Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-02-04
Men WhoD DO Real 7hinqs

~ -EH
The following, from the Kansas City Journal, while
referring largely to matters local to that city, demon.
strates' In a general way how things go. The re.
former seldom accomplishes anything, but it is the
business man WHO gets to the root of the matter.
The Journal says:
1T is interesting to observe that, while the men
Of big business are lambasted day in and day out by
socalled reformers, when anything for the good Of
all the people is urgently wanted these same business
men are called upon to do most Of the work. That
is the way the reform movement has worked con.
stantlWsin this vicinity. When reform had nearly
succeeded in putting the Standard Oil company out
Of business in Missouri, the frightened reforners
turned to the business men to undo their rash work.
When more than a hundred fire insurance companies
had been forced from the state, IL was the business
men Of. this and other cities that were appealed to,
to getfthe companies back. When it was seen that
Missouri was about to lose the big lumber companies,
the refOrmers fell upon their knees and besceched
the business men to intervene. Now that Kansas
City and St. Louis want regional banks, the business
men are expected to perform most of the service.
That is about the way things generally go. In
fair weather the reformers berate and abuse big BUSH
ness interests in a demagogic bid for popularity. The
business men, being comparatively few, have no ade:
quate way of answering these unjust attacks and the
reformers take, their silence for confessions of wrong
doing. But as soon as there is need for real honest
constructive work, the business men suddenly assume
colossal virtues. Kansas City is today working for a
regional bank. 1t is a big proposition and means
more to this city than any faddish reform that has
been suggested in a score Of years. What are the
"reformers" doing to help along this cause? Where
arc alfthose sterling patriots who have been preach.
ing public welfare "honcst government and such.
things? care they lending a hand in this big PROPOSE.
ton? Oh. no. They are preaching Commission
form and are trying to inject politics into the public
schools They are too busy to do something really
useful. g.. -4
kansas City is making a splendid campaign. for a
regional bank. But the men who are doing it are not
the politicians nor the "reformers.' They are bank
es and big business men, who have been pounded
and execrated until something had to be done, and
men to 20 ahead and do the work. And the remark
able business showing that Kansas City is able to
make to the committee on bank location was not
made .bby-sthe 14reforpsGs 1t Is pot ee1psstedlstll a
regional bank will be located in Kansas City, because
there is an agitation here for commission form Of
government, or because the Metropolitan Street Rail.
way company is in the hands OF receivers. or because
other public utilities are being threatened and har.
assed;fot because the Socialists are actively trying
to gain possession of schools, or because, every man
with capital is branded as a crook. Not at all. When
it cor1esssto getting really big things for Kansas City
the politicians and the a~gitators and the theorists and
the fake reformers find that they have nothing in
their whole kit of tools that will help q particle. It
is the business man and the banker who must accom-
plish tie results worth WHILE" $l.4Ef..s