McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1914-07-03


the government the firm grasp and
reach to control these corporations
SO they are forced into the absurd po-
sition Of proposing to destroy all busi-
ness power. They cannot, under their
theories OF government control busi-
Iess. Therefore, their sole aiterna.
tive is to destroy 1t. They are abb
solutely blind to the facts OF history.
Unlimited competition has proved
one Of the greatestscurses OF modern
civilization. 1t was unlimited COM
petition which created the great
trusts exactly as 4 created the
sweat-shop and chiehy responsible
for child labor. The New Freedom
is merely the s.xseedIngly old freedom
which permits each man to cut HE
neighbours throat. ..
The Progressives are OF the TWEEN.
tieth century. They face the facts
OF today. They are not afraid Of pow
err, either in business or In Govern
ment. Their program will allow bus
ness concentration In so far as such
concentration gives social and econo-
mic efficiency and good service But
1t will also give the Government full
power to see that business concentra.
ton does serve these necessary ends.
and that 1t is not used for unfair COM
petition or for monopoly, or for the UNI
fair treatment of labor or for any 9TH
er anti-social end.
This Is the only tenable position on
the trust problem, for 1t faces the
facts, and does not try to turn back
the hands of the clock. BY long and
disappointing experience we have had
several cardinal facts hammered into N
| us.
FIRST: We cannot and do not want
to destroy all corporations; we must
| have large units to do our work.
SECOND: We cannot make every l
man compete with every other man;
we cannot go back to 1850, still less
| to 1850.
THIRD: We cannot destroy mono
poly by attacking all forms of concen
tration whether monopolistic or not
FOURTH We cannot destroy real
monopoly by attacking its legal form
We must find out and take away the
real economic basis OF monopoly,
which is a very different thing.
FIFTH: We can get no effectivef
results through the courts. with their
slow and restricted procedure.
SIXTH: We must encourage hon
est business, and allow that business
concentration which will give the pow
err necessary to serve us. This policy
of the encouragement Of decent bust.
ness is as important to the welfare
of our people as Is our other policy
Of effective warfare against corrupt
and unfair business.
SEVENTH: There must be coop
GRAFTON among business men, amongI
wage-workers and among farmers.
Our program recognizes the facts
Of today. We must have business
power to do our work. We Progres-
sives are not afraid Of power. Wei
know that power can be controlled tou
good ends and Is necessary for great
ends. We know this is true In bust.
ness, as in government, and that mo-
other position Is possible for the mod.
ern state.
We cannot control our great Nation
al businesses without power, National
power But the Democrats dare not
use power themselves, or lot anyone
else have II. Their trust program, az Il
stands today, Is made futile by this
fear
The real business problem 10 the
question Of that great mass OF corpora
tions. which are neither monopolies on
the one hand, nor individual business
es on the other. Here is the truth
that so many overlook. II we view the
whole area of cur business. we find at
one end, covering small section. a
part of our business which is still
small and individual. We find at the
other end. and also covering small
section, certain great businesses which
are substantially monopolistic. But. in
between these two extremes, and COW
ering by far the largest area Of our
total business, is mass OF corpora-
tons, having a greater or less degree
of business concentration, but not
Individual on the one hand. nor in
any sense monopolistic on the other.
We have had now twenty.four ysare
experience with trying to regulate
business by destruction. The result
has been nearly fiat failure. The "a.
mlnistratlon proposes policy Of fur.
Their destruction, even more unInts.
igent In conception, and certain to be
more futile In performance, than the
existing policy which u amends.
The only alternative Is the Progress
sive plan, which is sane, effective and
fair. We propose to provide strong
Commission, getting prompt action by
direct administrative process with
power in that Commission to attack
directly all unfair and oppressive forms
Of competition; power In that Com.
mission to take a case of monopoly.
find out what Is the real business cor
nerstone of Its monopoly, and then
bring the full strength OF the Govern.
ment directly against 1t. We propose
to do away with all unfair practices
by big business or little business.
We propose heartily to encourage hon
est business, and, to give full scope
to efficiency, provided the efficiency 10
used for the benefit and not to the de-
triment of the people as a whole.
From all of this 1t follows that we
have right. to ask good citizens,
men to whom the honor Of America
In international matters, and the we'll
fare Of all of us within cur own boun-
daries, are dear, to Join against the
present administration, No matter