San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-24

, within itself its earnings. Business
that exists 10 feed profits TO people
who are not engaged, and never will
be engaged in il, stands on false
basis. This is being SO well under
stood that it has become part OF
the creed of commerce that the ser.
vice Of business is wholly to the pub
lie, and that the profits of business
are due, first, TO the business itself as
a seryiceable instrument of humanity,
and then to the people whose labor
and contributions of energy make the
business a going concern.
But neither business nor finance
has power to compel the public to
buy here or buy there. The record Of
financiers in business affairs is full
of disaster. II finance had the far
flung power that alarmists say it has,
America. like Europe, would be filled
with peasants.
MONEY DOES NOT RULE"
Money does not control wheat, coal
and other essentials of life. How can
it? 1t does not create them. There
are twice as many coal mines open as
We can possibly use. Until a little
while ago wheat was drug on the
market. Money does not own the coal
in the United States. Money does
not own the farms or the farmers.
Money, following its traditional poll.
cy. would make coal scarce: here We
have it plentifully. Money would
make wheat scarce; the world is piled
with wheat.
But while you can always 90 out
and buy an automobile. you cannot
always 60 out and buy ton Of coal;
yet prOpOrtiOnate to the need, the
ready supply Of coal is greater than
tine ready supply of automobiles. 1t
is not matter Of money control: it
TEN Of business.
The true course of business is to
follow the fortunes and pursue the
service of those who had faith in il
from the bcginning-the public. II
there is any saving in manufacturing
cost, let it 20 TO the public. II there
is any increase in profits. let II be
shared with the public in lowered
prices. If there is any improvement
in the commodity, let it be made
without question, for whatever tn;
capital cost it was first the public
that supplied the capital. That IL
the true course for good business TO
steer, and il is good business, for
there is no better partnership a
business can enter than a partnership
of service with the people Ii is far
safer, far more durable and more
profitable than partnership with a
money power.
The best defense any people can
have against their control BY mere
money is a business system that is
strong and healthy through render
ing wholesome service to the com
munity.
DISHONESTY OUT OF DATE"
Much publicity is given dishonest
business, but this is not because there
is more dishonest business than be-
fore, but because il has become such
an out-of-date thing. The history Of
dishonesty in business in the United
States begins. like the immoral meth
DDS of early competition. in the scar.
city of opportunity. Dishonest busi.
ness never had any excuse for exist.
ing. but there were times when It
was at least understandable. Now.
adays il is not even understandable.
The great swiDdle began in an age
when opportunity was scarce. Swind.
ling is out-of-date today because hon.
est opportunity is unlimited.
The organization Of industry to
serve the people will not interfere
with the profitsbleness Of industry. az
some seem 10 imagine Putting right
principles into our economic life will
not decrease wealth. but increase it.
The world as a whole is much poorer
than it ought TO be, because it has
muddled along on one cylinder-the
get" cylinder-and has not grasped
in any practical way the true law Of
service and increase.
For always builders want 10 build.
bakers want TO bake. manufacturers
want &" produce. railroads want ~
carry, wnrkinTmen want 10 work,