The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-04
A Step Forward.

A Step Forward.
The Republicans OF Nebraska have
taken q step In advance OF the position
occupied by either party thus far in the
plank of their platform that relates to
the control Of trusts. This is their dec
iaratiou:
I'VE demand In substance the following
amendment to the constitution OF the Unit
ed States; congress shall have the power
TO regulate and control any and all cor
poratlons, copartnerships and joint stock
companies. and to enact such laws as will
prevent any and all combinations III re-
straint OF production and trade, tho forma-
ton u trusts and such other combinations
Of capital a. operate to prevent free COM
petition"
This In a wide and sweeping power to
confer upon congress. 1t would need to
be exercised with the greatest care IL
1t were not to be made an instrument
for the creation of greater evils than It
b meant to redress. For 1t would go
long way toward comforting upon the
state the regulation and control of bus
inesses essentially private. At the same
time. the fundamental principle Of 1t Is
neither more novel nor more. startling
than was that OF the regulation of rail-
road rates when that was first mooted.
There were those who believed at the
time that this meant the confiscatiou of
private property and the decentralization
Of the railroad business Congress, how
ever. showed Itself mindful of duties as
well a. privileges. 1t exercised, In that
instance. only the powers conferred
upon IL by implication in the section Of
the constitution that authorizes 1t to
regulate commerce. 1t is at least an
open question whether II would be any
more radical IL 1t had warrant to deal
with Industrial combinations that rival
In their capitalization and the magni-
tude Of their transactions the railroad
companies of the day when agitation
for legislative regulation Of rates was
begun.
There are very many who will doubt
the necessity OF such a grant OF power
Probably most economists believe that
the problem of the trusts will work itself
10 a solution satisfactory to all through
the operation of laws Of trade. Some
support Is given to their view by re-
cent experience Of the steel wire and
nail trust. which we have commented
upon. Others are OF the opinion that
the several states are competent to deal
with the whole question of the trusts,
and point to the decision Of the supreme
court. upholdieg the Texas antitrust
law, as showing the way. To these
people the case is not one for a grant
or even an exercise OF federal power.
but for reliance upon the trade fo-.
tsat shape and govern the Industrial
world above the power Of man to nuIify
or destroy.
However this may be. IL Is certain
that the great body of the people de-
mand something more. They believe
that the danger and the need are real
They are not content with inaetion. And
they are apt. especially under the lead
etship OF demagogues. to assume that
refusal to act, however blind the path
to action may be. IS dictated by indlf-
ference to their Interests or sympat thy
with those who are against them. This
portion of the public could no, be less
than satisfied with a plan which would
confer explicitly upon the representa-
tives OF all the people full power TO act
in the premises. II would open the door
10 discussion. and tear away the
shaesles Of constitutional limitation
which now prevent freedom OF congress
sionsl action in matters that are under
the exclusive jurisdiction OF the states
Viewed IN this light. the proposed
amendment TO the constitution appears
{ "a n real step forward. 1t Is true that
/ the path chosen would be a long one.
I but 50 must any be that aims at this
particular goal No man has yet arisen
who can tel how tAe evils of trust man
! asement can be reached by legislation:
how any law even Is to be framed that
shall so define a trust as to include those
combinations which seek monopoly OF
/ the market In order to control prices
and to let slip those that propose to
benefit the public by cheapening produc-