Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1914-01-22

Cebbeb huu consequences OL mOnOpOly
as we condemn them, and the insttnc-
tive judgment of the vast majority Of
business men everywhere goes with
them. We shall now be their spokes-
men. That is the strength of our po-
sition and the sure prophesy OF what
will ensue when our reasonable work
is done.
No Sweeping Measure Necessary.
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
1t in the way in which prudent and
thoughtful and patriotic men would
wish to see is brought about, with as
few, as slight, as easy and simple bus.
iness readjustments as possible in
the circumstances, nothing essential
disturbed. nothing torn up by the
roots, no parts rent asunder which
car be left in wholesome condition
fortunately, no measures OF sweeping
or novel change are necessary. 1t will
OS bhcl Oul ODJSSl uOI
to unsettle business or anywhere Sc.
l~riously OF break its established
courses athwart.
On the contrary, we 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 thoughtful modera.
ton, without revolution of any un.
toward kind.
We are all agreed that private mo.
nopoly is indefensible and intoler.
able" and our program is founded
upon that conviction. It will be a
comprehensive but not a radical or
unacceptable program, and these are
its items, the changes which opinion
deliberately sanctions and for which
business waits:
Favors Fair Competition.
1t waits, with acquiescence, in the
first place, for laws which will effec.
tually prohibit and prevent such in.
terlockings of the personnel of the
NhSSbOA obC0 VI 6ISdI
banks and railroads, industrial, com.
mercial and public service bodies-as
in effect result in making those who
sell and those who buy, but the same
persons trading with one another un-
der different names and in different
combinations and those who affect to
compete; in fact, partners and mas
ters 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 a mere negative good by
correcting the serious evils which
have arisen because, for example the
men who have been directing spirits
of the great investment banks have
usurped the place which belongs to
Independent industrial management
working in its own behalf 1t will
bring new men, new energies, a new
spirit of initiative, new blood, into the
management of our great business en-
terprises. 1t will open the field of in
dustrial development and origination
to scores of men who have been
obliged to serve when their abilities
entitled them to direct. It will i'm
mensely hearten the young men COM
ing on and will great enrich the bust
ness activities of the whole country.
To Regulate Financing of Railroads.
In the second place, business men
as well as those who direct public af-
fairs now recognize, and recognize
with painful clearness, the great
harm and injustice which has been
| done to many, if not all, of the great
| railroad systems of the country by the
way in which they have been f.
nanced, and their own distinctive in
| terests subordinated to the interests
of the men who financed them and OF
other business enterprises which
! those men wished to promote. The
country is ready, therefore, to accept
and accept with relief as we'll as APP
proval, a law which will confer upon
the interstate commerce commission
the power to superintend and regulate
the financial operations by which the
railroads are henceforth to be sup
piled with the money they need for
their proper development to meet the
rapidly growing requirements of the
country for increased 'and improved
facilities of transportation.
We cannot postpone action in this
| matter without leaving the railroads