The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-12


Wherever such minority refuses 10
Sieid TO any proposition made by the
majority, no matter how unjust it may
be or how inadequate the price; that
"S 10 corporations in existence at the
tlme OF its passage, it creates and en-
forces conditions not contemplated at
the time of becoming stockholders and
naturally deters corporate ventures at
the expense of being compelled to
make such terms as a majority pro-
pose or submit to practical confsca-
ton of their holdings.
corporations in their legitimate
sphere ought to be encouraged and
projected. They secure an aggrega-
ton of large capital and make ia
Vestments in enterprises often beyond
the ability of individual effort and
opportunities for safe investments in
such should be afforded the public
as 1ar as the same can be done by
seeing to it that our legislation fran
nishes ample and equal protection to
every stakeholder, no matter how
small his interest may be.
1t has been said so often that the
law should always aim at equal rights,
that it would not bear repetition but
Tor the Importance of it's being H.
ways observed.
III cO-partnership is dissolved
each partner participates in the as
sets or the firm according to his hold
lngs and he is not compelled to sacri-
flee his interests by separate sale
OF 1t. If such was the case it's value
would be greatly deprecated. as few
II any purchasers would be found who
would be willing to step into the shoes
OF one in antagonism to majority Of
the partners. 1t IS not perceived
why the same rule should not OBJ
tain in corporate affairs.
1T is believed that this perniciolls
element permeates the law and az
fords opportunities under the gui.,e
OF protection to minority stockholders
Tor the exercise of that odious power
commonly known as the 'fleezing
out or squeezing process"
IF all these Objectionable i,aturcs
are eliminated there will be nothing
left of the law to suhseru. any useful
purpose therefore recommend its
repeal.
TRUSTS AND MONOPOLIES.
"The trainers of our constitution
knew that monopoles were as old as
human greed, and that unless restrain
ed, the people of this state would
sooner or later fall prey to their
aVarice and rapacity. They accord
ingly declared in strong terms against
combinations and what are commonly
known as TRUSTS and made it man.
datory upon the Legislature to pass
laws for the enforcement of a const-
tutional inhibition.
I'm obedience to this Retirement a
strenuous statute was enacted in 1895
which is still in force and effect.
Dangerous as the growth of trusts
and the centralizing tendencies of
wealth appear to be, common pru-
dence demands that further legisIa
ton, if any is deemed essential upon
the part of the state, should be I'M
dertaken cautiously with careful
study of its practical utility and prob
able consequence. Whatever may be
thought or feared by that class Of
corporations having in view the con-
troll of particular lines of business. O"
the creation of monopoly. and how
ever disquieting the mere suggestive
or legislation designed to prohibit it
may be to such. it is not assumed or
feared by me that in your considera-
ton of this question you will treat all
corporations as equany bad and all
combinations of capital as equally per-
niclous; but, on the contrary, | as
sumo that you will proceed along lines
entirely within the constitutional pun
view, with a just and discriminating
Judgment, nninfluenced by passion or
prejudice.
To the average mind there are
obstacles to be met with in single
state extending it's legislation so as to
comprehend prohibition of the evils
existing and anticipated especially
as it may relate to those necessary
commodities already monopClized,
and which consequently cannot be
supplied from any other source.
i am therefore inclined to hold to
the opinion chat Will. there may be
and doubtless is much that the state
can do, the only complete relief and
remedy available in such case, con-
sistent with due regard for our own
interests must be found in the nation-
al instead of the state legislature.
CORPORATE INFLUENCE IN POL
ITICS.