The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-08-30

The Waseca Herald uses some of our
comments as a text for long disserta-
/. ton on trusts and ''the power of the
people" over such, starting with the re-
mark that sit does seem strange to us
that any observing person, of mature
years, should doubt the constitutional
power Of the people, by legislative al d
congressional acts, to control-or prohib-
it trusts" While the term mature
years" is somewhat indefinite, We have
been observing" enough to know that
there are many profound and disinter-
ested thinkers who declare that The gov
| eminent has absolutely no right (power
| is not exactly the proper term to inter-
fere with the private affairs of its citizens
for however much you may malign
Mr.. Blaine for using that term, trusts
are when literally and properly defined
are private business arrangements of
sovereign citizens of this republic. But
we don't lay claim to profundity and sre
led to believe that the government ought
to have the right to use its power in
these matters-to a certain extent. But
the Herald should remember that our
| doubts were not constitutional, but
| rather whether governmental rcgula-
tons ever can or will effectually embar-
| rBs trusts" Doubtless our dislike of
trusts is as great as Bro. Child's, though
our style of language Is not 30 vigorous,
and we should think it the greatest of
blessings If success attended the sat
tempts to solve the question:" for how
ever much the Herald may italicize, the
question is not solved vet, and it will
give many Congressman and Senators
the headache before it is. The next ses-
sion will doubtless be flooded with plans
for the suppression of the evil and out
of the mass some sort of legislation will
probably be evolved. But it will be
simply in the line of experiments, and
will be SO considered by a majority of
the best informed people. OF course
Editor Childs has remedy ''simple and
plain" That good intentioned gentle
man has been doing away with the evils
of intemperance for many years simply
by passing prohibitory laws. His reme-
DIV for trusts is in the same line, enly
more rigorous.
The remedy is simple and plain
enough. The legislative power can make
il crime for any man or set of men to
| form any syndicate, combination, part
nership, corporation or trust which shall
| operate or attempt to operate in any
| manner to control the commerce, man
ufactures or productions of the country
or the sales or price of any commodity.
Let the legislative power make such
com binatIons unlawful. and provide that
all violators of the law may be indicted,
tried, fined and imprisoned, and we shall
hear no more of sugar, coffin, oil and
other trusts.
Here you have it, Mr.. Childs would
have laws passed declaring all business
men of the country who have entered
into an arrangement to do business onthe
trust plan criminals, and if they did not
submit to the laws demands instanter
throw them into prison. Does any cob
serving person of mature years" suppose
such law would have any effect? We
have Lying in this citya gentleman who
is the president of one OF the "iniqui-
tous trusts" He is popular and lead
ing citizen who has made money by
hard, persevering, shrewd work, and as
he is in the prime of life he Is continue
ing to better his condition. Is it to be
supposed that law confiscating the in
terests this gentleman and his associates
have in the so-called trust and branding
them criminals would meet with any
thing but the derision of the people who
know and respect them? If Mr.. Childs
has no other remedy than this Simple"
one we fear he will have his charity
and patience" tried for some time yet.
Some of these organizations are certain
ly ubiquitous In their operations and
the wrath ofthe people is rightly pour
ed upon them. Others doubtless serve