lO UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



man who has always to work for a gigantic corporation. It 'is said 

 that this will destroy individual initiative. In all probability this has 

 been very much exaggerated. There would seem to be little reason for 

 the belief that a man will not have the opportunity to show the same 

 amount of ingenuity in working for the trust that he would have in 

 working in an establishment owned by himself. Suppose a man is 

 intrusted with the duty of working up trade for a great corporation, as, 

 for example, the development of a taste for chewing gum among the 

 Japanese. Mr. Fhnt testified before the Industrial Commission that 

 the American Chicle Company were endeavoring to cultivate such a 

 taste among the Europeans. Here is a field demanding all the originahty 

 that any man possesses. 



It is not to be expected that all men should have the chance to develop 

 industries in their own way. This is impossible. It is given to a few 

 men to be leaders in politics and government. The others are glad 

 enough to follow them. So it is in industry. Few men are capable 

 of originating new things. There is no reason why society should 

 insist on keeping industries small for the sake of allowing inefficient 

 men to try to manage them. In this way these men waste social energy. 

 This opportunity had better be taken from them. Some men think 

 they can practice medicine without medical study. Society has declined 

 to give them the opportunity. They must first prove their ability to 

 practice skillfully the healing art. So it may be better for one first to 

 prove his ability to manage a great business before he is allowed to 

 experiment and fail at the expense of society. What society needs in 

 the organization of industry is the prevention of the enormous wastes 

 that are now so common, and if, by leaving this matter to the industries 

 organized on a large scale, a great social saving can be made, there is 

 no reason why it should not be done. 



The destruction of some opportunities for private initiative is not a 

 serious thing. If societies can manage more successfully industries 

 that have been previously left to private parties, it is wise that the society 

 undertake these enterprises. No one criticises the management of the 

 postoffice by the government. This kind of governmental activity 

 increases instead of curtailing the opportunities of individuals. Govern- 



