The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-23
REPUBLICAN ANTITRUST
LEGISLATION.

That the importance of the trust issue
was artifcially magnihed for campaign
purposes is shown by the fact that since
the election very little is heard on the SUBJ
ject. If the evils and dangers growing out
of trusts were anything like as great as
was represented during the campaign pa
triotism and good citizenship would require
that the clamor against them be continued
without ceasing. Instead of that it has
almost wholly subsidized. One effect of the
clamor was to set people thinking and TO
bring out facts showing that the question
is a many-sided one involving the interests
Of the public as well as of individuals, of
employees as well as of employers, of labor
Well of capital. and that in order to
do justice TO all concerned it must be ham
died wisely and carefully, not rashly and
vindictively. The object of any legislation
on the subject should be to prevent or re-
strict the evils of trusts without destroy
ing them outright. in other, words. to get
rid of what is bad in them while retaining
what may be good. The latter, substan-
TALLY. was the Republican position during
the campaign, while the Bryanite demand
was for the abolition of all trusts and cor
porations.
There is reason to believe that the future
action Of the Republican party in relation
to trusts will be on the same lines as it's
past action, namely, 10 so as far as posi-
bic In the way of controlling them by ma
tional legislation and leave the rest to the
States. Under the national legislation
heretofore enacted by Congress the De-
partment of Justice has devoted it's best
up the commercial domination of trusts.
Different attorney generals have brought
no less than thirteen suits, the result of
which has been to drive several great trusts
out of existence. The Department of JUS
tice has done its full duty in this regard
and has gone as far as 1t could under the
present law. 1t remains for Congress to
amend the law so as to make it more eff
fective. and that will undoubtedly be done.
The Republican party is pledged to such
legislation and 1t is already foreshadowed.
In June last the House passed a bill to
amend the Sherman antitrust act and this
bill will come before the Senate for action
next session. 1t adds materially to the
scope and stringency of the Sherman act
and makes the penalty for it's violation
fine of 5000 and two years in the peni-
tertiary. AS a further penalty it forbids
the use of the mails by officers of cor
porations carrying on business for pur-
poses declared to be illegal, bars their
products from interstate transportation
and compels the production of books and
papers as evidence in suits against trusts.
To aid in the better enforcement of the law
any person, firm, corporation or associa-
ton is authorized to begin and prosecute
suit against the offending trust The
present law confines this right to the De-
partment of Justice, but under the pro-
posed amendment any person may insti-
tute proceedings. Another amendment of
the present law authorizes the arrest and
prosecution of any local agent, officer or
attorney Of an offending corporation as well
as the principal officers, thus making the
subordinates of a trust liable for viola
ton of the law we'll as the principals.
passed the House, are passed by the Sen
ate, as there is every reason to believe
they will be, the national law against
trusts will be as broad and effective as it
can be made without an amendment of the
Constitution. 1t will be seen, therefore.
that as far as Congress is concerned the
trust question is in good hands and the
proposed legislation in good shape The
trust evil will be restrained without MAX
ing an indiscriminate warfare on corpora
tions and capital. as was proposed by Mr.
Bryan.