THE CALL OF THE LAND 



promoters the only good kind, as General 

 Sherman said of Indians? Is the promoter 

 a worthy member of the body politic or a 

 grafter? Would his annihilation be a bene- 

 diction, to be hailed with hallelujahs as 

 making the majority of us better off, or a 

 calamity tending to impoverishment? 



In the answer to this question will lie that 

 to the kindred one, whether the promoter 

 function is destined to be permanent in in- 

 dustry; for, if it is a healthy force, it will 

 continue; while if its net tendency is disad- 

 vantageous, we shall probably find some 

 means of getting rid of it and administering 

 all industry on some other plan. I am going 

 to face those questions and answer them the 

 best I can. Meantime a few remarks which 

 may serve to pave the way. 



Current rage against promoters is, in 

 great measure, simply part and parcel of the 

 popular hostility felt against all the 

 wealthy. This hatred I deem the most 

 dangerous sign of our times. If the mob 

 alone felt it, this antipathy would be less 

 appalling; but it has sympathy and support 



