The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-20
ON Big BUSINESS.
fContinued from Page One.)

Continued from Page Ons.)
ton whfcn absorbed your attention
and the attention Of the country, In
December. II now disposed or put eiso
because opinion seems to be clearing
about US with singular rapidity In this
other great field of action. In the
matter Of the currency 1t cleared SUD-
denly and very happily after the much
debated act was passed: IN respect OF
about us and in regard to the various
means by which they have been or
eanixed and maintained. 1t seems to be
coming TO q clear and all but universal
agreement. in anticipation OF our ac-
tion. as II by way Of preparation.
making the way easier to see and
easier to set out upon with confidence
and without confusion of counsel.
Legislation has its atmosphere like
everything else and the atmosphere OF
accommodation and mutual under
standing which we now breathe with
so much refreshment IL matter OF
sincere congratulation. It ought to
make our task very much less diff
cult and embarrassing than It would
have been had we been obliged to
continue to act amidst the atmos-
phere Of suspicion and antagonism
which has 30 long made 1t impossible
to approach such questions with dis
passionate fairness.
60C-
cessfu1, Is always the embodiment OF
convincing experience and of the ma
ture public opinion which finally
springs out OF that experience. Leg
islation is q business Of Interpretation.
not of organization, and it is now plain
give effect in this matter. 1t is not
recent or hasty opinion. 1t springs
out Of experience Of a whole genera
tion. It has clarified itself by long
L. Al
battled with 1t and sought to change
1t are now frankly and honorably
yielding to 1t and seeking to conform
their actions to it.
Business Men Convinced.
"The great business men who organ
lied and financed monopoly and those
who administered 1t IN actual every
day transactions have year after year.
until now. either denied it's existence
or justified 1t as necessary for the ef-
fective' maintenance and development
Of the vast business processes of the
country IN the modern circumstances
Of trade manufacture and finance; but
all the while opinion has made head
against them. The average business
man is convinced that the ways OF
liberty are also the ways Of peace and
the ways Of success as well, and at
last the masters Of business on the
great scale have begun to yield their
preference and purpose. perhaps their
Judgment also, in honorable surrender.
What we are purposing to do, there
fore, is happily not to hamper or in
terfere with business and enlightened
business men prefer to do 1t. or In
my sense, to put 1t under the ban.
The antagonism between business and
government Is over. We are now about
to give expression to the best business
judgment Of America, to what we know
to be the business conscience and
honor Of the land. The government
and business men are ready to meet
each other half way In common ef-
fort to square business methods with
both public opinion and the law. The
best informed men Of the business world
condemn the methods and processes
and consequences Of monopoly as we
condemn them; and the instructive
judgment Of the vast majority Of busi-
ness men everywhere goes with them.
We shall now be their spokesman. This
is the strength of our position and the
sure prophecy Of what will ensue when
our reasonable work is done.
when serious contest ends, when
men unite in opinion and purpose those
who are to change their ways of busi-
ness joining with those who ask for
the change. it is possible to effect 1t
in the way in which prudent and
thoughtful and patriotic men would
wish to see 1t brought about, with as
few, as slight, as easy and simple bus
iness readjustments as possible In the
circumstances. nothing essential dis
turbed, nothing torn up by the roots,
no parts rent asunder, which can be
left in wholesome combination. Fortu-
nately, no measures Of sweeping or
novel change are necessary.
To Make, Not to Break.
"It will be understood that our OBJ
ject is not to unsettle business or
anywhere seriously to break its es-
tablished courses athwart- On the
contrary, we desire the laws we are
now about to pass to be the bulwarks
and safeguards Of industry against
the forces that have disturbed it.
What we have to do can be done in a
new spirit, in thoughtful moderation.
without revolution of any untoward
kind.
I'VE are all agreed that private
monopoly is indefensible and intoler-
able and our program is founded
upon that conviction. 1t will be a
comprehensive but not radical or
unacceptable program and these are
its items and changes which opinion
deliberately sanctions and for which
business waits.
1T waits with acquiescence, in the
first place, for laws which will effect
ually prohibit and prevent such inter-
lockings of the personnel of the d.
rectorates of great corporations
banks and railroads, Industrial, COM
mercial and public service bodies-as
in effect result in making those who
borrow and those who lend practical
ly one and the same, those who sell
and those who buy, but the same per-
sons trading with one another under
different names and in different COM
binations, and those who affect to
compete, in fact partners and masters
of some whole field OF business. Suf-
ficient time should be allowed, OF
course, to effect these changes of or
ganization, without Inconvenience Oh
confusion.
"Such a prohibition will work much
more than a mere negative good by