The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-21

II in any case the tariff is found to
roster a monopoly which does ill, why.
OF course, no protectionist would OBJ
Ject TO modification of the tariff suffi-
clent TO remedy the evil. But in very
rev cases does the so-called trust real
ly monopolize the market. Take any
very big corporation which controls,
say something over half the products
OF given industry. Surely, in re-
arranging the schedules affecting such
a big corporation, it would be neces-
sary to consider the interests of its
smaller competitors, which control the
remaining part, and which, being weak
er, would suffer most from any tariff
designed to punish all the producers;
for, of course, the tariff must be made
light or heavy for big and little pro-
ducers alike. Moreover, such a cor
poration necessarily employs very
many thousands of workmen, and the
minute we proceeded from denuncia-
ton to action it would be
necessary to consider the in
terests of these workmen. Fur
thermore the products of many trusts
are unprotected and would be entirely
unaffected by any change in the tariff,
or at most very slightly so. The
Standard Oil Company offers a case
in point; and the corporation which
control the anthracite coal output Of
fer another-for there is no duty what
ever on anthracite coal.
Futile to Change Tariff.
II am not discussing the question of
the tariff as such, whether from the
standpoint of the fundamental differ
ences between those who believe in a
protective tariff and those who believe
in free trade, or from the&standpoint
of those who, while they believe in a
protective tariff, feel that there could
be Encouragement of our schedule
either by direct legislation or by reci-
procity treaties which would result in
charging our markets; nor yet from
the standpoint of those who feel that
steadiness of economic policy is at the
moment our prime economic need, and
the benefits to be derived from any
change in schedules would not compen-
safe for the damage to business caus-
ed by the widespread agitation which
would follow any attempted general
revision of the tariff at this moment
Without regard to the wisdom of any
one of those three positions, it re-
mains true that the real evils connect
ed with the trusts cannot be remedied
by any change in the tariff
laws. The trusts can be damaged
by depriving them of the benefits of
a protective tariff, only on condition
of damaging all their smaller competit-
ors and all the wage workers EN- ploy-
ed in the industry. This point Is very
important, and it is desirable to avoid
any save wilful misunderstanding. I
am not now considering whether or
not on grounds totally. unconnected
with the trusts, it would be we'll to
lower the duties on various schedules,
either by direct legislation, or by leg
islation or treaties designed to secure
as an effect reciprocal advantages from
the nations with which we trade My
point is that changes in the tariff would
have little appreciate effect on the
trusts save as they shared in the gem
eral harm or good proceeding from
some changes. No tariff change would
help one of our smaller corporations,
or one of our private individuals in
business, still less one of our wage
workers, as against large corporation
in the same business; on the contrary
if it bear heavily on the large corpora
ton. it would inevitably DE felt still
more by that corporations weaker
rivals, while any injurious result would
of necessity, be shared by 10th the
employer and employed in the business
concerned. The immediate Introduction
of substantial free trade in all articles
manufactured by trusts. that is
by the largest and most successful cor
poration, would not affect some of the
most powerful of our business combi-
nations in the least, save by the dam
age done to the general business well
fare of the country; others would I'M
doubtedly be seriously affected, but
much less so than their weaker rivals,
while the loss would be divided be-
tween the capitalists and the labor
ers, and after the years of panic and
distress had been lived through, and
some return to prosperity had occurred,
even though all were on a lower plane
of prosperity than before, the rela-
tive difference between the trusts and
their rivals would remain as marked
as ever. In other words, the trust, or
big corporation, would have suffered
relatively too, and in the interest of
it's foreign competitors; but it's rela-
tive position towards its American
competitors would probably be improv-
ed; little would have been done to-
ward cutting out or minimizing the
evils in the trusts; nothing towards
securing adequate trade and regula
ton of the modern corporations. In
other words, the question of regulat-
ing the trusts with view to mini
MIXING or abolishing the evils exist
ent in them is separate and apart from
the question of tariff revision.
Nation MUST
81 personally feel that ultimately the
nation will have to assume the respon-
sibiIity of regulating these very large
corporations, which do an interstate
business.
1.-THE states must combine to meet
the problem caused by the great com
binations of capital; and the easiest
way for the state to combine is by ac-
ton through the national government
am well aware that the process of
constitutional amendment is necessa-
rily a slow one, and one into which our
people are reluctant to enter. save for
hest reasons; 1 am confident that in this
instance the reasons exist. | am also
aware that there will be difficulty in
framing an amendment which Will
meet the objects of the case and yet
which will secure the necessary sup
port. The very fact that there must
be delay in securing the adoption OF
such an amendment. insures full dis
cusslon and calm consideration on the
whole subject. and will prevent any i'll
considered action.
without the adoption of n consti-
tutional amendment, my belief is that
a good deal can be done by law. Such
LEGISLATION (whether obtainable now, or
obtafuable only after a constitutional
amendmenD should provide for a reas-
onable gupervisiOn, the most prominent
feature of which ~ first should be pub
lielty. that ig the making public both
N the governmental authorities ana
III tho peOpIe az large the essential
facts la which fbe public is concern
I'd This would give us exact kDowi-
edge u many points which ere nov