The Washington herald., 1914-06-13
Vanderlip Paints a True Picture.

Frank A. Vanderlip, president of the National
City Bank of New York delivered address before
the annual convention of the New York Bankers
Association in New London, Conn. which may be
read with profit by every business in the United
States and by every ntrusted with the duty OF
making laws His discussion of industrial condi-
tons and legislation and the state of mind of the
people today is candid conservative illuminating.
Summed up it may be concluded that it is Mr.. Van
derlips belief that there is demand, sound and
economic for legislative regulation of business, due
10 the revolutionary development of ndustriasm in
modern time that such legislation should be formu-
with justice and sincere human sympathy" and
with such systematic precision that the nations
business may be relieved of %atchfu and apprehen-
sve waiting and may know where it stands
In admitting that there is in the demand
for business legislation Mr.. Vanderp by no means
gives his approval present-day methods of
plshing it to its scope at present contemplated
The of his remarks indicates that he deplores
the fact that nowadays reports of the attitude of mind
of the Attorney General vie in interest with the crop
predictions of the Secretary of Agriculture; that
Investigations by bureaus, commissions Congress
form more important feature in gauging the mar
ket outlook than do the plans for development OF
expansion formulated by the executive committees
of corporations, and that the factors that have
mostly in mind are how new laws are going to work
what new laws next to be passed; what is the
prospect of crops but of Congressional action ??
While he does not put it in so many words Mr..
Vanderiip is readily understood holding the view
that business today instead of being subjected to the
intelligent regulation, which he admits is necessary
and Justly demanded is being harried by its enemies
in legislative halls, that it is approached with hostile
a.. tt,,t
must be disabled, if not actually killed. in the inter-
est of public safety. He speaks for better under
standing between business men and lawmakers that
may result industrial regulation that besides curb
ing evil and dishonesty shall also cultivate and foster
the good and the honorable and the things that make
progress and expansion Mr.. Vanderlp believes that
business ethics in the United States today higher
than any time in its history but he intimates that
there is general disncnstion to recognize the fact
and strong disposition to continue to regard busi
ness as culprit that richly merits further punish
ment. For such condition he bames the business
men to a certain extent for these reasons:
We have raised but weak voices against all this,
and usually voices have been voices of protest
rather than of direction words of complaint and
disgust when We should have spoken words of in
formation and leadership.
We have stood defenseless in the eyes of the
public too long We have let go unanswered too
many untrue charges We have permitted picture
of business practice and methods to be held up TO
the voters until many of them honestly believe that
success in business is attained by roguery and un-
favorable criticism of proposed measure by bust
ness men is argument enough why such measure
should become law. ~
Undoubtedly Mr.. Vanderlip paints true picture
and in vivid eolors that fail to attract the at
tention OF statesmen and the intelligent public
Some good may come of it. but the chief remedy
will be time that will reveal to the countrys voters
the real conditions and lead them choose as their
Representatives in Congress men of broad vision.
not easy victims of the obsession that success in
business is crime. The signs are clear that the
time is Sot far distant and then viii be realized Mr..
lVanderliRs hope for return of the days when the