The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-18
main
I 1900 J
GREAT LEADERS
ON COOPERATION
By HOLLAND

BY HOLLAND
New York, August -(Speciai)-Thas
John d. Rockefeller should have sent
forth a birthday message in which he
advocates the modern principle of CO.
j operation is spoken of as a highly signih
cant demonstration of the change which
/ is characterizing the management of the
\ Standard Oil corporations Ten years
| ago Mr.. Rockefeller would not have
spoken at all Presumably he at that
time had not considered, excepting in
cidentally. and perhaps unfavorably the
application OF the principle Of cooperation
| by the Standard Oil and in fact all in
dustries He has now spoken some ls
years later than some of the other pre-
eminent leaders did; for James Stillinan
/ in his address TO the American Bankers
association, somewhat timidly given, for
Mr.. Stillman was not accustomed to pub
| lie speaking, concentrated all he said
| into single thought. He declared that
the new principle upon which our in
dustry and finance must be based is
that OF cooperation. Nevertheless in
private Mr.. Stillman admitted that ne
1 had been long time reaching this opin-
| ion, but having adopted t. he was hope
full that others would accept it and act
upon it.
A year earlier George W. Perkins, hav-
/
ba university to deliver an address. care
fully prepared one and read it IN the
| presence Of a large company, conspicu-
GUS among whom was the president OF
| the university Nicholas Murray Butler
| Mr.. Perkins then strongly advocated
the principle of cooperation, affirming
! that modern invention, the wonderful de-
lvelopment of electricity which was climb
mating time and space we'll as the
very rapid transportation of persons
and of commodities entailed a change
from the old methods to new one be
hind which was the principle of COOP
Grafton Prominently identified as Mr.
Perkins was with the United states Steel
corporation opinions of this Kind caused
astonishnent and some of those who
heard him departed from the hall with,
out saying anything TO him that would
indicate approval of his views.
MR.. MORGAN'S VIEW
Before Mr. Perkins delivered this adj
dress he showed it to Mr.. Morgan. since
MS a partner OF Mr.. Morgan7s did not
care to express in public any views with
which Mr. Morgan did not agree. a.
least views upon economic questions ans
modern principles. Having read the adj
dress Mr. Morgan was candid in his ap-
prevail, saying that he was glad MT
Perkins had an opportunitY to give the
public some cause for thinking.
Mr. Morgan was, a little later, adj
yised even requested to issue a statement
for publication in which he would set
forth his views upon modern conditions.
Although he was strongly urged to do
this vet he could not he persuaded. HIS
lreluctance was not Due to any opposl-
ton to the principle OF ooopera ton. but
to his feeling that We're he to speak FOR
publication in a formal manner. his mo-
tives might be misconstrued and he be
subjected to renewed attack
But It was evident that Mr. Morgan
fully accepted the modern principal OF
eooperation This was demonstrated by
the methods adopted by the tinted
states Steel corporation. From the ne
ginning of active opera ton by that COR
poration ii followed the method OF CO.
oneration believing that the day of IN
tense. drastic, cutthroat competition had
passed and that in place OF it there
should be reasonable cooperation.
Thai would involve some things which
the sherman law prohibited. But II has
been the hope OF our great industrial
leaders mat in lte time the public would
no SO wen educated that public opinion
would accent the principle of cooperation.
: not meaning nv that that all competition
should he ended but that unreasonable.
5 drastic and destructive competition
sbouId he supplanted hv cooperation
ANnpFW CARNECIF'S VIEWS
1vt,aa N,drew carnegie insisted that
be he Maid for his steel interests in gold
bonds of the United States Steel cor