The Natchitoches enterprise., 1915-04-15
What Is Business Afraid OF.

Al
ment they cannot rid themselve
of an underlying hostility t,
American enterprise
Is this true, or is it mere asser
tionQ
So far as the tariff is concerned
the Democratic revision of 1911;
was about what the Republican
revision of 1909 was expected t.
be. 1t was not radical. It wa
not a more radical revision thar
the Republicans themselves hat
promised in the 1908 campaign
Nor did it indicate hostility t.
business, for the agricultural sche
dulles were reduced in greater
degree than the manufacturing
schedules.
There was no hostility to bust.
ness in this revision of the tariff
unless every revision that reduces
rates If duty must be interpreted
as hostile to business.
AS for the trusts, there has
been no adverse legislation against
them under the Wilson Admins
tration. The only legislation en-.
acted was adopted at the request
of the business interests them
selves to clarity the law. There
has been less trust prosecution
under the Wilson Administration
than under the Taft Administra a.
ton. There has been less political
agitation against trusts and cor
porations since Mr.. Wilson be-
came President than at any time
since the Sherman law was enacted
in 1890.
AS to railroads, all the restric-
tive legislation now on the Federal
statute books was adopted by Re-
publican CONGRESSES. The only
important action affecting railroads
which has been taken since Mr..
Wilson became President, was the
granting of permission to increase
their freight and passenger rates.
The ruling of the Interstate Com
merce Commission in this instance
was favored not only by the Ad-
mlnistration but by the American
people as a whole.
AS to finance, the only construc-
tive measure enacted by the United
States Government since the Civil
War is the new Banking and Cur
rency Law, under which the
United States. has been able to
weather the financial storms of
the most disastrous wal in history
the shadow of panic.
Even Mr.. Bryan, who led the
free-silver crusade in 1896, used
all his influence to put this great
measure on the statute books.
Where is the hostility of which
Mr.. Root speaks? Where, for
that matter, is there any general
hostility toward business, such as
hat which ragged during the
Cleveland Administration and was
erected into the fors:. of a political
'eligion under the Roosevelt AID
ninistration? Where is there a
disposition IN the States or in the
Nation to harass or prosecute legi-
innate business of any kind, big
,r little4
What, then, is business afraid |
If? We do not know and we
;annot even surmise. Not in
wenty years has it had so little to
ear from Government. Not in
wenty years has it known so
learly what was expected of it
Inder the law. What more can
ask9
The great weakness of American
BUSINESS at this time is the great
weakness of Mr.. Root himself.
t refuses to trust the people.
1r. Root retired from~the Senate
ecause, as it Is generally believed.
e was afraid to submit his candi-
acy to u popular vote; yet he would
ave been re elected by an over
majority. Business
GEMS to be in much the same
tate of mind as Mr.. Root, and for
be same reason. 1t is afraid to
rust the people became it is lgno-
ant of popular opinion and Sus-
icious of popular good faith.
That is madness. The Govern
lent of the United States is not
oslile to business. The peoDle of
ne United States are not hostile