The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-16
Z Esd . Dostos DlsolE.


small caplsaly And " you abolish every
partnership and every union. you take
away the only poss blity which the small
Capitalist has OF entering into successful
trade at all.
whether there be any repeal Of the law
protective system or not. II could well be
abolished In those cases where the tn
dus,ry Ia in the hands Of q monopoly.
1T IN evident that the power 10 sup
press these combinations to be effective,
must reside In the general government.
Under our Federal legislation. whils
single state could prevent a corporation
from doing business directly. II could not
prevent the sale Of articles manufactured
In pursuance Of corporate powers lawfully
granted by any other state.
And yet, " the national power 10 TO be
invoked to os srths0W our manufacturing
monopoliss, this ms,st bs done by. means
Of an amendment 10 the constitution, plac-
Ing all such Industries under the power
OF congress. But when congress shall con-
troll all the elements OF production through
out the nation. the manufacture and sale
OF al! things by which we live. states lines
will become very shadowy things In the
presence OF the great force Of consoii-
dated republic. Are the people OF America
ready for such change?
realise Il. that the total destruction Of
these aggrcgations OF capital u morally
impossible. A great economic tendency.
Supported BY economic law. cannot be
overthrown by mere enactments.
But II legislation cannot overthrow
monopoly can Il not control and guide
these mighty agencles7 The reform OF the
tariR laws and Of the laws regulating taxes
will do something. The requirement OF
Il I'LL
invite what still remains OF competition
In cases where prices are excessive: will
largely prevent unjust discrimination In
the treatment Of customers; will clearly
show what steps are to be taken by the
commonwealth fer tho protection Of the
public interest.
vt may be that the time will come when
the state. acting upon the information OF
public reports and examination. and having
larger Information on ths subject than It
has today. will resume more direct con-
troll OF the matter OF prices. though think
We all realize the great danger which
threatens all private property when the
government attempts to regulate prices
and 10 permit those who have themselves
little or nothing At stake TO control the
profits OF the property Of others. To at
tempt such thing today With our imper-
feet knowledge OF the infinitely complex
forces OF our Industrial life would be little
short Of madness"
Edward Rosewates.
Edward Rosewater, OF the Omaha Bee
spoke after Mr.. Foulke. Mr.. Rorewater
was applaaded again and again during his
address. lie said:
We are confronted by grave problems
generated by the Industrial revolution OF
tho nineteenth century. The trust N but
the outgrowth OF natural conditions. The
trend OF modern civilization II towards
Capitalization and concentration. This
tendency In strikinGly exhibited In the con-
gestlon Of population In large cities. the
building Of mammoth hotels, tenement
blocks sky-scraper once buildings, the
department store and colossal manufac-
turing plants The nonopolistic combina-
tons Of corporate capital known ~ the
trusts have their origin In overproduction
and ruinous competition. Honestly cap
TALKED and managed with due regard for
the we'll being Of their employees and oper-
Grated economically for the benefit Of con-
sumers OF their product. these concerns
nre harmless Within the past decade the
trusts have, however. for the most part.
degcnerated into combinations for stock
jobbing Nearly every trust recently Or
ganixed has It's incentive In the irresistible
temptation held out bv the professional
promoter 10 capitalize competing plants at
This fictitious capitalization constitutes the
most dangerous element Of the modern
trust In nearly every instance overcap-
itaiization becomes the basis for raising
the price OF trust producsA and invariably
lays tho foundation for hank failures, PAN
les and all the Ills that follow In their
train.
The imperative duty Of this conference
In 20 devise measures that Will make the
ma In Via
should recommend:
"F1rst--The creation by act OF congress
OF a bureau Of supervision and control Of
corporations engaged In interstate COM
mercc, with powers for It's chief similar 10
those exercised by the comptroller Of the
currency over national banks
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 90 enforce such
publicity as Will cfYectuaiiy prevent dis
honest methods Of accounting and restrict
iraYic and competition within legitimate
channels.
''Third-The abrogation Of all patents
and copyrights held by trusts whenever
the fart - established before a iud,cia,
tribunal tina, any srareh Of Industry has
.een monopoliycd by the holder OF such
patents or copyrights.
"Fourfh-The enactment by congress Of
law that will compel every corporation
engaged N interstate commerce 20 operate
under n national charter that shall re
abrogsted whenever such corporation
violates its provision.
"frfth-The creation OF an Interstate
commerce court. with exclusive furisdic-
ton In oil cases arising Gu, Of the viola
ton OF Interstate commerce laws
"six,h-In order that the constitutional
limitations and decisions OF the supreme
court OF the United States relative - THE
power 81 congress 20 regulate and control
trusts may be overcome .he conference
should recommend tho revision ~ the con-
siitutior 81 tire United States Nv a con-
stltutlonai convention. 20 BE called by two
thirds 81 the states az the earliest pos.i-
bic date, ns provided snr by article I've
%, the Federal constitution
While the trusts Nigh, be reached nv
n single amendment 20 The constitution
7 doubt very much whether anything
could be gained by such patchwork since
the constitution contain. many Other pro-
visions shas would constitute bar IN
cr~ctipg enforcement % the Interstate
commerce lsw. The mole 81 procedure
for securing single srrensrnsr, ia ~
anything. more cumbersome ard -ssiH-
cation thereof moro Airscuis than would
Ne \ complete revision % the organic law