Evening star., 1914-01-20
No Longer in Opposition.

The great business men who organized
snd financed MONOPOLY and those who
administered it in actual everyday trans
actions have year after year. Until now.
either denied its existence or justified
1t as necessary for the effective mainte-
nance and development of the vast busi
ness processes of the country in the mod
ern circumstances of trade and manufac-
ture and finance; but all the while opin-
ion has made headway against them The
average business man is convinced that
the ways of liberty are also the ways of
peace and the ways of success we'll;
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. therefore,
is happily. not to hamper or interfere
with business as enlightened business
men prefer to do it, or in any sense to put
1t under the ban. The antagonism be
tween 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 con-
science and honor of the land. The gov
ernment and business men are ready to
meet each other half way in common
effort to square business methods with
both public opinion and the law. The best
informed men of the business world con-
denim the methods and processes and con-
sequences of monopoly We condemn
them; and the instructive Judgment of
the vast majority OF business men every
where goes with them We shall now be
their spokesmen. That 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 business
joining with those who ask for the
change. it is possible to effect it in the
way in which prudent and thoughtful and
patriotic men would wish to see it
brought about, with as few, as slight, as
easy and simple business readjustments
as possible in the circumstances. nothing
essential disturbed. nothing torn up by
the roots. no parts rent asunder which
can be left in wholesome combination.
Fortunately, no measures of sweeping or
novel change are necessary 1t Will be
understood that our object is not to un-
settle business or anywhere seriously to
break its established courses athwart- On
the contrary, 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 new spirit, in thought
full moderation. without revolution of any
untoward kind.
Outlines Items in Program.
We are all agreed that private monop-
oily is indefensible and intolerable," and
our program is founded upon that con-
viction. 1t will De comprehensive but
not radical or unacceptable program.
and these are its items the changes
which opinion deliberately sanctions and
for which business waits
It waits with acquiescence. in the first
talx uy;fl aRf oil
prohibit and prevent such interlockings
of the personnel of the directorates of
great corporations-banks and railroads.
industrial, commercial and public service
bodies-aS in effect result in making those
who borrow and those who lend pracu-
cally one and the same. those who sell
and those who buy but the same per-
sons trading with one another under diff
ferent names and in different combina-
tionS, and those who affect to compete in
fact partners and masters of some whole
field of business. Sufficient time should
be allowed. of course. in which to effect
these changes of organization without IN
convenience or confusion.
Such a prohibition will work much
more than q mere negative good by cor
recting tine serious evils which have arisen
because, for example, the men who have
been the directing spirits of the great In
veStment banks have usurped the place
which belongs to independent Industrial
management working in its own behoof.
It will bring new men, new enerFies, a
new spirit of initiative, new bood. into
the management of our great business
enterprises 1t will open the field of in
duStrial development and orisiaation to
scores OF men who have been obliged to
serve when their abilities EMIT ed them
to direct 1t will immensely hearten the
young men coming on and will greatly
enrich the business activities of the whole
country.
Injustice to Railroads.
we'll as those who direct public affairs
now recognize. and recognize with pain
full clearness the great harm and in
justice which has been done to many. ii