Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-06-01
METHOD IN THEIR MADNESS.

uN AN address delivered at Washington today James
j. Hill in discussing the future OF our foreign trade
places the blame for depressed Industrial conditions
lpon arbitrary wage scales imposed by labor unions
and upon "unwise restricted legislation and unnecessary
taxation on business and cites Great Britain as an ex
ample of the effect of such conditions says the Medord
Mail Tribune
Mr. Hill like other railroad magnates is at present
gagged in nationwide campaign of manufacturing pub
lie opinion to sanction authorized increase OF five per
cent in railroad rates-and hence until the increase is
secured railroad men playing the part OF doetul Jer
emiahs prophets of calamity
There is studied effort on the part of big business
create hard times There no real reason for business
depression Crops have been excellent Banks are full
of money The new tariff has hurt only few pampered
industries and greatly benefited the mass OF people, Cur
rency reform has placed banking upon sounder basis
and pancs are now impossible There is every reason
why the artificial breaks of Wall Street should not stop
the wheels Of industry.
But the administrations antitrust legislation pend
ing in congress- This is the restrictive legislation Mr.
Hill complains Oft will probably prevent cutting any
more such melons as the New Haven. Hence return to
power of the Republican party promising the needed re-
lief to Wall Street. is extremely desirable Hence the talk
of hard times and the enforced depression the attempt
empty the dinner bucket to the defeat of the
Democratic program by the time-worn appeal to the
workingmans belly.
The tyranny Of labor unions does not seriously effect
industry Where fair wages and better conditions de-
manded the employers still have the right to import arm
ed guards to shoot the workers down. Surely country
which has witnessed the enacted in West Virginia
Michigan and Colorado all in year, cannot be serious
ly embarrassed by unionsm.
The issue before the country is whether the government
is going to rule big business big business continue to
rule the government President Wilson has succeeded in
smashing the tariff monopoes and curbng the trusts
He is now attempting the regulation of great corpora
tons. His hands must be upheld if the people win
out. We might well fight it out and have it over
with-as failure will mean panic threats hereafter
whenever the program of greed and grab is nterfered
with
Mr. HILL and other industrial chiefs, never touch upon
the fundamental trouble with this country with Great
Britainhe monopozaton of natural resources and OPP
portunties Lloyd George of England is pointing to the
remedy for John Bull-but no American statesman has
dared as yet to do as much for Uncle Sam.
Kansas club women have agreed to do weeks wash
ing and contribute the money saved thereby to the fund
for assisting girls in college, Just what the washerwomen
who thus deprived of work will think of the scheme
would make interesting reading and they might indeed
claim that their contribution instead of the club
womens Anyway it easier to contribute someone's else
money than ones own
Carrying liquor through the streets of Albany except
in the original package in which it was shipped into the
city has been forbidden by ordinance This is wisely
worded law it permits man to reach his home after
visiting Portland other dry territory and mbib
ing few. With his belt comfortably dstended he can
still claim he is the original package in which the liquor