The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-24

! State. and the state not only has the right t
| control them but is in duty bound to contro
| them wherever the need for such control
shown.
There is clearly need OF supervison-need Il
exercise the power of regulation on the part o
the publlc-wherever as m our own country a
the Presen: time. business corporations becom'
, so very strong both for benefcent work and worf
that is not always benefcent 1t Is idle to say
there is need for such supervision. suf'
fcient warrant for It is TO be found over and
over again in any of the various evils resulting
from the present system. rather lack Of sys-
TEN.
There Is in country a peculiar difficulty
in the way OF exercising such supervision ano
control because Of the peculiar division Of gov
ernmental power. When the industrial condi-
tions were simple. very little control was needed
and no trouble was caused by the doubt as to
where power was lodged under the Constitution.
Now the conditions are complicated and we fad
it difficult to frame national legislation which
shall be adequate, while matter of prac-
teal experience state action has proved entirely
insufficient and in all human probability cannot
or will not be made sufficient TO meet the needs
Of the case.
State Laws Prove Inefficient.
Some of our States have excellent laws-laus
which it would be WELL indeed. to have enact
ed by the national legislature. But the wide DIFF
fereuces in these laws. between adjacent
States and the uncertainty of the power OF en-
forcement result practically in altogether INSULT
cient control. I believe that the nati-n must as
sumo this power OF control by legislation. and
If it becomes evident that the Constitution will
not permit needed legislation. then by constitu-
tionaI amendment
The immediate need in dealing with trusts is
to place them under the real. not nominal. con-
troll OF some sovereign to which, as its creature.
the trusts shall owe allegiance and in whose
courts the sovereign's orders may with certainty
be enforced.
This is not the case with the ordinary so-called
trust to-day, for the trust is large State
CORPORATION. generally doing business in other
States also. and often with a tendency to monop-
DIV Such a trust is an artificial creature. not
wholly responsible to or conrroilable by any Leg
islature, nor wholly subject to the Jurisdiction
Of any court
Some governmental sovereign must be given
full power over these a-tihciaI and powerful cor
porate beings. In my judgment. this sovereign
must be the national Government.
National Control as the Remedy.
D When It has been given full power chen this
full power can be used to control any evil infiu-
ence. exactly the Government is using
the power conferred upon it. un4er the Sherman
antitrust law.
Even when the full power has been conferred
1t would be nightly undesirable to attempt too
much or to begin by stringent legislation. The
mechanism, Of modern bu-inesB is as dellcate and
complicated as II is vast. and nothing would be
more productive OF evil to all of and espe-
ciaily to those least well of in the words
goods than ignorant meddiing WITH this mechan-
lsu1s and above ALL if the meddling dOne in
4 spirit Of class or sectional rancor.
1t is desirable that this power should be pos
sessed by the nation, but IL is quite as desirable
that the power should be exercised with modera-
tion and sef-restraint. The first exercise of that
power should be the securing of publicity among
ali great corporations doing interstate bus-
ness. The publicity, though noninquisltorial
should be real and thorough to all important
facts with which the public has concern.
Publicity DiscOurager of EVIL.
The full light OF day is great discourager of
evil Such publicity would by itself tend to cure
the evils of which there is just complaint,
where the alleged evils imaginary it would
tend to show that such was the case.
When publicity is attained it would then be
possible to see what further should be done IN
the way OF regulation.
Above all. II behooves to remember not only
that We ought TO try to do what can. but
that our success In doing II depends very much
possible.
Distrust the man who offers you a patent cure
all for the evils of the body polite lust as you
would distrust him who tries to sell you a nedi-
cine to cure all the diseases Of your corporal
bodies
Mankind has moved slowly upward through the
ages. sometimes u little faster, sometimes lit
tie slower. but rarely. indeed, by leaps and
bounds. At times great crisis comes in which
a great people, perchance led by great man,
for the right-make some long stride in advance
along the path OF orderly liberty and justice.
But normally We must be content IL each of
us can do something. by means all that we
wish. but still something. for the advancement OF
those principles of righteousness which under
lie all real national greatness, all real clvil-
zation
1 see no promise of a complete solution for all
the problems group together. when we speak
Of the trust question. But we make begin
ming In solving these problems. and a good be
ginning. II only we approach the subject with a
OF resolution, of honesty and of that
hard common sense which is OF the most
valuable and unfortunately not Of the most
common assets in the equipment of any people.
I think the national administration has shown
Its firm intention to enforce the laws they
now stand on the statute books without regard
to persons and 1 think that good has come from
this enforcement. think. Furthermore, that
there should be and can be additional legislation
which will enable us to accomplish much more
than has been accomplished along these same
lines. No one promise. you a perfect solution
az least in the immediate future. but something
has already been done, and much more be
done IL our people temperRtely and deterrninedly
will that II shall be done.
In conclusion let add word While we
are not to be excused If fail to do whatever
IS possible through the agency OF government. We
must ever keep in mind that action by the
no action by any combination
among ourselves can take the place of the in
1ividual qualities to which in the long each |
man must owe mis- success.
There never has been devised and there never
will be devised any law which viii enable a |
qualities which have always been the pre-
requisites of succezs-the qualities hard work.
of keen intelligence, of unitnchiag WILL
No action by the state in any form do |
more than supplement tae initiative OF the in !
can do more than secure each individual |
he chance to show. under as favorable condi- /