The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-08
TILT AT TRUSTS.
Power Can Be Found to Deal With
Them Effectively.

Another topic in which our people right
fully take a deep interest may be here brieHy "
considered. refer to the existence of trusts
and other huge aggregations of capital, the
object of which is to secure the monopoly of
of some particular branch of trade Industry
or commerce. and so stife wholesome com
petition. When these are defended it is
usually on the ground that though they in
crease profits they also reduce the prices TO
the people is not one Of the real objects of
these organizations nor is their tendency
necessarily in that direction. If it occurs
In particular case, it is only because it
accordS with the purpose or interests of
those managing the scheme.
Such occasional results fall far short of
ccmpensating the palpable evils charged to
the account of trusts and monopolies. Their
tendency is to crush out individual inde-
pendence, and to hinder or prevent the free
use of human facilities, and the full develop
ment Of human character. Through them
the farmer, the artisan and the small trader
is in danger of dislodgment from the proud
position of being his own master watchful
of all that touches his country's prosperity
in which he has individual lot, and interested
in all that affects the advantages of busi-
ness of which he is factor, to be relegated
to the level of a mere appurtenance to d
great machine, with little free will with
no duty but that of passive obedience and
with little hope or opportunity of rising in
tho scale Of responsible and helpful citizen
ship.
To the instructive belief that such is the
inevitable trend of trusts and monopolies is
aversion in which they are held and the
not unreasonable insistence that whatever
may be their, incidental economic advantages,
their general effect upon personal character
prospects and usefulness cannot be other
wise than injurious.
Though congress has attempted to deal with
this matter by legislation, the laws passed for
that purpose thus far have proved ineffective
not because of any lack of disposition or
attempt to enforce them, but simply because
the laws themselves as interpreted by the
courts do not reach the difficulty If the
insuhlciencies of existing laws can be reme-
died by further legislation 1t should be done
It should be recognized, however, that all
federal legislation on this subject may fall
short of its purpose because of Inherent
obstacles and also because of the complex
character of our governmental system,
which, while making the federal authority
supreme within its sphere, has carefully
limited that sphere by methods and bounds
which cannot be transgressed. The decision
OF our highest court on this precise question
renders 1t quite doubtful whether the evils of
trusts and monopolies can be adequately
treated through federal action, unless they
portation or intercourse between states or
between the United States and foreign coun-
tries.
1t does not follow, however, that this is the
limit of the remedy that may be applied.
Even though it may be found that federal
authority is not broad enough to fully reach
the case. there be no doubt of the power
OF the several states to act effectively in the
premises, and there should be no reason to
doubt thir willingness to judiciously exer-
else such power.