The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1902-09-04
THE TRUST PROBLEM
NEITHER POLITICAL PARTY CAN
AGREE ON SOLUTION.
New York journal of Commerce Be
iieves Legislation Is Imperative,
and Presents Definite Policy
Vague Discussion Unproductive.

democrats are agreed upon the SOlu-
ton of the trust problem. President
Roosevelt favors additional legislation
OF the restrictive sort, especially. it
is understood, in the direction OF
publicity He has not hesitated to
propose constitutional amendment
conferr1ng power upon Congress to
reach trusts that are not engaged in
interstate commerce, and men of the
Iit1efeld school are in accord with
him. On the other hand, the Cum
minis sort of Republicans, while favor
ing the publicity remedy, are disposed
to attach more Importance to the in
direct method of attacking the mon
Opolistic trusts-that of tariff reduc-
ton on goods competing with trust
manufactured products This is the
Iowa idea" and it is destined to grow
in popularity.
The Democrats are likewise
house divided against itself on the
trust question Judge Griggs, Mr..
Villas and the "reorganizerS'' generally
would attack trusts through the tariff
and have little or no faith in regula-
ton and restriction. Mr.. Bryan and
his followers. the other hand, are
Indifferent to this indirect method and
demand stringent national legislation,
constitutional amendment for the
more effective control of trusts, etc.
These Emergencies will necessarily
affect the political discussion of the
subject.
In the circumstances actually ex-
listing neutral, nonpartisan and care
full programs or outlines of trust leg
islatiOn deserve attention and study.
Our independent and able contempt
rary. the New York Journal of Com
merce, has just presented its own
solution of the problem. 1t believes
that definite trust policy is the need
| of the hour, and that new legislation
| is Imperative To what end or ends
| should new legislation be directed?
| Here is the answer:
Il Protect competition as the most
| effective preventive of monopoly.
-. Reduce the tariff to a moderate
| revenue basis, especially on products
/ dominated by large corporations
| 80 Reform state corporation laws
| which now permit state to openly
| defeat the laws of another state do
| ing elsewhere acts unlawful within its
| own borders.
a. Reform legislation permitting
| monopolies based upon patents and
| public franchises.
IS. Secure reasonable publicity in
! the affairs of large corporations.
| 80 Secure national laws against
| fictional capitalization of corporations.
az Establish government supervis-
ion of real national monopolies.
IS. Enact such laws as may be nee
| essary to protect small rivals from
unjust competition.
50 Compel public officers to a
stricter enforcement of existing laws
against restraint of trade
10. Oppose vigorously all Iegisla-
ton leaning toward public ownership !;
preferr1ng government supervision as
safer and more efficient than sociaIis-
tic control
Eight of these planks will be &C.
ceptable to all reasonable, progress
sive and pub1ic-spirited citizens
fI1n 1Cf, L
plank L is indefinite and plank 8 a
repetition or reafhrmation of the first
The principle, however, is thoroughly
sound Let Socialists say what they
please about the failure of competi-
ton Except in the sphere of natural
monopoly, of the so-calleI public
utilities, competition, actual or Do
tential, is still 1.-The life of trade' the
effective safeguard of the consumers
interests.
The debatable planks are these:
Reduce the tariff to a moderate rev
enue basis,'' and establish govern
ment supervision of real or national
monopolies- Tarin-reform Demo
Gratis, and those Republicans who be-
lieve that protection has nearly done
its work and may now be discarded
in many directions at least, save in
so far as it may result incidentally
from revenue duties, will subscribe to
the first, and many of them will also
accept the second of these doubtful
planks- PrOtectionists of either party
will naturally object to the first what
ever they may think of the second
The government supervision plank
needs elaboration: it may or may not
be radical, and it may or may not
involve a constitutional amendment
Before asserting or dissenting a bill
| of particulars may be required
| But the example of our comm ercial
contemporary may be commended TIC
other independent, non-politicaI agen-
cies and bodies Let us have definite
proposals and outlines Vague discus
sion or Illumination will not advance
the discussion--Chicag Evening
| Post
Roosevelt ard the Trusts.