The Detroit times., 1917-08-06
Rad Business" Will Get
Better Because the People
Begin To Understand

TO be a better general understanding OF
the kind of business" that is meant
when business" is attacked. as 1t Is
sometimes-for instance. by this news
paper.
Absolutely no enlightenment is needed
by the kind of business" that is attack
ed. which is really easy of identification
because it is always first and loudest TO
shout that the attacks are hurting busi-
ness.
II seeks TO give the impression tthis
kind Of business" does) that when II Is
hit and shown up and branded. ALL
business must suffer.
When burglar is sent 10 prison
other burglars suffer. of course.
But the man who is earning his living
by hard work and the sweat Of his brow
doesn't suffer-HE is benefited.
There is one less burglar that ne
knows of against whom to protect HIM
self and his pay envelope that ne carrles
home on Saturday night.
When ILLEGITIMATE business Is
shown up, egislated against or thrown
into iail as the case might be but seldom
is. LEGITIMATE business does not SUI
fer.
LEGITIMATE business IS BENZ
FITTED.
War is going to show up illegitimate
business.
II is beginning TO show IT up already
Legitimate business is business that
aims to take the life out of trade by
sitting competition. that seeks thru
illegal monopoly to fatten itself while Its
competitor weakens and wastes away. z
Legitimate business is business that
exacts the last drop of blood from the
consumer at one end and from labor at
the other
Illegitimate business, business that IS
attacked by newspapers which 1t does
not own or control or buy with advertis-
ing. and which is made the target Of our
lawmakers and district attorneys offices,
is CROOKED business, CRIMINAL
business.
Wherever it shows itself during this
war it will be easy TO spot and will be
come, therefore. generally known, and
DECENT, FAIR, LEGITIMATE, LIVE
AND-LET-LIVE business will benefit.
The term big business" is often in
terpreted as used in disparagement, be-
~o,,co onorJ;ro h.,c;naeu &C milo iS
big business. but it is not in its BIG
NESS that it offends.
There is good big business" and bad
big business"
f. T. Bedford, who grew up with the
Standard Oil Co. and is now president of
the Corn Products Refining company, has
just expressed himself in this particular
in an article in The New York Times
which is rather remarkable at this time,
when men of large interests are so ret
icent about expressing their innermost
thoughts.
The gist Of Mr. Bedford's line OF
thought may be fairly gathered from the
following two paragraphs from his ar
ticle:
Size and efficiency should not be regarded
as criminal in themselves. Government restrtc.
ton OF business abuses. not OF legitimate actv.
ity. should be operated by simple machinery and
based on laws which business men under.
stand.
In my opinion, the attitude of the American
people toward the great corporations has chang
ed very materially for the better In recent years.
and the realization that large industrial units are
required for the doing Of large things Is now
very general There have been excuses in
public action against large corporations but
think II s safe 10 rely on the essential fairness
azh the essential intelligence of the American
people 10 sec that the corporations which observe
the law and the principles OF fairness in bust.
ness dealing shall receive fair treatment both A.
,D, %s..sr Of DreiDl' and as matter of national
Does it not simmer down, in fact, TO
this:
There is better understanding be-
tween the people and business because
certain business has seen the handwrit-
sng on the wall and has come to realize
the advantage in taking the public into
its confidence?
The war will prove great boon both
TO the people and business because il will
enable both TO see even more clearly and