The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-12-06
attempt At petterment. Observation-Disclosures

try can not aHOrd TO sit SuptNe on the
government we are helpless in the pre-
grappie with them. The power 81 the
Is an absolute and unqualitiedI grant. and
without limitations other than those pre-
scribed by the Constitution. The con-
executing this power. and I am salts
fed that this aower has not been
statute books. Il is evident. therefore.
that evils restrictive Of commercial free
dom and entailing restraint pom national
commerce fall within the regulative
and reasonable law would be q necessary
and proper exercise Of congressional au.
thority to the end that u evils should
l believe that moaopolies, unjust dis
ordinations. which prevent Of, cripple
competition. fraudulent overcapitalization
practices which injuriously affect inter-
state trade can be prevented under the
power Of the congress to regulate COM
the thele several s1sa s states" through reg resui Haaons
and requirements operating directly. up
on such commerce. the ins~trumentalfties
I earnestly recommend this subject to
the consideration of the congress with a
view to the passage OF a law r re- % n ole
era tic s.'u Upon which hia e the questions can
be finally adjudicated that now raise
doubts as to the necessity Of constitu-
to accomplish the purposes above set
forth by such a law, then, assuredly. we
should not shrink from amending the
Constitution 50 as s, to secure beyond per-
The congress has not heretofore made
any appropriation for the better enforce
ment OF the antitrust law as 1t now
stands. Very much has been done by the
department Of Justice in securing the en-
forcement. Of this law. but much more
could be done II congress would make a
be expended under the direction OF he
attorney general.
Tarin Must Not he Disturbed.
reduction of the tariff as a means OF
reaching the evils Of the trusts which
tai within the category l AYE described.
i've, but the diversion of our efforts in
ment of all Intelligent attempts to do
largest corpora lions, many Of those which
should certainly be included In any prop
er scheme of regulation. would not be
affected in the slightest degree by a
interfered with the general prosperity Of
tariff tariff to big big corporations f5p ions as m,ke q
m manafact Us ''I p%roft aas 'a ann the @1 taSs
If remedy proposed would be in eff
feet simply to make manufactures un-
P pu1hittiaele measure mo se direeted dhs aga ahlsa trusts aa
would inevitably result in ruin to the
weaker competitors who are struggling
6 against ,nst,s them far,, Our cpan aim 81 she g'1a f Pc n95
products the advantage over. domestic
products. but by proper regulation to give
domestic competition a, fair chance; and
changes which would affect unfavorably
all. domestic competitors. good and bad
alike. The. question OF regulation Of the
trusts stands apart from the question OF
Stability Sta Of economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need Of this
country. This stability should not be fos-
the wisdom Of the protective tariff prin-
ciple. 1t Is exceedingly undesirable that
this system should be destroyed or that
changes therein. Our past e experience
shows that great prosperity in this coun-
try has always come under a protective
p 1aGi1; an aaae that ftf the ts s2antr sha s n not at
Short intervals. Moreover, If the tariff
laws as whole work well and II puss-
ness has prospered under them and 'is
time. slight inconveniences and inequali-
ness by toe too quick and to radical changes.
&C could Il m tpsat ei ahe tarInt e from Or w the 'sta anl5 int
solely of our business needs. 1t is. per-
haps, too much to hope that partisanship
may be entirely excluded from considera-
ton of the subject, but at least 1t can be
made secondary to the business interests
of the c~ountry-that is. to the interests
Of our people as a whole. Unquestionably
served If together with fxity Of principle
as regards fhH, tar!r we combine a sys-
tenn which will Permit us from time to
time to make the necessary reapplication
Of the principle to the shifting national
needs. We must take S~crllDulOuS care
that the reapplication shall be made in
such. a way that it will not amount to e
Of which (not to speak Of the performs
business energies of the community. The
e f!5st so1 Wda1g' as cou in %p a to pres sssSe
the principle which underlies our whole
tariff system.that is.. the principle OF
putting American business interests at
abroad. and Of always allowing arsufi.
cient rate of duty to more thar cover the
difference between the labor cost here n
worker, like the well being. of the tiiler
Of the soil, should be treated as an essen
tial in shaping our whole economic policy.
viii jeopardize the standard Of comfort.
the standard of wages of the American
wage-worker.
sought can be reached is by. reciprocity
treaties. It is greatly to be desired that
such treaties may be adopted. They can
be used to widen our markets and to
give q greater field for the activities of
our producers On the n hand. and on
the ot,t.r hand to secure in practical
shape the lowering Of duties when they
are no longer needed for protection
among our own people. or when the min
tmum &c damage done may be disregard
ed for the sake Of the maximum Of good
accomplished: Il It prove impossible to
seem to be no warrant .cr .se cndeavor
to. execute others. or to amer:d The pend
ing treaties 80 that they a be ratified.
then the same end-to secure reciprocity
should be met by direct legislation.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
vantage be made by the application Of
the reciprocity idea. then 1t can be made
outright by q lowering. OF duties on q
given product. II possible. u change
should be made only after the fullest con
alteration by practical experts, who Q
the particular interests affected and the
commercial well-being OF the people as q
whole. The machinery for providing
supplied. The executive deRsa1ttme ut has
lecting facts and figures; and II the con-
| Rress desires additional consideration to
| that which will be given the subject by
its own committees, then Q commission
OF business experts can be appointed
whose duty y should be to recSmmend
and scientific examination Of the various
schedules as they are affected by the
changed and changing conditions. The
unhurried and unbiased",feport OF this
commission would shoMswhat changes
ord houy %or fheaa chan1e& cn,l1d On With.