Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-17
SPECIAL INTERESTS

cENATOR LA TOILETTE,
~ speaking for his insurgent
group, says:
1--WE stand for taking the control
Of the government away from spe-
cial interests and placing it in the
hands Of the people as the fathers
of the nation intended it,"
Senator Ladd, North Dakota
non-partisan Lacquer, says:
1--WE are trying to take the con-
troll of the government out of the
hands of Wall street and restore it
to the people, as the founders Of
the nation intended"
What do these people mean by
special interests?" The term is
vague enough. 1t really does not
mean much in a close analysis.
Like most of the phrases of the
demagog it is meant to appeal to
unthinking men. The special in
t~erests that La Palette and Ladd
speak about are not special inter
ests at all. They mean copper
mines in one state, and packing
plants in another state, and auto
mobile and machinery plants, and
steel works, and coal mines and
railroads and banks and insurance
companies, and oil companies, and
department store, and in fact big
business generally. IF they used
the term big business instead of
special interests they would convey
their meaning better. That is real
ly what they do can
No business because it is big,
and its total transactions run up
into hundreds of millions Of dollars
a year, is necessarily bad for
the citizens of a state or nation.
In fact it generally means that
they buy goods they need cheaper.
Big business does not W the
government Of the United States.
It does not control it as these two
senator's say. In fact their politi-
cal stock in trade largely rests on
the impression they give n that
they are opposed to all big bust
-~, Tc yr1rfc 70 ha aJarfaH
to congress these days he proceeds
to give it out that big business is
opposed to his election. That gen.
orally does the trick if he can put
it over.
This idea that big business con-
trolls the government of the United
States is folly. The reverse of
that statement is true. Big bust
ness is controlled by the govern
ment. 1t is often cruelty and un-
justly controlled. Envy and fear
are the qualities in human nature
that are invoked by the ~demogags
that cry out against big business.
They are both mean qualities but
they exist and respond to the hum
ming of the agitator's prod. He
has a selfish interest of his own
to serve, but people are apt to
overlook that fact when envy and
fear are appealed to.
Henry Ford represents big bust
ness. IF he did not do SO vast a
business he could not sell lis ma
chinery at the prices he does sell
them. Everyone who has or aston
to use the goods that Henry Ford
manufactures shares in the profits
of big business. The 100000 work
ing men who draw good wages
share in those profits. The whole
country shares in those profits.
The same statement applies to the
Standard Oil companies and the
packing plant companies. Small
business would 60 bankrupt on the
percentage of profit they make on
their goods. The Standard Oil
company grows rich on a profit Of
three cents on the dollar Of their
sales. The packing plants make
even less. Big business is no det-
riment to the citizens of the coun-
try. 1t is generally an advantage
to them. And there is no state
ment less true than that big bust
ness controls our government. Big
business is generally glad enough
to be let alone and given the same
chance to do business that smaller
business interests enjoy. Often
4Lo, f;rd Lavrca1yac ~ oyn.A11ed tn