The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-12-11

Il
Constitution so as to secure beyond per,
adventure the power sought
1 The congress has not heretofore made
4 any appropriation for the better enforce
/ ment OF the antitrust law as IL 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 IL congress would make a
| special appropriation for this purpose, "a
| be expended under the direction OF the
TmriR Must Not Re Disturbed.
One proposition advocated has been the
| reduction OF the tariff as means OF
/ reaching the evils OF the trusts which
| fan within the category l have described
1 Not merely would this be wholly ineffect-
/ i've. but the diversion Of our efforts IN
| such direction would mean the abardon-
ment Of all Intelligent attempts TO do
| away with these evils. Many OF the
| largest corporations, many OF those which
| should certainly be included in any prop
er scheme OF regulation. would not be
| change in the tariff, save as such change
| interfered with the general prosperity OF
the country. The only relation OF the
% ,@5 70 s ssss o9 Sse ts& a makes
manufactures profitable. and the tar
IN remedy proposed would be In eff
feet simply 10 MAKE manufactures UNI
profitable To remove the tariff as a
punitive measure directed against trusts
would Inevitably result In ruin Ia the
weaker competitors who are struggling
against kneIns our ann snOHlu DC uOl
by unwise tariff changes Ia give foreign
products the advantage over domestic
products. but by proper regulation TO give
domestic competition fair chance; and
this end cannot be reached by any tariff
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
Wherever the tarin conditions are such
that needed change cannot with ad-
vantage be made by the application Of
the reciprocity IDEA, then IL can be made
outright by a lowering Of duties on a
gwen product. IL possible, such change
should be made only after the fullest con-
sideration by practical experts, who
should not approach the subject from a
business standpoint, having in view both
the particular interests affected and the
commercial well-being OF the people as :
whole. The machinery for providing
such careful investigation can readily be
supplied. The executive department has
already at It's disposal methods of coll
Letting facts and figures. and If the con-
gross desires additional consideration to
that which viii be given the subject by
It's own committees, then commission
whose duty 1t should be to recommend
action by the congress after a deliberate
and scientific examination Of the various
schedules as they are affected by the
changed and changing conditions. The
unhurried and unbiased report OF this
commission would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules,
and how far these changes could go with.
out also changing the great prosperity
which this country is now enjoying, or
unsetting it's fixed economic policy.
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce a monopoly are so few as TO consti-
tute an inconsiderable factor in the ques-
tion: but of course IL In any case Il be
found that given rate Of duty does pro-
mote a monopoly which works I'll, no pro-
tectionist would object to such reduction
of the duty as would eQualiZe compete
ton.
In my Judgment. the tariff on anthra-
cite coal should DE removed. and anthra-
cite put actually. where IL now is nom
inally, on the free list. This would have
no effect at all save In crises; but in
crises 1t might be of service to the peo-
pie
Financial Legislation Desirable.
Interest rates are a potent factor In
business activity. and in order that these
rates may be equalized to meet the vary
ing needs of the seasons and of widely
separated communities, and to prevent the
recurrence of financial strngencies which
injuriously affect legitimate business. Il Is
necessary that there should be an element
OF elasticity in our monetary system
Banks are the natural servants of COM
merce and upon them should be placed,
as far as practicable, the burden OF fur
mshing and maintaining a circulation ade-
quate to supply the needs of our diversi-
ned industries and OF our domestic and
foreign commerce; and the issue OF this
~
supply should be always available for the
business interests Of the country.
IL would be unwise and unnecessary at
this time to attempt to reconstruct our
financial system. which has been the
growth of century; but some additional
legislation Is, / think, desirable. The
mere outline Of aEy plan sufficiently COM
prehensive to meet these reqairemeqnts
would tranSgress the appropriate limits
or this communication. 1t Is suggested
however, that all future legislation on
the subject should be with the view of
encouraging the use of such instrument
taIltes as Will automatically supply every
legitimate demand of productive Industries
ana OF commerce, not only in the kinds
or money Interchangeable. and. at the
VIII OF the holder. convertible into the
established gold standard.
Harmony between Capital and La
Dor.
How to secure fair treatment alike for
laDOr and Tor capital, how to hold In
check the inscriptions man, whether
employer or employee, without weakening
Individual initiative, without hampering
and cramping the Industrial development
OF the country, is problem fraught with
great difficulties and one which IL Is of
the highest Importance to solve on lines
OF sanity and far-sighted common sense
as we'll as of devotion TO the right. This
is an era of federation and combination
Exactly as business men find they must
often work through corporations, and as
II is constant tendency OF these corpor-
auons 10 grow larger, so 1t is often nee
essary for laboring men to work in fed
erations, and these have become impor-
tant factors of modern Industrial life
Few people deserve better of the coun-
try than those representatives both Of
capital and labor-and there are many
such--who work continually to bring about
good understanding of this kind, based
upon wisdom and upon broad and kindly
sympathy between employers and em-
ployed. Above all, we need to remember
that any kind of class animosity in the
political world Is, II possible, even more
wicked. even more destructive to national
welfare, than sectional. race or religious
animosity. We can get good government
only upon condition that we keep true to
the principles unpn which this nation was
founded, and Judge each man not as part
OF a class. bat upon his individual mer-
It's. All that we have a right TO ask or
creed, his occupation, his birthplace, or
his residence Is that he shall act well
and honorably by his neighbor and by his
country. We are neither for the rich
such: we are for the upright man, rich
or poor So far az the constitutional
powers OF the national government touch
these matters of general and vital mo-
ercised in conformity with the principles
shove set forth.
New Seat in the Cabinet Recon-
mended.
II Is earnestly hoped that secretary OF
commerce may be created, with seat
In the cabinet The rapid multipllca-
ton of questions affecting labor and cap
ital, the growth and conpleXity of the
organizations through which both labor
and capital now fihd expression, the
steady tendency toward tine employment
of capital in huge corporations, and the
wonderful strides OF this country toward
leadership IN the international business
world Justify an urgent demand for the