Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-18
"Eat but not to safety; labor, but
not to WEAKNESS; keep in nature"
-Plutarch.
FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING
If we would be capable Of doing
our part in a world where the mere
pressing of a button produces so
many results and so many are press
ing the buttons without giving the
matter a thought, tits essential that
we arrive at clear comprehension
of many things.
So much Of the trouble in this
world is occasioned by misunder-
standing, lack of comprehension and
narrow vision that securing better
understanding is seen to be a form
liable undertaking. Yet mutual con-
fidence in a square deal Is 80 es-
sential to effective cooperation and
effective cooperation is SO neces-
sary to development under existing
conditions the effort must be made
by those seeking public support, that
shall be permanent.
A clear exposition Of this situation
was made by Mr.. Martin ]. insult in
his address at Portland. last week.
I'VE must, he said, "offset the pos
sible danger, and one that now exists,
Of businesses growing SO large they
outrun public understanding, by us
ing every means in our power to
bring about a correct public under
standing" And it may be added that
individually we are under obligation
: to endeavor to understand. for we
share in the benefits Of that better
understanding, needed for the de-
5 velopment of the enterprise from
which we receive advantages in bet
ter and cheaper service.
Mr.. insult dwelt on the need Of
appreciation of the large interest
the public themselves have in these
great essential industries" He re-
minded us that:
THE constantly increasing capital
cannot be supplied through the
earnings from these services which
, are, by regulation either state or
federal, or by public opinion, limited
generally to only fair return on the
capital invested in facilities used and
useful for the public service. There
fore, to provide this increased
capital, new money has to be con-
stantly secured. This new money
can only come from the investor.
THE investor will not put his
money into a business that has not
the confidence of its customers, the
f0v> he lin m
secure the constantly increasing
transportation communication, light,
power and heat service they require,
these essential services must have
public confidence. To secure this
confidence, those engaged in these
services have, during the past few
years, taken every legitimate means
they could to enlighten the public on
all phases Of their business. Some
have gone even further, and have in
vited their customer-public to be-
come financially interested in the
companies that serve them. This is
leading to the best kind Of public
I ownership; industry owned by the
customers it serves, operated with
the skill, energy and initiative of
private operation, as compared with
the lax methods of political owner
ship and operation"
Mr.. insult made clear the need of
holding" or investment companies
to supply the enormous amounts of
capital required; in the electric light
and power business for example five
dollars Of capital needed for every
dollar Of income received. He de-
clared that only by means of these
large financial agencies could the
development already had have been
secured; that they could not have
been financed in a local way. could
not have distributed the advantages
az has been done. And yet, when all is
said, 1t IL seen that these large mass
Is Of capital employed in this de-
svelopment are made UP Of the saw
ings Of the multitude, investments
: that would not have been made but
Tor confidence in the investment.
The speaker referred to the tre-
rnendous increase in the number Of
stockholders in great enterprises in
this country in recent years. The
consumer naturally becomes more in
terested in that in which he invests
his money and while 1t IL not to be
expected the average stakeholder will
attain a. clear a comprehension of
the business In which he is interest
ed al might be wished 1t appears
evident that his comprehension is
being enlarged year by year with
profit alike to the business and to
himself.
Here surely Is need for the best
possible understanding. To neglect
or to fail to make an effort toward
Intelligent comprehension Of such
important factors in the public veal
10 to fall short Of our obligation to
the public. And this at a time
when there are SO many demands on
attention. We have supplied our
selves with innumerable labor.say-
ing devices but none of them all
provides relief OF mind. The drude.
cry, the toll with our hands has been
very materially lessened, but the
: demand on intelligence has been in
creased II we would not become the
servant OF that which has been in.
: vented to serve. All about US the
/. successful operations Of the agencies
. OF modern civilization are calling
Tor better understanding; all about
us are insistent requirements for in
aeilisent comprehension. That can.
nor % had by merely pressing a
tuition. We should. as best we may.
| eolnprehend all the agencies called