with equally
great business and social interests, and
with equally scientific and efficient gov
lernments, some of the very things which
/ IN this country are regarded as opposed
( to public welfare and to be prohibited
ARE promoted and advocated under gov
enment regulation and influence as the
most efficient means of contributing to
the industrial interests of all their peo-
pie, and that with those countries we
have to compete for the foreign com
merce of the world But whether their
fundamental policies agree or differ with
policies which have now become we'll
]
the spirit of paternalism stretched out
ITS arm in response to any public de-
mand to embrace or to limit the free
dom OF individual initiative and liberty
in the pursuit of happiness.
"The spirit of unrest has been said
to largely spring not alone from unequal
conditions of life, but from what has
been called unequal distribution of
wealth.
Undoubtedly what has been meant
is the unequal acquisition of wealth.
but there viii always be unequal acqui-
sition of wealth as long as there is un.
equal distribution of brains. industry
and thrift and those are qualities OF
mind and character which no statutory
laws can regulate or control, but the
benehcient exercise of which, unwise
law can greatly restrict and discourage.
"Mcn having those qualities have ever
been able to see and grasp opportunity,
and men using them conscientiously
have ever secured recognition among
their fellows.
To shackle the genius of this coun-
try, to limit individual freedom and
initiative within the confines of par
entail government direction other than
the well-defined limits now under
stood and recognized as inconsistent
with moral law, modern ethics, and
the public welfare, would be to set
brakes upon the splendid spirit of
our people by which all our achieve
ments have been inspired, iflnot in
deed to break down the march OF
progress, and to force us to the rear
in that International contest for the
worlds business by which alone this
country can continue to grow and
reach the fruition of which there has
heretofore been such ample promise
Industry has not as yet fully ad-
iusted itself to our changed tariff pol
icy and we are about to make great
changes in our financial methods
Important fluctuations in our interna
tional balance of trade might add ser
ious burdens to the new banking anC
3 currency system.
your committee has been unable
to ascertain from what business or
ganizations or Industrial sources
z there has emanated any important de
mand for legislation as outlined il
the tentative bills, and has not ye
> been able to find any expression o
responsible or organized business
opinion that legislation Of such char
acter would be timely, appropriate
or beneficial to the business Interest,"
or the people of this country.
"On the other hand your COMMITTEES
, believes that business interests nov
- clearly understand the prohibition
! Of the Sherman law, the intent o
5 which has been made more clear b,
e the court decisions.
I ut is a matter of public knowledg
( that those whose affairs are not ye
in harmony with the Interpretation