The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-05
BANKERS HEAR PLEAS
FOR BUSINESS PEACE
Speakers Who Counsel Coopera-
ton With Government Strike
Responsive Chord.
GARFIELD Is OPTIMISTIC
Ninety eight Per Cent. Of
Plain People Are Just"
Says F. II. Goff.

More than 900 captains OF industry,
most OF them from Eastern States, listened
intently and with apparent approval. at
the Waldorf-Astoria last night. while two
young men told them frankly that their
duty to the country at the present time
Is to establish better relations between
the Government and the business interests
by displaying more OF spirit Of CO.
operation.
The speeches were made at the fourth
annual banquet OF the trust companies
Of the United States.
The speakers were James r. Garfield,
who was Commissioner Of Corporations In
the Department OF Commerce and Labor
under President Roosevelt. and Newton
ID. Baker. Mayor OF Cleveland and pro-
tese Of the late Tom L. Johnson
+. H. Goff of Cleveland. president Of the
trust company SECTION Of the American
Bankers Association. introduced the speak
ers. and In his own remarks took more
than one fling at tho attitude OF the
present Administration at Washington
with respect to the new currency system
and the plea OF the railroads 10 be
he said struck a responsive chord. and his
auditors appiauded.
Urges Cooperation.
There was much OF this same urging
OF the spirit of cooperation In the speech
Of Mr.. Cor. lie said II was to be- re-
GREETED that success in business has bred
suspicion in the public mind. but declared
that anything elise would have been i'm
possible In the hurry burly OF swift de-
velopment such az this country ha. seen.
Perhaps" he said. our sins have been
many, but we know that our punishment
has been hard. We now sit chastened in
spfrit. awaiting the time when business
and Government may 60 hand In hand
and when II may seem better to those In
authority to live In the spirit OF confidence
than in the spirit OF defiance that has
characterized the past. We look forward
u the day when capital may be given all
tho rights that are now granted to the
laboring man and the farmer.
But those millennium days will be de.
layed unless business understands tina,
money. the mere possession Of money, no
longer dominates: that power is now
lodged In the plain people. and that IL Is
their will that Is going to be done. Nine
ty-eight per cent. OF the plain people can
he relied upon to deal Justly. The need
OF the hour Is for high minded leader.
ship OF these plain people. and II Is our
duty to see that We do our part toward
fostering the education of such leaders. "
Mr.. Garfield said that a Governmer,
had been set UP In this country in ORDER
to establish Justice and to promote the
general welfare and that business ough,
to be AZ much interested In promoting
those things as any one else. lie de-
clarcd that the trouble in the past has
been that business has paid too much at
t"ntion to the duty Of the Government,
and too little attention to it's own obliga
ton to the Government.
Because of this attitude. he said. bust
ness and Government have got in "A tan
gle and there Is bound To be some dis
turbance before matters are Strengthened
out. He averred that interference ant
even destruction were necessary in ordel
| to root out abuses that have crept IN.
Public opinion" he said, has brough
about revolution In the relations o
business and Government. AT times ex
! treme and even unjust measures hav'
, been taken. such extremities and sue.
| injustices can be avoided only when mel
| like you are willing to aid those who ar
In charge of the Government. II tn
leaders are unwilling or unable to confe
! with those who are In charge Of the Gov
| eminent tHtn tndt 'bNeTHII1tut VIII IN VII
! fair because its action will he based OF
| something other than the facts In an!
particular case and II the Government 1
unable or unwilling to confer with bust
! ness then business will be unfair becaus
| its activities will not be based on tn
facts.
| Business must prove its case and 4
the minds OF the people. II you bushes
men will lay bare the facts and condition
l 90 that the napnlp gtt hold pf then
! then you will have given a kind Of pub
licity that will go a long ways towar
making the future better You must Civ
! information and then you must see TO
that men are elected who will represen
their constituents. not men who will rep
resent you or me-"
Mayor Baker said that Tom johnson
completely discredited the idea that Their
were some business matters which tn
] plain people cannot understand.