Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-07-09
TENTS AND MONOPOLIEs.

AT the thirty-sixth annual commence
ment of the Louisiana State University,
Hon. George Fred. Williams, of Boston,
Mass., delivered q mastery address. 1t Is
the custom at the average college commence
ment TO engage the services Of some small
orator to deliver wooden address, which
Ia made up of fubdub and superlative non
sense. The result Is that the young man
or woman who listens TO such cut and dried
oratory Is more or less impressed with the
false views of life and the existing social and
industrial conditions as represented by tb-
speaker.
Mr.. Williams's address was wholly differ
emit He underworld 10 instruct the young
men who listened TO him by enuDcistins
some cold truths and some hard facts. No
doubt much that Mr.. Williams told aston.
ished the students, as IL is . weli-known
fact that little practical knowledge Of the
business methods used 10 the United states
Is impaired by the ter, books used in our
schools.
The gradual growth of monopoly in tsis
country and its eventual control ~ the gov.
ernment was rehearsed by Mr.. Williams 10
the plainest and clcarcst language. 70 that
even the dullest Of the graduates could com
prehend The most telling part of MI
Williams address was devoted TO the largest
factor OF monopoly that which Is secured by
governmental interference In the namr Of
patent rights. Said Mr.. Williams.
"As we are now upon the ground Of po-
litical policy, venture 70 suggest branch
Of reform which has received but scant con
sideration from economists or statesmen -
Our constitution grants power 10 Congress
to create a limited monopoly, by giving 10
inventors an exclusive right TO their dicov-
cries. The monopolistic system adopted by
our Congress 10 granting letters patent TO
inventors has not only failed OF its salrtary
purpose to promote the progress OF science
and useful arts. but has become one Of the
most potent factors In the creation OF CAPT.
talistic monopoly. Such monopoly was
never contemplated by the founders Of our
government. II was Intended merely that
the inventor should reap the Just and full
reward Of his genius, and should have the
assistance OF government in obtaining that
reward. But as our patent system has de
veloped, the inventor has indeed become
tuC uIct NiCbtu VI - totbC otctAit auu iCttcIc
patent have been wrested from HE hands by
capital and exploited at the expence of the
whole people. The development OF inven.
tons has become . part OF trade, but the
more valuable the discovery the more help
less Ii the inventor in the development Of
his invention. Upon the simple project OF
assisting genius have been built up great
systems oil monopoly, which have contrib
nted more than any other cause 10 the ruin
Of competition In the staple trades. These
combinations have become tyrannical and
extortionate, and by devious methods have
been able 10 perpetuate their monopoly far
beyond the periodic limited by law. They
absorb improvements, and through oppress-
i've litigation are able 10 make their own
terms with genius itself. Indeed, Il may be
said that the patent system ~ II now exists
stands in the way Of human improvement
instead Of facilitating IT,"
The patent system is unquestionably q
monopolistic system. 1t was not designed
rs such by Congress, but the fact remains
that II Is an agency of the monopolist. Mr.
Williams proves this very effectively:
"Tbe telephone monopoly Is . single illus,
tFaiion OF methods by which the greatest
Of the age may be made the