The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-26
THE ANrr-MoSoroLy BILL.

has been introduced into the Legislature OF
VIRGINIA a measure whose title ought to be.
"A bill To mt business mon in shsckles and TO
stop short industrial Developments in VIZ
GINA. ~ or better yet. "A Dill to make James
river run up hill"
Thick coming fancies haunt some OF our
law makers, who, by the vote OF the people
having been translated TO spheres OF thought
and action hitherto unoccupied by them. now
no doubt with a sincere but deIuded desire to
dogood. are meddling with and undertaking to
apply the supreme authority of the State to
subjects at once not understood and perhaps
incomprehensible.
Trade is a matter OF varied and vast impor-
lance. II touches by its effect every member
Of society. and though controlled by inhu-
ences subtle and unseen. il Is in TACT directed
by laws which. were they better known.
would be shown to tie AS certain and ~ h1eu
as the laws OF motion Of a material body me
attempt. therefore. OF any Legislature TO enact
tina, it shall be criminal to prevent comPeti-
ton (and that would mean TO abate IT. IN the
production OF sale or any commodity OF u
lessen the production of such commodity or
TO enhance the price OF such commonly
seems as monstrous as any law of the DARK
ages against civil liberty. while 1t IS unsuF-
passed in the history of the world Tor It's ioIy.
II is impossible within the scope OF an Or
binary newspaper article 10 fully sift this act
but a few of the objections TO 1t may be
stated
The main purpose Of tho act is arbitrarily
10 maintain competition in all cases where a
corporal on IS interested. and set 1t IS now
conceded that nothing has been more dis
astrous to intelligent and weI-managed trade
and manufacture than unbridled competition.
%iniuring. in the violent fuctu atoms 1t coca
sions, producer and consumer and their res
pectiye dependents.
The old saw, Competition IS the life OF
trade. has never been traced to its origin.
but has been humbly accepted as an axiom
without quail fcation or exception. yet IN lts
actual practice the disasters which have be-
fallen manufacturers from a reckless and
blind effort 70 beat each other down. have
been marked not only by enormous losses OF
capital, but by heart-rending suffering
among their employees. As long IS
trade and manufactures are LETT free
TO those engaged in them, they will pur-
sue the course most profitable 10 themselves,
and when their profits become SO large that
other capital is attracted into the business,
there will not be wanting money raised % es-
tablish a rival enterprise. This. for instance,
has been shown in the establishment Oh
Spreckels' great enterprise as a rival TO the
sugar trust, whose large profits Immediately
tempted more money to 20 intO tie business.
The difference between CON Dln4tlOn and
monopoly is utterly lost sight oI. not merely
in the public mind. but IN this bill, winch l.
presented to take It's place on the statute
books as an embodiment Of Firginian WIS
dom. Monopoly was a privilege granted 10y
the Crown as a gratuity 10 certain fayorltles
or for certain revenue 20 be derived. and. rs
such. absolutely iOr ade any one else from en-
barking IN the same business. Combination
is the association OF citizens under
the general law FIR then common
benefit. and the same right is open 20 any
other body oil citizens who desire 10 embark
in the same business. and it Is not only mis-
leading. but absolutely false 70 confound
combination with monopoly. The tendency
to combinations of industrial enterprises,
which is no doubt in pursuance of a princl-
pie, not only Of money-making, but OF SELL
preservation. has been carried t. such an ex
tent throughout the United States that
legislation against it now would be as IRA
tional as that which formerly attempted t.
prevent disjointed lines of railway from
uniting, and thereby Offering to the public
a. -1.l ~.~..o 49,. ,nv opt,~ % ~.t.s
not dreamed of when the roads were char
tered.
There is no more reason why capital in cor
porati0ns should not combine than why capt.
tai in separate partnerships should be forbid
den to unite in one great partnership in order
TO lessen expenses, maintain prices and in
crease profits.
If the principle in the proposed bill is hon
estly carried out. not only will all labor or
CARNATIONS, whose cardinal purpose is to
prevent competition and put up prices Of
labor, CONT under the ban, Tut even our
friends of the Farmers Alliance. who have
had their rural purity perhaps tainted with a
desire to prevent competition and put up
prices. will be liable to indictment as Grim
inals.
The law is vicious throughout and n~oteyen
Mr.. Saunders amendment can save it from
the condemnation OF all men who distrust
and fear the fostering care Of a paternal gov
eminent. and resent the tyranny Of an in
quisitorial interference with private enter
prise.
TIE experience which Madame Barrios, the
c,dou of 4ha 1ota Ganersl Rarri,e of C,,o+o