THE STRUGGLE FOE EQUALITY 19 r 



averse is an influential portion of the business world to change, that this 

 point is frequently overlooked or but partially recognized. 



Amicable relations between the railways and the shippers could not 

 exist so long as unreasonable discriminations were practised by the 

 former. In granting franchises, the public can not be expected to ac- 

 quiesce unless its interests are properly safeguarded. The passage of the 

 Allen bill by the Illinois legislature constituted a challenge to good 

 citizenship, and there could be no peace until the objectionable bill was 

 repealed. The painful working out of the franchise question in Chicago 

 and Cleveland has placed the street railway securities of these cities on 

 a sound and reputable basis. The report of the commission appointed 

 by President Eoosevelt has made for peace in the anthracite coal fields. 

 Not until the tariff is rescued from the hands of special interests and is 

 settled to the satisfaction of the country will the business community 

 know upon what to count. So far as legislation is concerned, much 

 political agitation is either fruitless or results in unwise action. Due 

 credit should, however, be given to an important by-product, namely, 

 the stimulating effect upon the correction of abuses by voluntary action. 



II 



Modern industry repeatedly adjusts itself to new conditions with 

 surprising ease, and those in charge of any business are frequently the 

 first to protest against a proposal to return to the old order of things. 

 The packers advertise that their meats are " U. S. Government In- 

 spected." Insurance companies doing business subject to the laws of 

 such states as Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Wisconsin, 

 proclaim the fact. The national banks find the supervision to which 

 they are subjected a valuable asset. The investor's attention is called to 

 the fact that an issue of securities has been approved by a public utility 

 commission. Publicity of corporate accounts has proven a good thing 

 for railway and other corporations. Factory managers now and then 

 face about and approve regulations which they have opposed. 15 It often 

 happens, also, that the arch insurgent of to-day is looked upon as the 

 cautious-going conservative of to-morrow. The south no longer regards 

 Lincoln as an enemy, but as a friend, and among the possibilities of the 

 future is the spectacle of the business interests rallying around a La 

 Follette as their defender against some form of radical-going socialism. 



The need of distinguishing between the symptoms and the causes of 

 political unrest is well illustrated by the silver agitation. No political 

 movement since 1870 excited such bitter controversy or did so much to 

 unsettle business. It undoubtedly occasioned the panic of 1893, and pro- 

 longed the hard times which followed. The legislation of 1878 and 1890 

 made our monetary system topheavy and rendered the continuance of the 



is Hutehins and Harrison, "A History of Factory Legislation," second edi- 

 tion, p. 155. 



