The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-09
Prof. Cinrk on Trusts.


II can hardly be classed as among the
advantages Of our system OF govern
ment that matters involving some Of
the most intricate problems of eco
Monies are perpetually and ruthlessly
dragged into politics, and that the leg
islative policy 10 be adopted In dealing
with those problems should be settled
by a political campaign, in which all
discussion Of the matters involved nee
essariiy takes lurid partisan tInge.
The creation OF popular sentiment in
favor Of the attitude assumed for cam
paign purposes by one or the other of
the political parties battling for SUI
premacy is hardly of as much import
ance az a right settlement. in the in
terests of the country. OF the economic
problems which are presented. Thus 1t
was with the currency problem, and
thus It Is, to some extent. with the mat
ter OF the trusts.
The fundamental weakness OF this
dragging OF economic questions into
politics lies in the fact that politicians
who are aspirants for office are much
more interested in taking what may be
for the moment the popular side Of any
controversy than they are In arriving
at right decision In the interests of
the country. Few men who seplre to
public Office will act deliberately In the
teeth OF public opinion on any subject.
II they know exactly what that public
opinion Is. Yet IT does not follow. with
any degree OF certainty. that the popu-
lar side OF any economic question. which
involves more or less intricate problems
TO the solution OF which intimate ac-
auaintance with all OF the details OF
the subject must be brought. IL neces-
sarily the right one
The trust matter Ia a case In point.
These interesting and notable business
phenomena arc the theme Of discussion
among students OF economics all over
the world. and none OF them have yet
arrived az = satisfactory conclusion, In
their own minds. as to whether this
peculiar form Of Industrial development,
contains. IN its present stage, more ~
good or Of evll The United states Is.
however. the only country IN which any
attempt has been made In any manner
10 drag the subject into partisan poli-
tics
Herr. however az elsewhere. there
are students 81 economies who are ex-
aiming The question on It's merits and
without any reference g. what effect the
conclusions which they may reach vii
have upon politics or political issues
such disinteTested and scholarly !uves-
legation Is found in a paper oa the sub
iect in the current number % Gunton's
Magazine. hy John Bates CLARK. pro-
fcssor 81 political economy In Columbia
university. Prot ClaFks conclusions
are that trusts are here % stay. that
laws which aim 60 break up large car-
povatsoas into small ones are uuuork-
abie that the economy OF production
on a large scale Is 50 manifest that the
couatry which attempts 90 hinder ar
restrict the development o. gleantl- I'm
dustriai enterprises Ia doomed 70 defeat
in the battle fer supremacy IN the
worlds markets. ue holds. at the same
time. that the really monopoustlc es-
Enlistment will defeat the very object
Tor which st is ostens.hly created. Ter
active competition Is AN essential ele-
men, in bringing about the Introduction
OF new and improved methods; and
without that stimulus the new methods
/ ~ producInS goods would develop less
| rapidly.
',Thls means that II cur swa county