The San Francisco call., 1899-09-16
THE TRUST CONFERENCE.-THE CHICAGO
. ROM the debates thus far reported at the con-
ference on trusts called by the Civic Federation

ference trusts called by the Civic Federation
OF Chicago very little has resulted of apparent
value to the public. There has been but thrashng
over OF the old straw, and neither those who have
spoken against trusts those who have spoken in
their favor have advanced any argument with which
the public is not fairly familiar brought forward
any facts not previously known.
1t is to be hoped that when these preliminary
speeches are over and all the gifted orators have
given full utterance to their ideas the subject the
more deiberatve members OF the conference will re-
wise all that has been said and formulate something
like definite conclusion the subject. There not
SO much difference between the moderate OF the
opposing sides the radicals would like have the
country believe. 1t is conceded by the opposition
that trusts have large economic value and are there
fore useful to the community of whose industrial
conditions they the natural outgrowth and by the
advocates OF trusts is admitted they are liable to
generate abuses and ought to be regulated by law
In his address before the American Bar Assoca-
ton few weeks ago Senator Manderson summed
up the subject in saying The problems, legal and
political, that the absorbngly important and
likely to lead to far-reachng results in w-makng
and statute construction those incident to so
called trusts, pools and combinations in manufacture
commerce and trade The legislative difficulty seems
to be to draw the line that should divide the, objec
/
laws OF trade from the desirable corporation or the
concentration OF capital productive OF good results
To strike down the and not cripple the other is
no easy task for the aw-maker Concentration is the
order of the day. Industries of importance and en-
terprises OF magnitude only be carried on with
success by bringing together that aggregation OF cap
ita and limitation OF personabe liability permissible in
the creation called corporation. The century now
closing has been during its hundred years an advance
on all lines OF production with corresponding benefit
to the customer, such as has been afforded at no
other period in the worlds history
That is about comprehensive statement of the
problem as can be made with an equal terseness The
task before lawmakers is that Of devsing legislation
which will prevent the evils Of trusts without Grip
ping their efficiency in the development OF commerce
and industry. That considerable number of pot-
clans should denounce all trusts is matter of course
Down with the trusts is good demagogue cry and
is easily uttered Fortunately it is not likely to have
much influence with the great masses OF the people
The trust has come to stay The foundation of the in
dustral development of the future going to be CO.
! operation in one form another Intelligent men
in all branches OF industry already forming such
combinations. We hear of them among farmers and
fruit-growers as well among merchants and manu-
facturers The issue clearly is one not of suppression
but of regulation, and the solution of its problems
must be lett to men OF sound business sense and not
to noisy declaimers from the stump.