14 N*.Gae he Teer 
Sy yO Rae 
BREEZE 
Government and Business 
By H. L. Higginson 
[Reprinted from the Boston Herald] 
It is time to stop and consider 
with care the present state of affairs 
throughout our land and the atti- 
tude of the administration at Wash- 
ington towards the business men of 
the United States. 
One is reminded of our condition 
during the Civil war, when we were 
guided by a patient, charitable, 
wise man, who set himself the task 
of preserving the Union, be it with 
or without slavery—and he sue- 
ceeded. We need today the same 
altruistic qualities to save our in- 
dustrial system—and we need judg- 
ment in the application of our laws. 
A great industrial system is a del- 
icate piece of machinery which 
needs careful study and treatment, 
for on it rests the fabric of society, 
and if the machinery is thrown out 
of gear, confusion and disaster fall 
on everyone in the land—farmers, 
laborers, manufacturers and men of 
the professions. 
the system calls for change and for 
adaptation to the new inventions 
and wants of the times; and this is 
an essential part of its nature. 
Our industrial system has been built 
up with great thought, industry and 
patience, and has given to our citi- 
zens homes, food and clothing, and, 
to many people, a fitting investment 
for their savings; in short, it has 
met all the material needs of man- 
kind, and has added to these, 
means for education and for the re- 
freshment of pleasure and of the 
arts. This great work has been ac- 
complished chiefly by the sons of 
farmers and mechanics, and if some- 
times they have overstepped the 
lines of fairness to others, they 
merely have proved themselves mor- 
tal. In this respect they have not 
differed from our representatives 
and servants of the national and 
state governments. 
In 1890 the Sherman law, so- 
called, was drawn by two able law- 
yers and senators, and was passed 
by Congress. Since that date it al- 
ways has been difficult to under- 
stand and construe this law and, 
such being the case, it was not 
prized or used. 
Industries were fostered by 
larger and larger corporations as 
the needs and powers of the nation 
grew. Thev were unmolested, and 
drew to themselves workmen who 
depended on them, and also small 
investors who placed their savings 
From time to time ° 
in them. Later, when state officers 
criticised the conduct of the corpo- 
rations, the directors tried to meet 
the requirements of the courts; they 
sought legal advice and guidance 
from the best lawyers; and it is un- 
fair to say that these lawyers had 
the dishonesty and folly to counsel 
illegal conduct. 
Presently our government, after 
. quietly examining the records of 
certain corporations, brought them 
and their directors before the bar, 
accused them of dishonesty, and 
proposed to break up the corpora- 
tions and punish the directors. The 
supreme court has decided that two 
corporations belonging to a few 
people shall dissolve and exist in 
some other form; and this mandate 
will be obeyed. It is a grave ques- 
tion if the government could not 
have accomplished the same result 
quietly, and thus not have disturbed 
the community, but the government 
preferred publicity. 
But now the government has in- 
dicted another corporation, which 
within ten years was formed and 
framed acording to the law, if the 
best legal knowledge and character 
have value. The government has 
seen the formation of this corpora- 
tion, has allowed its existence and 
its progress, has permitted investors 
large and small to put their savings 
into its shares, has seen its bonds 
spread far and wide for education 
and charitable ends, has seen thou- 
sands of workmen enter its employ, 
and also invest in its shares, and 
never uttered a word of objection. 
One President has sanctioned an 
important move of this corporation, 
while understanding fully its object 
and meaning, in which action he was 
perfectly right, and showed judg- 
ment. 
If the Steel Corporation has in- 
fringed on the law, it has stood 
ready to make the required changes; 
but its formation and its aim have 
been understood fully. It has not 
been greedy, and has tried to keep 
a volatile business steady in its 
course of prices and of work; it has 
sought the good of its workmen. 
There is such a thing, even in the 
pursuit of the law, as judgment, and 
the use of it in this case would have 
saved the community a rude shock. 
Notwithstanding the expressed 
opinion of the government to the 
contrary, the fact remains that men 
do not understand the Sherman law 
as applied to this or that case. Law- 
yers cannot advise their clients, 
who, failing proper guidance, sim- 
ply decline to undertake anything 
new, and wonder about their course 
to be pursued in existing business. 
When they ask the national officers 
about the meaning of the law, they 
are told: ‘‘Do not act wrongfully, 
and then you will be all right?’— 
that is, the business men can learn 
nothing from government officers. 
Directors of corporations are ae- 
cused of dishonesty and crimes, and 
are indicted. They have been 
known as_ honest, honorable men, 
and bitterly resent the hard names 
and the cruel treatment which our 
government is throwing at them. 
They would quit their positions as 
directors if not under fire, but real 
men will not leave the firing line. 
As for the workmen who see their 
corporations and employers  at- 
tacked by the government, and who 
thus see their livelihood threatened, 
what do they think? And the small 
investor is worried by the actions 
and threats of the government, and 
wishes to sell his shares; but where 
shall he invest his money in — his 
country ? 
How can men know the course to 
pursue which is honest and also le- 
gal, for today it is not the same 
thing? Does our government wish 
to cripple gravely our industrial 
system, while other nations without 
our natural advantages forge ahead? 
Does it choose to slander excellent, 
able men, and thus bring shame on 
our good name? In the end the 
truth will appear and prevail. It 
is high time that wise counsel should 
prevail and banish confusion. 
Many of us have had the honor 
to serve our country in time of dire 
distress, and since those days have 
tried to do our part as honest, 
faithful citizens, holding that plain 
duty above personal good. We ex- 
pect and require of our national 
officers and representatives fair and 
wise treatment of all men of what- 
ever occupation as their equals in 
all respects—no abuse of character, 
no insinuations of evil conduet—but 
on the contrary, full recognition of 
good purposes. And for the bene- 
fit of our nation we require a 
law carefully studied and clearly 
framed, which will tell men what 
they may and may not do. 
Again we point to the patience, 
charity and wisdom of President 
Lincoln in times of great trouble— 
and at this critical juncture we ask 
the same of our present administra- 
tion. 
HORII en = 
