Evening star., 1915-03-20
HAS TWO REMEDIES
FOR BUSINESS ILLS
George w. Perkins Advises
Regulation of Interstate and
International Concerns.
ALSO MAKES SUGGESTION
OF COMPLETE PUBLICITY
Noted Corporation Promoter Gives
His Views of Industrial and
Economic Conditions.

Economic C0ndltl0nS.
1T is not the trusts that have made
the times it is the times that have made
the trusts.
This Is the view of George W. Perkins
OF New York, man who has had expert
euce in the upbui!ding Of some of the
largest industrial corporations in the
country. Mr.. Perkins was in Washing
ton for a short time last night, on his
way south. Since his retirement from
active management of corporations he has
given deep study to some Of the Ills which
lie thinks afiict the business of the nation
this time.
That something is wrong in the coun-
try. Mr. Perkins believes to be admitted.
He coutc,.tls that the trouble is not super
ficI:tl. but furdanlental-thati is, "a con-
..fct between economies new and eco
Eornics old
Proposes Two Remedies.
Mr.. Perkins proposes two remedies for
the evils:
First. federal regulation of the great
Interstate and International industrial
concerns.
affairs Of these concerns.
The desired reform can be brought
aoout. he contends. only by the sober.
able business men of the country taking
affairs out of the hands of theorists and
professional politicians
In recent years.. said Mr.. Perkins.
we have been given a myriad of inven-
tiors having to do with steam. electricity
and wireless, every one of which has made
possible the expansion Of mans energies
ard opportunities.
AT the same time We have been
given a myriad of laws having as one
and their only object the contra action
OF mans energies and opportunities.
The inventor has been headed in one
direction. the lawmaker IN the oppo-
site direction. How can we expect
prosperity under such conditions?
Says Statesmen Refuse to Bulge.
While this miraculous economic
Transformation has been taking place
almost all our political leaders and so
called statesmen have stood still, both
in thought and in action; they have
refused to bulge an inch toward ac
"epting the new condition, or toward
changing their own views on econoEl-
les. they learned them. when boys,
from books that are now musty and
obsolete.
The result has been a great tug of
war between our vast body Of political
leaders and our vast body OF business
leaders-hrst, because OF the utter and
complete lack of thought. study and
research on the part OF our political
leaders as TO the new economic condi-
tons under which We have suddenly
found ourselves living. and, second.
because our business men. confronted
with these mighty economic changes,
have been obliged to adjust them
selves TO the new economic CONDITIONS
WI q
acted to meet the old economic condi-
.ST,d anv man ever hear OF a polit
!cal leader or so-called statesman de-
livering a speech In a state legislature
or the National Congress. calling the
attention Of the people to the mighty
changes that have taken place IN the
methods of intercommunication during
the last twenty years aaa poiat,hs ,hs
out that. as intercornmunicat!on is the
arst requisite for doing business, fhese
mighty changes are entirely respon-
sioIe for the Capitalization OF ous!-
ness
III REQUIRES only little serious. In
raiHgeIit though. TO reach the ineT-
table conclusion that II we were given
free trade in this country tomorTo~
solve; on the other hand. even though
our tariff were put as high as the
mountains, if that strange force that
~. call electricity were suddenly with
Drawn from our use and the teiephoAe
aud the telegraph went OUT of existence
-,t a single so-called trust could con-
riau. for twenty-fou- hours
Alleges Court Decisions Conflict.
NJ. Perkins cited the recent decision
rs the United States district court In
Minnesota dissolving the International
Harvester Company on the ground that
4 had acquired too large percentage of
The business: and the decision Of the court
u. III. eastern district of Pennsylvania
s-tus!ng to dissolve the Keystone
Ivatc.- Case Company. specifically
--at1ng that in the opinion OF the
..Iurt the size Of the corporation -
- crime. both OF which cases have
f,e-, appealed 10 the supreme Court
Here are two circuit courts of exactly
rh- sanls rank and judicial power, second
s4atAority o!.ly 70 the supreme Court
self. handing dow! within! rev Weeks
Z each ,yther decisions that are absolute
in conflict Could there be Confusion
ors- cprroilnded"
Lager aid anxious as our great bust
ess rTorld Is 20 follow President Wilson
= his ASSURANCE that all Is we'll between
he government and business. that CAPT
al IleeG 10 longer hesitate and that ous!-
ess may forge ahead, II Is utterly lInpos-
s.ble for il - DO 50 while actually exist
rg conditions are as outlined above. The
Watch cases provet! beyond the shadow
y doubt that up 70 date business
3a:. 30 lavy@r, court has been able
% r..d out definitely how business can
'- done legally. Oh u large scale, under
th.s Sherman Law.
Prosperity rLat Is Ierr:la nent, that IL
--r 10 one ard al. cannot be had while
u these contradictory conditions exist
nd th"y exist largely because the busi-
esq men OF our country have been SO OBJ
stssed witi chasing tie .s,ln4ighty doila r
tkst they have neglected their civic duties.
ffey ta.e allowed our politicians to talk
any sort Of Gbt-air doctrine TO the people
nat "o'ild temporarily bring success at
flIe polls. ana they have not lifted a voice
u: raised hand to point out to the people
ne absolute falsitr OF tho doctrines th.,
'1-re being preached" "
Contrast in Policies.
'-H1trasting the policy OF the United
states with the course pursued by Ger
many, Mr. Perkins said:
hern1aHy has forged ahead during
TIE last twenty-five Years centraltz,ne
her various industries, until now nearI,
every industry In Germany Is organ
tzed and centralized In some form OF
large business unit As a result. area,
commercial power and vast commercial
Drohts have come to her people AnG
now, mark thfs we'll: While this cen.
tralization has been going on. enigra
ton from Germany has fallen from
what was very large figure twenty.
hve years ago. practically to zero dur.
ing the last two or three years
our politicians and so-calied states
fuen9 For the theory fhav have bAAv