Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-07-25
JONES oUT OF IT.

The president has withdrawn the
nomination of Thomas D.. Jones for
membership on the federal reserve
board, and in doing so he has spoken
caustically of the practices which
have been followed in discussing the
for them.
There seems to be no question Of
the high personal character Of Mr..
Jones, nor of his business ability.
Since his name has been before the
senate he has acted with perfect
frankness. stating clearly his business
connections in answer to questions
and making plain his views on cor
poration policies wherein he was in
~terrogated. His attitude was frank
and dignihed, and he laid the facts
souarely before the committee and
left the matter there.
Strenuous objection was made to the
appointment of Mr.. Jones because of
his connection with the International
Harvester company, a corporation
against which proceedings are now
under way in the federal courts, Mr..
Jones being named as one of the de-
PENDANTS. Naturally the professional
corporation baiters held up their
hands in horror at the idea of an off,
cha of a great corporation being
placed in a high public position.
There are always those who are ready
to make capital for themselves by
shouting against corporations, and
people of this sort nave had plenty
to say on this subject. All of this is
wearisome and mischievous. The
people who play the game, and play
II in this way, are too numerous and
too much in evidence.
But when due allowance is made for
the clap-trap Of cheap demagogues,
there remains an element of very sub-
%stantial reason against the appoint
ment Of MIR. Jones. 1t is a misfortune
that he Is one of the Of a.
great corporation which is defendant
In a federal case. That fact might
not and probably would not, affect in
the slightest degree any decision which
he might make as a member of the
federal reserve board; but the situa-
ton would be an unpleasant one, to
say the least; and while, II Mr.. Jones
had been confirmed, there would have
been no real connection between the
federal reserve board and the Inter
national Harvester company, the two
institutions would have been associ-
ated in the public mind, and the asso-
citation would have been to the detri-
ment Of the reserve board.
It is true that political considera-
lions ought not to govern in deciding
on these appointments. Republicans
who have been opposing the confrma-
ton for partisan reasons, and for the
purpose Of embarrassing the admins
t%ration, have not been occupying very
high ground. But we may imagine
the storm Of protest that would have
gone up from democrats had Presi-
dent Taft, in organizing some great
public commission, selected for mem
bership a republican member Of the
I'll SoAiipdiS WHICH was
then under investigation by the fed
eral courts. The mans ability, his
high character. would have counted
for nothing. The charge would have
been made at every democratic meet
ing throughout the land that a repub-
lican president had sought to turn the
government over to a criminal corpo-
ration.
Such a charge would have been un-
just. And it would be unjust now to
say that President Wilson was actu-
ated by any but the highest motives
in making this appointment. But in
making 1t he invited the spirit of crit
icism indicated. and we cannot avoid
the conclusion that the appointment
"a unwisely made.