The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-18
ffhSOh MADE HEAD Of
RICHMOND CREDIT MEN
Annual Meeting of Association Held
Last Night at Business Mems
Club.
c. b. GARNETr MAKES ADDRESS
says That Danger From Present War
Is RapaCity of Private Greed On
Needs of People To Amass Wealth.

c. s. Fenson. OF tie Watkins-Cot-
tyeN company, was last night elected
president of the Richmond Association
OF Credit Men at the annual meeting
OF the association held in the Bust
ness Mems club Other officers elected
were Harry Marks. vice president, and
A NJ Pulen. treasurer Colonel 10
Lane Stern Is secretary OF the asso-
citation
Christopher Il. Garnet, chairman
OF the state corporation commission,
made tho principal address of the
evening, and a supper was served to
the members. about 100 of whom were
present Twelve delegates. headed
by President Fenson, were ramed to
attend the national convention or
credit men to he he'd in Kansas City,
and the following executive commit
toe was named: W, NJ Jones. f. Il.
Uinckle, Alvin NJ. smith, r. 3. J.
Whitmore and ". NJ crawford.
some lsiy4tstafi0ns Upon the JJ--~sss..!!.t
OF Private Property was THE sub.
fect OF the address OF Mr., Garnett.
The speaker declared that the right
OF private property is not an absolute
one. has been taught but 1t ia re-
lative. Mr. Garnet drew forcefully
TO his hearers the danger from the
present waf which he sad. Was more
the rapacitI ~ private greed than
the sacrifice that men and women
have 20 make for their country This
greed he said. which would trade
upon the cNigencles and necessities
of the peQuIn cast into tie iAroea- at
war, and would pile up Individual
fortunes at the expense OF the great
masses of the people
Nh. Garnett stated that all lim!tn,
tions such as fines. taxes and right Of
eminent domain are placed on prop
crtv by the state for the public. The
most important limitations imposed
upon the right Of private property
for the benefit Of the individual arise
from the old LATIN maXim-~use your
own right or property as not to injure
The right or property of another per
son a man has no right. he said. 10
infict nuisance upon others, Mr.
Garnet stated that there was a time
/ when Ii was believed that the people
should have no control of public SER
/ vice corporations IN the matter OF
their service 20 the people. but this
conception has gradually given way
until now # is recognized everywhere
that such properties as these are at
fected with q public interest -
T In the present war, MIR. Garrett
stated, the nations OF Europe have
not hesitated to- trench further and
further upon what used 10 be con-
sdorcd the sacred rights Of privc'e
property. He told of the action OF
England in the imposition of taxes,
the seizure OF railroads ara other
forms OF public transportation. and
the control OF various forms OF wealth.
Germany he said. not only controls
the resources and production of tho
q Yy,yN ii Il ST rYhIltinn n 40
necessities Of life.
My friends Mr.. Garnett de-
,clared we are facing serious stu
alton IN this country. Grim visaged
war has raised it's Wrinkled front.
and the most horrible aspect to me
that Will come from the war VIII not
be so much the sacrifices tina. men
and women viii have to make for
their country. for there is always a
compensation FOR such sacrifices. but
the most serious situation in conncc
ton Herewith is the gapacity of pri-
waite greed that would trade upon the
Iexigencies and necessities of the pco-
pie cast into the throes of war aud
would pile up individual fortunes at
the expense of the great masses Of
the people,
When we consider that the origin
Of wealth under organized, political
ana lUduStrld4 society is beyond GpeS-
ton social; that no man can ANA ss
wealth on a desert island or w'ten
removed from the society of his fell
low man, and no man can enjoy wealth
In solitude, we are not surprised at
the tendency OF modern society to look
the facts in the face and to demand
of those who control wealth that they
shall treat IL as trustees of the whole
people; and it does not take a man
with long vision TO see that unless
those who control the great ag2rc-
cations or wealth In this country shall
be responsive and responsible to their
public trusts. the same forces which
have been workin gto socialize the
wealth OF the old world will quickly
aanaa \ revolution IN tbs new"