The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-16

government For some things the peo-
pie are divided into separate common
wealths; for others they are united into
one state the national government.
hundred years later >the&supreme court
declared chat in the matter OF Interstate
commerce the United States are put one
country and are, and must; be, subject
to one system of regulation, and not TO
a. multitude Of systems Commerce be-
tween the states. then, is one of the OBJ
iects for which the American people con-
stitute one state, with a president and
congress to deal with it. How simple that
seems.
Towards the end Of his great address
Mr.. Knox said: 49,.
MY WHOLE PURPOSE IN WHAT I
HAVE SAID IS TO CHALLENGE THE
PROPOSITION THAT WE ARE HOPE
| LEssLY HELPLESS, UNDER OUR SYs-
TEN OF GOVERNMENT TO DEAL
WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHICH
CONFRONT US IN RESPECT TO OUR
GREATEST INTERESTS. .SINCE~TEiE
RADICAL QUESTIONS OF HUMAN
| RIGHTS
HAVE BEEN SETTLED, THE PRODUC-
TON, PRESERVATION AND DISTR1-
BUTTON OF WEALTH RECEIVE THE
CHIEF ATTENTION OF CIVILIZED
PEOPLES.
We have, many Of us, thought that, In
the face Of these greatest problem Of the
day, for statesmen as we'll as economists
we have no authority duly constituted tc
deal with them. But here Is this master
legal mind telling US that the natlona
government has the power and the ma
chinery. ::
Nor was Mr.. Knoxs Pittsburg addres:
a mere statement Of the governments au
thority accompanied by a waving aside, a
imaginary of all trust evils. = While n
justly says that If the greatness AM
prosperity Of the trusts are not the resul
of the defiance of the natural rights or re
corded will Of the people, there is no jus
cause Of complaint" he dwells upon tn
evils that are known to all.
He describes these as overcapltallza
ton, lack Of publicity Of operation, dis
elimination in prices to destroy compe
tition, insufficient personal responsibilit
o of OFFICERS and directors for corporal
q management, tendency, to monopoly an
, lack Of appreciation in their marageme1
= of theirxrelations to .tTHE PEOPLE FO
= WHOSE BENEFIT THEY ARE PER
MITTED TO EXIST -. ,y..,,. :; +,tt@:
Mr., Knox gives an admirable surma1
Of what has been accomplished under h
o administration Of the department Of JUS
+ ice in enforcing the interstate commer<
10 and Sherman antitrust laws. These fac
A are convincing that the federal pow
a honestly and earnestly exerted Is SOM
IS thing to be feared and respected by tt
greatest of corporations.
,e AS for the precise remedy, while M
IN Knox is too wise to expect 1t. to come
r. once-it must evolve--he suggests the e.
ID actment into national interstate CONNER
s. law of the common law principles WIFI
I'd condemn monopoly and unreasonable. co
of tracts in restraint Of trade. MIR: Kn
ce would make the law SO general as to ma
r. each alleged violation Of the law ca
he for the federal courts to pass on wholly
mt the light Of 'reasonableness,'' keeping fiji
n IN mind public welfare. Then every ct
Is poration engaging In interstate CONNER
en- would make combinations, contracts
prices at the risk of being brought II
court and punished as the perpetrator
my unreasonable and, therefore, unlawful a.
h e Of commerce. This idea is conrnenda
did for the flexibility Of the system it <wo1
use give. All interstate corporations GO
NV, n1ained against would have to make ge
are before an impartial, tribunal their rights
the do business outside the state Of their CHI
Mr.. ter, and the criterion Of that right wo
the be the welfare Of the people. "F
, If WHOSE BENEFIT THEY ARE PERM
ave TED TO EXIST" =.