The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-09-09
man being as it has done In the case
Of Professor McCleary.
THE TRUSTS.
HOW TO CRUSH THEM.


The Philadelphia American says:
1.-The question OF trusts has not
been made so prominent in this cam
paign, as when it was-rather unrea-
sonably-tacked on to the discussion
Of the tariff. But it is one which can
not be ignored, and Congress must de-
wise some form Of antitrust law,
which the Supreme Court cannot
twist to mean exactly the opposite OF
what its author meant. We are glad
to see that Pennsylvania Court has
given these combinations shrewd
blow by declining to enforce their
agreements to prevent underseiiing.
The matter Immediately at issue IS
not great one, and the successful
defendants were shown to be some
what Inscriptions in their deal
ings with their principals. But
TIL. fact that all such agree
ments are thus outlawed takes
away every kind Of legal security for
their enforcement, and gives an appli-
cation to the legal doctrine of ere
straint of trade" which is altoge Their
laudable. II these com binations we re
treated as the law used to treat
trades unions, and their treasures
we're outla wed. so that they would
have no legal redress against theft OF
defalcatiOn, capital would be getting
a taste OF what once was thought
good enough law for labor. AS it is,
the very sense OF moral wrOngfulness
which pervadeS such combinations,
works to break down the moral safe
guards which exist for our corpora
tions generally. Trust after trust has
been found to be honey combed by
fraud on the part Of its managers.
The case OF the whiskey trust is Still
fresh in recollection. The same state
OF things has been discovered by the
receiver OF the National COrdage
trust, who has brought suit against
the officers and directors Of the corpo-
ration.
This decision Of the PENNSYLVANIA
Court tends to very much tho same
remedy which we suggested at the
Antitrust Convention in Chicago
three or four years ago. We proposed
that if there was no other way to
reach these combinations, a law
should be passed depriving them OF
the protection which the statutes
gave to all forms Of honest industry
This would make them perfect tout
laws and they could only hold sc
much Of their property as they could
protect with their own right arms.
For instance, take coal combine 1t
will speedily add to the horrors OF
the winter by placing the price Of a
necessary of life far above what ii
would be, if left to the unlimited
operation of compe tition. While
thus robbing the people they ask the
people with their courts, juries
sheriffs, constables, and if need be,
armies, to protect them. They plum.
der millions, but if any individual is
caught carry awaying bushel Of their
coal they would demand that the
courts, at the expense of the people
they are plundering, should try and
convict him, and send him to the
penite ntiary, for a term Of months ol
years, to be supported by the same
plundered people. II the Legislature
removed the protection which the
law gives them, ten thousand OF
men and women would seize upon
their trust property and it would dis
appear like snow heap in the month
of May. There is no question that
these combinations are illegal. i'm
moral and villainous and there is nc
reason why the people should protect
them while they are being plundered.
Outlaw then Outlaw them.