The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-05-02

6FSlID OF all GQ6 lau0 huU COL0CLAH "A
ever increasing number OF perpetual
tendency, would be no more destruc
tive of our national ideals than a sys'
tenn of industrial monopoly which
promises hereditary wealth to the few
at the top and hopeless toll to the
bread winners, upon whom u so,lal
structure rests.
II it is admitted that the trust is
wrong, then the only question remain
ing is, Is it possible to des roy it, AS
trusts are impossible except through
the organic alton OF cor oratlons, and
as corporations cannot exist by legis
IaGive permission, there would be a
complete remedy in the withdrawal OF
all corporate rights; but so radical a
remedy is not necessary.
Corporations are fictitious persons
created by law for the public good,
and the power which creates is suh-
GENTLY potent to regulate, to restrain
or to a~nnihiIate. For instance, the
patent Law gives to the patentee a
monopoly for a period of years. In
come instances a patent has proven a
| great monopoly and has brought to its
| p~ossessor immense wealth. It Is within
/ the province of legislation to place
such restrictions upon the patent as to
limit the benefits to be derived from
il. Congress has as much right to
| withdraw protection after g given SUM
is realized from the patent as 1t has to
Withdraw protection at the expiration
| Of q fixed term of years. II the law
we're so modified that a patent would
| cease to protect after an arbitrary sum
say 800, 600 or 200, 600, had been real
ed from It, the protection would still
be sufficient to stimulate ingenuity,
aud yet rot sufficient to lay
the foundation Of a large for
fortune. In like manner the corpora
ton can be regulated laws sufficiently
Hb-rai to preserve its virtues and yet
sufficiently drastic to eliminate it's
wees
The difficulty thus far has been, that,
while the people DC We been hostile to
the principle of monopoly, the instru
m%entalities of government have to-
often been under the control OF those
who secretly symathiz9 with the trusts
though they do not openly defend them
and this sympathy is due
to favors received or expected.
The trusts have taken advantage OF
the dual character of u government
and claim the protection of either State
or Federal government when the other
prosecuted. The corporation derives
It's existence from the legislature OF
one S ate, while it's power to ipjure Is
co~-extensive with the nation. We
CANNOT, therefore, rely upon the State
to furnish a complete remedy. Owing
local conditions, it may be easy &c
supprs SO The trusts Ia one State, but
d fi.ul5 20 suppress them in another,
and II the mater Is l2fC entirely TO the
States the p-ODle Ct the whole
c)uutry may elfT'r grievous injury
for an iudcfllJe PERIOD If the
trusts are able TO control politics IL 6
few States 0r even in one.
justice HArIan, in mis- dissent from
the opinion of the Supreme Court ia
the Sugar Trust a , presents the mat
ter forcibly when he says:
I'VE have before US the case Of G
combination which absolutely con
trolls, or may, at is discretion, control
the price Of all the refined sugar in this
C )untry. Suppose another com0iaa
ton, organized for private gain and to
control prices, should obtain possession
of all the large four mills in the United
States; another, Of all tho grain ele
vasors; another Of all the oil territory
another, Of all the salt producing re
"gioEs; another, Of all the cotton mills,
and another, Of all the great establish
ments for Strengthening animals and
the preparation of meats What power
is competent to protec5 the people oil
the United States against such dangers
exc pit a national power-one that is
capable of exerting it's sovereign au
thority throughout every part of the
territory and over all the people Of the
nation"
What his imagination pictured al
possible in the line of monopoly has
been more than surpassed during the
brief period which has elapsed since
he penned his vigorous protest.
The anti trust sentiment manifested
itself in the act of July 2. 1890 which
declared unlawful every contract,
combination in the form of trust OF
other wise, or conspiracy in restraint
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