The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-10-30
u0GE CLARK TELLS HOW
rbe People Are All Powerful When
They Really Will to Be.
Many OFFICERS NEGLECT THEIR DUTY
Thai. IS Why the Anti Trust Law Are Not En-
forced. Judge Clark Commends the
Stevens" Bill to the To-
bacco

At The meeting of the Tobacco
f~,urr- here on last Wednesday ev-
,..nr The principal address was de-
J.'.-,I uy Judge Walter Clark, Of the
y.,.h Carolina Supreme court. His
La..t was: TRUSTS and their con
..I nt. LEGISLATION"
r.4s. CIark's address in full was as
,r PRESIDENT and Gentlemen of the Con-
v|eu,iou:
arureciate the honor of an invitation
~ address you, though l can do SO but
f-ieav. At a time when so many are
.imfs in opposing the enormous influence
~ The Illegal combinations of capital
,5ieb in defiance of the law, exist and
4n4 great profit and no molestation in
.,n-fruiug to exist, you lave the courage
of vagr convictions. Without hesitation or
rs,eryation. l will say to you that l am
With YOU. not halfway, but altogether
and entirely with you. The law should
h. supreme i'll a land where the will of
.re people expressed through their repre-
s-otatiyes is the law, and the greatest
we'll as the humblest should bow in
submission TO it.
The Congress of the United States, by
q+ of 1890. chapter CAT, known as the
sherman Antitrust Law prohibits
trusts under a penalty of 50, 600, and one
vsar- Imprisonment, and that act has
faen held constitutional by the Supreme
Court Of the United States in no less
than three we'll known decisions. In
North Carolina since chapter 347, acts
1889. trusts have been illegal, and subject
10 Il penalty of so, 0GO and ten years i'm
~nriso1ment. That act defines a trust as
-, a. 90 Is
ceasing or decreasing the price of any
Gass Of products beyond the price that
would lie fixed by the natural demand or
yruIy." Yet it is a trust, thus doubly
illegal by both State and national law, and
whose managers have been every day
f0r ten years past liable to fine and i'm
rris0nment. which with impunity OPP
presses YOU and piles up the wealth which
belongs to you IN their overfiowing Golfers.
II is TO right your wrongs and to insist
mon the yindicatiOn of the outraged and
violated majesty OF the law that you
have assembled. This is not the aSSemb-
LACE Of the men of any party, for II 1t
were. propriety would forbid that should
address YOU. But it is an aSSemblage
OF representatives of one Of our greatest
Industries, irrespective of party, to de-
wanl the faithful execution of the laws,
and that there should be an enforcement
Of the law against those who find enor-
nous wealth in its habitual violation as
we'll as against those who violate 1t
without profit.
THE PEOPLE HAVE THE REMEDY.
When the great armies of Europe III
the year 1914 in Overlooking numbers were
c5uverging upon Paris, defended by a
feeble band under Napoleon, an uneXpect-
II movement of that great genius dis
concerted them so that an immediate re-
treat was begun by their vast forces
i was an unsigned note, in a female
hand. coming from Paris and delivered
into the hands of the commanding gen
eral. 1t read: You can do everything
and you attempt nothing" That note
changed the face of the world. A council
vas held. the army about-faced, anc
marched straight on Paris. The great
military monarchy of Napoleon fell. sc
il should be said to the American people
You complain Of the evils the trusts IN
fret upon you. You complain that the
earnings of the producer, and the pron's
Of the small dealer. and the opportunity
Of advancement of the many are all con
hseatel for the creation of a few multi
mllOnaires. The people should be too
Why do You complain? The remedy IS II
YOUR own hands. You can do everything
and YOU attempt nothing The people
are a~ll-poWerful when they really Will II