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THE
MIMIC TRADE
VOL.
LIX. N o . 1
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 373 Fourth Ave., New York, July 4, 1914
SING
$ 2E OO CO PE I R S VEAR ENTS
L'lc
Are We A Band of "Conspirators?
ONFIDENCE—without it there would be an enormous shrinkage in business and one of the
essential pleasures in trade relations would be missing. Confidence is the mainstay of business
i organizations, and it is the mainstay of governments as well, and unless the people have
confidence in the policy of the government under which they live then all interests under
it must suffer to a greater or less extent; and what, after all, is the government but a colossal busi-
ness institution, created with the consent of the governed and organized to conduct the affairs of
the people for all the people? It receives revenues and disburses them, and creates laws for the
benefit of the people; and when the time comes when the people believe that we need a period of
rest in order that the country may assimilate new laws and accustom their business systems to
them, if possible, is it an act of "conspiracy" to ask the servants of the people in Washington to halt
further legislation?
Is it "conspiracy" to send messages to our representatives urging them to desist from the enact-
ment of further laws, difficult and perhaps impossible to digest?
Is it "conspiracy" to ask for a rest when evidence is multiplying on every hand that this
country is tired of agitation—tired of incompetence, and desires a period of recuperation—of
adjustment?
Is it "conspiracy" for business men who know that trade is stagnant, and that business has
grounded on the shoals, and who believe that they have the inalienable right, to tell their Senators
and Congressmen their opinions concerning it? Is the telling an act of "conspiracy"?
Is it "conspiracy" that business men,' representing hundreds of millions of invested capital,
should favor the creation of an Interstate Trade Commission, and ask in the meanwhile that all
additional legislation effecting the general business of the country be deferred until the commission
has ample time to ascertain what legislation, in amendment of, or supplemental to the present is
required?
Is it "conspiracy" for a man to say to his representative in Congress that he attributes the
present stagnancy to the uncertainty as to the final effect of the present tariff?
Is it "conspiracy" for a business man to say that he attributes the prevailing dulness to the
fear that business in general is to be further harassed and hampered by a multiplicity of drastic
laws which may create widespread depression and disaster?'
Is it "conspiracy" for business men whose factories are operating on half time or less to
respectfully state that while they are in full accord with all legislation looking to the welfare of
the country, the people at large—in fine, all legislation pending to place business upon the highest
plane of equity and probity, they are unqualifiedly opposed to the enacting of vexatious and inquis-
itorial laws?
Is it "conspiracy" to express our opinion to those who are making the laws, and who are directly
responsible for their creation, that the whole vast business interests of this country require a ces-
sation from legislative activity?
Is it "conspiracy" to say that we are in the midst of a battle of the nations for trade suprem-
acy, and that we must be careful how we undermine and sap the energy and take the spirit and
heart out of the multitude of business men and manufacturers who have made America what it is?
C
(Continued on page 5.)
J