The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-09

a standpoint OF general welfare and elc-
men,ary principles OF right and justice
We see before our eyes every day IN
Richmond cases where two. three, four,
five. and six men combine themselves to-
gether into n mercantile partnership ana
they cooperate together and throw 81
the capital each one possesses Irt"
1oint fund TO make their cooperative
work tell for as much as It viii bring.
Yet we think an arrangement of this
eort perfectly legitimate and rraisewor'hy'
and we say nothing about II. although
[. firm becomes very rich and secures
what is practically n monopoly CT the
branch OF business IL is engaged IN
When is cooperative arrangement
amongst individuals TO lose iis character
OF a mercantile partnership ana ial INTO
the category OF the baneful trust II
II is lawful and just for six men. each
having a capital of 10000, TO combine
u,,ir resources and aoik together as
"A mercantile partnership. upon "nHt
principle is IL TO be said that when SIX
teen men. each having a capital OF
Sl,OCO.0oO. combine their resources end
work together as a mercantile partner
ship their arrangement has become an
unlawful and injurious trust? If 1t Is
lawful for every individual to do a thing
by himself upon what principle does the
act become unlawful when done by two
or more individuals acting together?
These are considerations the force OF
which We have never been able TO avoid.
and we candidly confess our utter In
ability to appreciate the arguments that
20 to showing that combinations OF IN
dividuals to do things that each one may
lawfully do by himself are unlawful and
injurious arrangements.
We are equally unable TO appreciate
the argument that defines the subject
matter in respect to which there must
be no combination. Those who argue
that side OF the case tell Us that the
foundation principles of our laws forbid
combinations TO control traffic in ar
ticles which are staple articles or ar
ticlos Of prime necessity"
II - DfApl butSllOI AttslN tiiiS
mcnt of the case can be found in text
writers and in the opinions of courts. but
we have never yet been able to under
stand the rationale of it. II men may
lawfully combine their efforts and their
capital for the purpose Of trading, We
cannot see how the line at which COM
binations may be lawfully made. and
at which they are forbidden is TO be
fixed upon any such basis. What is a
staple article" and what is an article
OF prime necessity? Is wheat staple
article" and one OF prime necessity?
There are hundreds of millions of men
in the world who never oat a mouthful
OF wheat bread. and even in this coun-
try hundreds OF thousands eat corn
bread more than wheat bread In the
East great masses Of population live on
rice. but is rice to be considered sta
pie article" and one of prime necessity
in the United States, in respect to the
purchase and sale of which there shall
be no cooperative labor7
The truth is there Is hardly an ar
tlClt OF UlcTCIdHulSe lildl CdH bc Hl'u-
toned that is used by all mankind while
every article that can be named is used
by some part of mankind What is sta
pie and Of prime necessity" to some
is to others a matter of Indifference.
The true philosophy Of the matter seems
TO be that the legislator has nothing to
do with the subject. Men are TO be left
free to do as they please with their own,
and then the all prevalent desire to make
money will cause them to sell whatever
they have at the lowest price that will
bring a profit because the cheaper they
sell the more they will sell. and profits
come from great sales at samll profits
rather than small sales at great profits.
And this statement OF an economic
truth is but plain Democratic doctrine.
the essential principle OF which Is to
have a minimum of legislation and
maximum of individual liberty.