The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-22

u
TOPEKA STATE JOUR.
workers employed in the industry. This
point Is very important, and 1t Is destr-
able to avoid any save w1lful mlsunder-
standing. am not now considering
whether or not, on grounds totally un-
connected with the trusts. it would be
well to lower the duties on various sche-
dulles, either by direct legis1a ton or by
legislation or treaties designed to Sc
cure as an offset reciprocal advantages
from the nations with which we trade
My point is that changes in the tarln
would have little appreciable effect on
the trusts save as they shared In the
general harm or good proceeding from
such changes.
WOULDN'T HELP LABOR.
mo tariff change would help one of
private individuals in business. still less
one of our wage workers as against a
large corporation in the same business
on the contrary. if it bore heavily on
the large corporation 1t would inev1ta-
bly, be felt still more by that corpora
tons weaker rivals. while any 1nJur1-
Gus result would OF necessity, be shared
by both the employer and employed In
the business concerned The immediate
introduction of substantial free trade
that is. by the largest and most sue
cessful corporations-would not affect
some Of the most powerful OF our bust
ness combinations In the least save by
the dama.e Gone to the general bust
ness welfare of the country. Others
would undoubtedly be seriously affect
ed, but much less than their weaker
rivals, while the loss would be divided
between the capitalists and the labor
ers. And after years of panic and dis
~ n, n
return to prosperity had occuTSed. even
though all were on a lower Ilane OF
prosperity than before, the relative diff
ference between the trusts and their
rivals would remain as marked as ever.
I'm other words, the question of regu-
1ating trusts with a view to minimizing
or abolishing the evils existent in them
is separate and apart from the question
of tariff revision. You must face this
fact that only harm will come from a
proposition to attack the so-called tru Is
in a indicative spirit by measures con-
ceived solely with a desire of hurting
them, without any regard as to whether
or not discrimination should be made
between the good and evil in them ana
without even any regard as to whether
necessary sequence of the action
would be the hurting of other interests.
The adoption of such a policy would
mean temporary damage to the trusts.
because it would mean temporary dam
age to all of our business interests: but
the effect would be only temporary for
exactly as the damaged affected all
alike good and bad. so the reaction
would affect all alike, good and bad.
SUPERVISION NECESSARY.
1.-THE necessary supervision and con-
troll in which 7 firmly believe as the
only method of eliminating the real
evils of the trust must come through
wisely and cautiously framed legisla-
ton, which shall aim in the first place
to give definite control to some SOW,
ereign over the great corporations, and
which shall be followed, when once
this power has been conferred. by
system giving to the government the
full knowledge which is the essential
for satisfa Glory action. Then when this
knowledge one of the essential feature:
of which is proper publicity has beer
gained, what further steps of any kline
are necessary can be taken with thu
confidence born of the possession Of
power to deal with the subject, and OF
a thorough knowledge of what ough
and can be done in the matter. We
need additional power. and we meet
knowledge.
Our constitution was formed wher
the economic conditions were SO diff
ferent that each state could be wisely
left to handle the corporations within
it's limits as it saw fit. Nowadays al
the numerous corporations which I an
considering do what is really an inter.
state business, and, as the states have
proceeded on very different lines in reg
ulating them, they are often organized
in a state in which they do little or nc
business, and do an enormous bushes:
in other states, to the spirit of whose
laws they may be openly antagon1stic
1t MIGHT be better if all the ates could
agree to work along the same lines IL
dealing with these corporations. but
see not the slightest prospect of sucl
agreement. Therefore I personally fee
that ultimately the nation will have tt
+Hn 1ci1 hill Of 1ot Inc
these very large corporations which d.
an Interstate business. The states mus
combine to meet the problem causeS
by the great combinations of capital
combine is by action through the ma
tional government. am well aware
| that the process of constitutions
amendment is necessarily a slow one
and one into which our people are re-
luctant to enter. save for the best o.
reasons; but am confident that in thi'
| instance the reasons exist ! am alst
aware that there will be difficulty il
framing an amendment which will NEE
the objects of the case, and yet which
will secure the necessary support. Tn,
very fact that there must be delay il
securing the adoption of such al
amendment insures full discussion ant
calm consideration on the whole sub
! ject and will prevent any ill-consideret
action.
'I have no intention of trying to out
| line the proper phraSeOlOgy of such al
amendment, for know 1T must COM
| as a matter of agreement and discus
sion. But I firmly believe that all thes
/ obstacles can be met. If only we fac
them, both with the determination t,
| overcome them. and with the furthe
determination to overcome them II
ways which shall not do damage to tn
country as a whole; which, on the con
trary shall further our industrial de
velopment, and shall help. instead o
hindering, all corporations which worl
out their success by means that ar
| Just and fair toward all men.
without the adoption of a constitu
| tional amendment my belief is that
good deal can be done by law. It i
difficult to say exactly how much, be
cause experience has taught us that il
dealing with these subjects where tn
| lines dividing the rights and duties o
| the states and of the nation are il
doubt it has sometimes been difficult TO
! congress to forecast the action OF tn
courts upon its legislation.
FOR PUBLICITY.
"Such legislation (whether obtainabl,
now or obtainable only after constfru
tional amendment) should provide for I
reasonable supervision, the most prom
| be publicity; that is, the making public
both to the governmental authorities
and to the people at large, the essentia
facts in which the public is concerned
/ This would give us exact knowledge o
many points which are not only ii
doubt, but the subject of fierce contro
verSy. Moreover, the mere fact of tn
publication would cure some very grav'
evils, for the light of day is a deteTren