Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-10-04


practically a huge corporation Of
which every man who is entitled to
vote is a stakeholder. AS stockhold-
ers we want to see the business prop
erly administered and show a profit.
We elect President OF the corpora
ton and we give to him greater power
than is usually given to the head Of a
great concern. We allow him to APP
point his own board OF directors, the
members of his Cabinet. Judging
from what we have seen during the
past three years it might be better If
these Cabinet officers also were elect
ed by the people.
Assuming that this executive head
of our corporation is our employee
because we elect him to the Office
and pay his salary-we expect that he
will produce results commensurate
with the power that is given to him
and the interests with which he is
entrusted. If he measures up to the
Job we say, well done, good and
faithful servant" and sometimes re-
elect him. If he doesn't fill the bill,
we proceed to find man who can
We give him plenty of time to make
good. four long years. but at the end
OF that time we insist on having a
strict account of his stewardship
It is a plain business proposition and
should be so considered.
Now, the time for the statement is
at hand and the thing for us to find
out and act upon is the condition III
which our corporation stands under
the present administration of its af-
fairs.
Have it's assets been increased and
its liabilities diminished? If SO, we
should continue in Office the man who
has made our stock more valuable;
but il an examination Of the books
shows that there has been dishonesty
and bad management and that we are
In bad odor with our competitors and
our customers it is necessary to avoid
bankruptcy by reorganizing our force
and putting a new man in the Presi-
dents chair.
Let lis dispassionately consider the
facts and see what we should do al
the next stockholders meeting, the
date for which is November Z.
The first duty of an executive officer
is to select as his staff thoroughly
capable and highly specialized men
whose training and reputation are g
guarantee that their work shall be
creditably performed. Instead Of sucf
men VIC got Bryan, who proceeded tC
debauch the diplomatic service and tC
| whisper behind his hand that oul
| notes to foreign countries were onl!
! intended for effect: Daniels, who il
the laughing stock of the naval world
! and whose sincerity is seriously ques
! toned; Redheld. who told the manu-
facturers of this country that il the
reduced their working force or close
their shops on account of the TART
they would be disciplined, and so o
through nearly the whole list Wha
do you think Of the selection. and VIII
is solely responsibility
this stupendous practical joke?
One OF the absolute essentials @
good business is economy. and W
we're promised that this should b
strictly applied by the present Admin
istratiOn. How has this promise bee
kept? We are Just through with
session OF Congress by far the mos
prodigal and wasteful in the histor
of our country. hat has saddled
burden OF S2OO0,0OO,O0O on rs. TIL
figures reek of pork. and. making a
lowance for the unusual approprii
tions for preparedness. the eXpend
lures provided for in the shape
rivers and harbors, Government shil
pings and nitrate plants. roads. rur;
credits and other high questionab
projects, aggregating about two hun
bred and fifty millions-not to me-
ton the creation of about 10000 ne
political Offices carrying with the
an expense for forty millions NOR
show a record of extravaganza th
makes us stand aghast.
We were assured that the cost
living would be decreased. It HI
gone up by leaps and bounds. v
were given a hastily conceived al
thoroughly unscientific tariff that WI
to lower prices for the neccssaries
life. Sixty millions OF dollars we
to have been cut from the Cover
ment revenues by taking of the tar
on sugar, but il didn't make sug
any cheaper. and in desperation 4
Administration reversed itself al
put the duty back. The reduction
, the duty on wool didn't make cloth
, any cheaper. Even the poor MAJ
loaf has advanced in price. VIII
the lack of revenue under this ADM
c istration left the United States Trej
ury practically bankrupt. they pl
ceeded to lll its Golfers by putting
war tax in times of peace, and me-
: ing one-half Of one per cent. OF I
e people-and most OF those in n
d York and Pennsylvania-pay the b.
a of the tax.
You will find II you will look il
> it that the increase in expenses is
; the South and that the increase
taxation is in the North! Now, I
tariff. the Democrats say. is "for r
enue only" but inasmuch as It is
adequate for the only thing that
claimed for ii. namely the product
OF revenue. what is it good for al