Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-01-02
ENOUGH TRUST LAWS
The President Of the American Anti.
Trust Leagues Opinion.
WANTS The SHERMAN LAW ENFORCED
The Interstate Commerce Law Crippled In
the Senate After 1t Left the House.
The Attorney General Urged to Pro.
coed Against Railway Combines.

A>N'S AISNt LIZ lLOVh-
wood, Of Zelienople, Pa, president Of
the American Antitrust league, has
given out a statement in which he
criticises at length the recommends.
tons made by President Roosevelt
for national law to govern trade
combinations. Mr.. Lockwood con.
tends that there is no necessity for
any further legislation on the sub.
ject; that the rigid enforcement Of
the Sherman antitrust law would be
sufficient to suppress effectuslly and
restrain hurtful trade and industrial
combinations. He then says; "Does
not everyone know that these indus.
trial combinations have destroyed
competition, have created monopoly
and are now robbing the American
people OF hundreds of millions of dol.
lars annually to pay dividends on bill.
lions of watered stock, and that some
of these dividends are 4S per cent
annually for water and all? What
more publicity does he want?'
Mr.. Lockwood alleges that the
foundation of all the vast fortunes
which have been built up in trade and
l.pnJfactnrihg- Ia railrond .roba.ss a NJ,
determinations, and refers to the
close of the discussion of the matter
in the message in which the president
says that congress can profit by the
experience gained by the passage OF
the interstate law"
Mr.. Lockwood says: "In 1878 the
Independent oil producers of Pennsyl.
vania began agitation for the passage
OF the interstate commerce law. We
had in the lower house of congress
John II. Reagan, of Texas. For near.
ly eight years we circulated petitions
Reagan finally secured its passage
through the house in such a form ~
TO cure the evils of railway discrim.
nation, but it was crippled by the
Cullom amendments in the senate, 50
that 20 odd years afterward the
chairman Of the interstate commerce
commission testified that railway
discrimination is universal"
Mr.. Lockwood alleges that trusts
desire just what is recommended in
the message, and that their ATTORNEYS
advocated il before the civic fedora.
llon conference He says. "Why Is
It that these attorneys want TO trans.
Ter this question to the seat OF the
national government? The answer il
mat they want to get just as fan
iway from the people who are being
'nrt as possible. They know that the
atmosphere is Il great deal different
IN this question, in the capitol lob.
,es and in the hotel Hobbies Of Wash.
ngton than II is in the states. And
would 1t not be well for the presi.
lent. who has sworn to enforce the
avs, to have his attorney general be.
gin proceedings in earnest under the
PROVISIONS OF the Sherman antitrust
aw against these trusts and monopo.
les and against the illegal railway
Combines before he asks for any fur.
her federal legislation on the sub
ect? u he will see that the laws ara
enforced against these ,
rusts that paralyzed all capital ex.
ept that which is willing TO 90 jnto
he conspiracy, and will maintain
qual rights to every American citi. {
en- over the highways of the land
the transportation Of their prod T,
cts he will be surprised 10 see what !
multitude Of captains of industry =
''' s"rlng up, ready TO give the con, !,
amers of America their necessities q