Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-23
Business Men in Politics.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM T. HAINES


If Frank A. yanderlip, president of the
National City Bank of New York, and
other able and prominent business men
would practise what he preached at the
meeting of the New York Bankers As
ISOLATION in New London, Conn, a
mighty change for the better would take
place in Congress and the State Legis-
latures In this country: Mr. Vanderlip
asked the bankers to whom he spoke,
What grea ter duty have you to per-
form than TO give the best you have of
wisdom and judgment to the direction
OF political currents and to give your
wisdom and judgment effectively, not
merely to stand aside in the role of dis
satisfied critics, but rather by getting
truly and effectively into the organiza-
ton and machinery of public life?',
Time and again the New York Com
nercial has advocated the entrance of
business men into active politics. This
is no experiment. Business men have
served this country with distinction in
the past, though they have not always
been as prominent in its public life as
England and the British dominions.
John Bright was a great manufacturer
but he entered politics and so was Jo-
seph Chamberlain, to mention only two
of the great leaders of thought in the
political life of Great Britain. Business
men have always been prominent in the
Parliament of Canada and in the cabi-
nets which carry on the business of the
d
Great Britain or in Canada must be a
member of one of the houses of Parha-
ment, he never occupies that detached
position in relation to legislative mat
tiers that the members of the President
Cabinet do in this country
No president of the United states
would dream of forming cabinet which
did not include men of wide experience
are absolutely indispensable, and it is
also significant that plenty OF them can
be found ready and willing to serve their
country as the heads of departments al
Washington, though such service involves
serious loss and interruption in thelI
private business affairs. The weak spot
In our Governmental system is that such
men seem to be unwilling to become can
didates for elective positions. and our
legislative bodies are therefore hlleo
with lawyers and other non-produeers
who follow politics as a profession and
who talk one way and vote another as
the exigencies OF party politics demand
Or as their private interests lie.
Business men, when candidates fol-
ONCE, need not fear the opposition OF ia
Dor. Labor will gladly join hands WITT
them once the business men Withdraw
from the machine politicians the sinews
~ war with which they try TO corrupt
the labor vote. Business men know the
he of prosperity and the need Tor glV'
labor chance to earn money that Il
be able TO buy and consume goods
~ the food that a millionaire can ea'
and all the clothes that he can weal
amount to a very little. His persona
expenditures for such things DO not make
aim a much larger consumer than th'
average prosperous mechanic. 1t is wha
the masses of the people buy and con
sumo that causes industry 10 prosper
ana in the British Parliament at least
here has never been any conflict be
tween the representatives OF labor AM
he representatives of business, though
me same Is not true of the landownini
interests.-New York Commercial, ma
Perhaps our contemporary will agre
that matters have been turned almos
wholly into the hands of politician
mr. make believe reformed trust pi
rates. because the man who has edu
Gated his mind in the square rule
business principles feels too keenl
lie unjust abuse Of fault-finderi
Nowadays when a successful ma
feels that ne is ready. TO devote som