The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-28
TRUSTS CAN Be
CRUSHED BY LAW
illegal Combinations of Capt.
tai Should Not Exist.
JUDGE CLARK TELLS HOW
The People Are All Powerful When
They Really Will to Be.
MANY OFFICERS NEGLECT THEIR Duly
That is Why the Anti Trust Law Are Not En-
forced. Judge Clark commends the
Stevens" Bill to the To.
bacco Growers.

bacco Growers.
At the meeting of the Tobacco
Growers here on last Wednesday ev-
ening, the principal address was de-
livered by Judge Walter Clark, of the
North Carolina Supreme court. His
subject was: TRUSTS and their con-
troll by Legislation"
Judge Clarks address in full was as
follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention:
l appreciate the honor of an invitation
to address you, though | can do so but
briefly. At time when so many are
timid in opposing the enormous influence
of the illegal combinations of capital
which, in defiance of the law. exist and
find great profit and no molestation in
continuing to exist, you have the courage
of your convictions. Without hesitation or
reservation, / will say to you that l am
with you, not halfway, but altogether
and entirely with you. The law should
be supreme in land where the will of
the people expressed through their repre-
sentatiyes is the law, and the greatest
as well as the humblest should bow in
submission to it.
The Congress of the United States, by
act of 1890, chapter 647, known as the
sherman Antitrust Law prohibits
trusts under penalty of $4,000, and one
years imprisonment, and that act has
been 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
1885, trusts have been illegal, and subject
f0 al 1tv 0f ND ton m
prisonment. That act defines trust as
.'any arrangement for the purpose of in
creasing or decreasing the price of any
class of products beyond the price that
would be fixed by the natural demand or
supply" Yet it is a trust, thus doubly
illegal by both State and national law. and
whose managers have been every day
for ten years past liable to fine and i'm
prisonment, which with impunity op
presses you and piles up the wealth which
belongs to you in their overfowing Golfers.
1t is to right your wrongs and to insist
upon the vindication of the outraged and
violated majesty of the law that you
have assembled This is not the assemb
lage of the men of any party for if it
were, propriety would forbid that should
address vou But it is an assemblage
of representatives of one of our greatest
industries irrespective of party, to de-
mand the faithful execution of the laws,
and that there should be an enforcement
of the law against those who find enor
nous swealth in it's habitual violation as
well as against those who violate it
without profit
THE PEOPLE HAVE THE REMEDY.
When the great armies of Europe in |
the, year 1914 in overfowing numbers were |
converging upon Paris, defended by a |
feeble band under Napoleon, an unexpect |
ed movement of that great genius dis |
concerted them, so that an immediate re- |
troat was begun by their vast forces. |
1t 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 |
was held, the army about-faced, and |
marched straight on Paris. The great |
military monarchy of Napoleon fell. So
it should be said to the American people, |
You complain of the evils the trusts in
fiict upon you. You complain that the |
earnings of the producer, and the profits |
of the small dealer. and the opportunity |
fiscated for the creation of a few multi |
milhonaires The people should be told |
Why do you complain? The remedy is in |
your own hands You can do everything
and you attempt nothing" The people |
are all-powerful when they really will it.
At one exercise of their will they can
take charge of this government from con-
stable to President. If members OF the
State Legislatures and Congress are un-
faithful. the people should mark their
course and elect others. If statutes pass |
ed in the public interest are held uncon-
stitutional by judges, then the same peo- |
pie who made the constitution can amend |
1t If really necessary, or il the fault is in |
the judges remove them and put better |
men in their places. The servant is not |!
above his master. and judges and all 9TH |
er public officials are only servants of |
the people-and they are nothing more
The statutes making trusts illegal |
have not been enforced. Then look into |
it and see what public servants have |
been lacking in zeal to enforce the law.
Those who arc trusts |
say there are no fence by |
these hireings o ations- |
for no man unles fit from |
them would defer like a |
plea set up by whose |
client was sued kettle !
he had borrowed is way: |
CD The kettle wa yhen he |
returned it. (2) | fhen he /,