The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-12
a VOICE Inv. THE WILpERNEss

n NOAS6 AN- 41E m1LDE1@N ESS
Some idea OF what may be expected
from Albert ]. Beverage should he BIZ
elected to the United States senate
from Indiana in November, may be-
gained from an article from his pen
appearing in the July issue of THE
Nations Business"
Each period has it's task" writes
Mr.. Beveridge. That of today is the
restoration of business. This can be
done well and permanently only by
the repeal or basic modification OF
laws that hamper business"
Only Americas incalculable natural
wealth. her comparatively scanty pop
ulation, her Incompatible situation or
the globe, together with the spirit, en-
terprise, and resourcefulness of her
business men, he points out, made
American prosperity possible in spite
of the unscientific and business-cIog-
ging legislation with which the indus
trial and commercial energy of the
country has been. and still is
shackled.
For more than two decades stu
dents of economics and government
have seen clearly, and pointed out
plainly. the destructive folly of such
law-making; but the repeal, or mater
ial alteration of these laws was pre-
vented by the selfishness and coward
ice of politicians, the audacity and
bluffing of demagogues. and the po-
htical torpor and timidity of business
men themselves. The time has come
to clean house. This clutter of un-
economic and anti-economic 1egisla-
ton must be cleared away. We can
not have the prosperity we ought to
have until this job is DONE.
First among the needed reforms. in
Mr.. Beveridge's view. is the repeal OF
the Sherman law and the substitution
therefor of a national incorporation
law. In support of his position he
says:
Frequent and capital events demon
strate that such action is irdisnens-
able For instance. the interstafe
commerce commission finally recon-
mended certain railway rnerger-a
measure which many observing and
thoughtful persons had long seen to
be advisable. Yet, under the Sherman
Jaw. the courts were forced to declare
Again: the Sherman law SO bur
dened foreign trade that a. special
statute had to be enacted suspendfng
the provisions of that law as to over
seas commerce.
Still again: when the government
took over the railways. it was found
that the Sherman law could not be
observed, and It was dfsregarded
And yet again: the cooperative
measures so vital to the well-being
of American farmers are and will be
in direct conflict with the Sherman
law.
Before our eyes are dozens of pres
emit illustrations like these, of the dis
astrous effects of this legislative dead
hand, on the industrial and business
activities of the American people.
Equally striking. he continues, are
examples of the evil futility OF this
absurd law. The so-called "dissolu-
tions" of the tobacco trust and the
Standard Oil will occur to everybody.
the practical effects of which was not
iR the least beneficial to the public
but decidedly advantageous to finan-
cial manipulators.
On the matter of tax reform the
writer says:
The scheme for the confiscation of
business capital under tbs guise of
tax legislation, which was hastily i'm
prov.sed in the hectic days soon after
we declared war on Germany, frank
ly violates the first principles of eco
nomics. Solely because of patriotic
considerations. nobody complained
devastating legislation has been toll
Grated IN peace time. proves the pa
thence of the American people-or
their mystification
1t must. of course. be done away
with. or, at the very least, be ele-
mentally modified; and in place of
it an equitable, just and simple tax
law be enacted. which everybody can
understand. nobody can evade. which
will permit the revival of industry
and the reestablishment of markets.
The best measure of that kind thus
far proposed is a general sales tax.
If a better method exists, let it be
advanced. Certainly the war tax de-
vices can no longer be endured.
As necessary agency of this con-
irritating and sometimes almost IN
COMPREHENSIVE reports, returns, and
directions are required of and imposed
upon business men: and swarms
OF spies upon business infest the land.
business is treated as If it were es-
sentially criminal, rather than, in its
very nature. essentially honest. The
unworthy exception is made the rule.
II is an actual fact that our American
spy system is worse than the Russian
spy system under the car, because
the Russian espionage was political,
while OURS Is economic.
OF course we cannot have heaIthiul
and active business while courage
and initiative are thus weakened and
restrained. Wise and honest super
vision has been maldeveIoped into
suspicious and stupid intimidation.
All this must be entirely changed
Free the hands of honest busInessl
Open the doors of honest trade! Lift
from the heart of commerce the
that now makes its beating
weak and spasmodicI
A steel maker points out that there
is not q civilized man. woman OF child
on earth today who does not carry