The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23
Cooperation in American Business
Vital Paee for Procuring Prosperity u tie United States BY
Means Of Industrial and Social Effee,ey

We are living in a vital period. Never
before within our memory has there been
a time when SO many problems funda-
mental to true progress presented them
l selves to thinking men. These problems
call for expert examination, clear
thought and sober judgment. They are
not merely the problems directly arising
I from the disturbance and distress occa-
stoned all over the world by the great
struggle now going on in Europe. though
these alone are perhaps the greatest
problems with which mankind has ever
had to deal. The problems have specifi-
caily in mind: however. are larger even
1 than these; they reach into the future.
| They have to do with the whole scheme
Of the organization of society and its in
I terests. especially as regards those things
| that must always primarily concern the
great majority of men and women. name
ly, the industry, commerce and other ac-
tivities which form the basis of their
! Individual and social welfare and which
enable them to be efficient, both indi-
vidually and also socially and politi-
cally. Here in the United States. partic-
ularly, we are In more than one sense
! at q parting Of the ways. We are all
naturally preoccupied at the moment
with the restoration OF the national
prosperity which has been interrupted
| by the operation of the new tariff. by
the great war and by other causes. The
| war itself is making it clear that the
real question is larger than this. We
want prosperity: but we want it solid
and enduring. We want to make sure
| that while our free institutions are
maintained in a more vigorous condition
| than ever. we do not get out of step
| with the onward progress of the world
| and thus fail to hold our own with ma
| tons that may be learning the secrets
of progress faster and better than We
are.
Errors of Recent Years.
Correct decisions leading to just action
during the next few critical years will
mean much to the solidity and perma-
hence of this republic The continuance
of Observation-Disclosures. of mutual criti-
cism, and of working at cross purposes
among the men and groups of men who
are shaping our destinies, may serve to
carry us into errors from which a full
recovery may not be possible. I may
quote here what l said recently in an
other connection:
The tendency of the times during the
last few years seems to have been op-
posed to business progress. This has
been shown in publications. utterances of
public speakers. introduction Of many
vicious bills into the legislative branches
of government. the passage of some I'M
favorable laws and, in some instances,
a disposition to go beyond reason and
Justice in the effort to administer the
laws
THE reason for these adverse condi-
tons has been partly the fault OF the
business men. We had become more or
less careless in management. indifferent
10 the rights and interests Of others.
regardless of our responsibilities toward
those for whom We had become trustees.
as directors, officials or otherwise, and
unmindful Of the general public welfare.
I make no personal reference and have
no individual or corporation in mind. All
of US failed to measure fully up to our
obligations.
Many of those who criticised were ac-
tuated by the best of motives. others by
the desire for notorety or individual ad-
vancement The effect was bad and IN
many instances not justified"
Great Principles at stake.
The great war which is now shaking
Europe and the world has served TO
arouse many dormant intellectual and
moral forces, not the least among which
are the forces of economic and political
analysis Behind the clash OF armies.
trained economists and students of the
lens, whose working out. successfully
or unsuccessfully. will determine the fu-
ture of all peoples. whether now in
cluded among the belligerents or not
The issues are not merely the victory or
defeat of the one or the other group
of these belligerents. but great funda-
mental principles of human progress. The
financial and commercial CONFUSION OF
the whole world at the outbreak OF the
anl inf discovery
that no country nowadays can live Tor
itself alone; the sharp realization that
even nations at peace and remote from
the conflict must by strong ana de-
pendable coordination of their own al
fairs. be prepared for the difficulties aris-
ing from such a confiict-these and other
impressive lessons of the war in Europe
have stirred the minds Of thinking men
everywhere to reconsider their vague ana
often merely traditional ideas OF what |
is good for peoples. taken either collec-
lively or individually. Probably there
Is now a consensus of opinion. among
those whose Judgment is worth having.
that after the war is concluded 1t Will
no longer be possible for great ma
ton to go on in a happy -go-lucky way,
with no common purposes and aims, II II
desires to remain permanent force
in the world, holding its place in the
vanguard of progress
Underlying Cause of War.
II NAV safely be said that history has |
not recorded a great human catastrophe !
which carried for the world SO vivid and /
a demonstration of funda- |
mental truths. Many great events are |
IN ma BILE of misinterpretation; but 1t seems |
To me. the present war. whatever may |
he the differences of opinion as to IFS |
diplomatic preliminaries. stands forth. in |
the ewes of the far-seeing statesmen and |
of the wise economist, clear and clean /
cut al regards the great ultimate conclu-
s;ons to be drawn from IL. Fundament-
ally. I believe this war was made pos
sible by the failure Of men and women /
great populations to insist /
upon the application. in respect to their
economic activities and interests. Of the /
simple Christian principles Of mutual for
bearance and cooperation which they /
ayowed as q religious or social creed. |
As I said in an address delivered during /
October last:
without giving reasons in detail at
the present time, / venture the opinion
that the struggle for commercial su-
premacy was the underlying cause Of the /
war. or at least had a decided influence |
upon its pr ecipitatiDn; that the ques-
lions at issue largely relate to dollars
and cents And many believe that II
Of the different nations |
had previously met in a spirit Of friend
" and considerate inquiry for the pur-
pose of definitely and finally setting the
financial interests Of each, all trouble
hAon avorfed Z" L