The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-21
'ers another-for there is no duty what
 c.a fhran niA

T am not ulScusSlng the question or tariff as such, whether from the stand
 point of the fundamental differences be-
 tween 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 a encouragement of our schedules, either by direct legis- lation or by reciprocity treaties, which would result in enlarging our markets, nor yet from the standpoint of those who feel that stability of economic pol
 icy is at the moment our prime economic need. and that the benefits to be derived from any change in schedules would not compensate for the damage to business caused by the widespread agitation which
 would follow any attempted general re- vision of the tariff at this moment. Without regard to the wisdom of any of those three positions 1t remains true that the real evils connected with the trusts cannot be remedied by any change in the tariff laws. The trusts can be damaged by depriving them of the ben- efts of a protective tariff only on condi- tion of damaging all their smaller com- petitors, and all the wage workers em- ployed 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 well to lower the du- ties on various schedules, either by di- rect legislation or by treaties designed to secure as an offset reciprocal advan- tages from the nations with which we trade.
 My point is that changes in the tariff
 would have little appreciable effect upon the trusts save as they shared in the l 2tHr~ fRnf such changes. No tariff change would help one of our smaller corporations or one of our private individuals in busi- ness, still less one of our wage-workers as against a large corporation in the same business; on the contrary, if 1t
 bore heavily on the large corporation it would inevitably be felt still more by that corporations weaker rivals, while any injurious result would of necessity be shared by both the employer and em- ployed in the business concerned
 Free Trade Ruinous.
 "The introduction of substantial free trade in all articles manufactured by trusts, that is by the largest and most successful corporations would not af- feet some of the most powerful of our business combinations in the least, save
 by the damage done to the general bus mess welfare of the country; others would undoubtedly be seriously affected. but much less so than their weaker ri- vals while the loss would be divided be- tween the capitalists and the laborers;
 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 relative difference be- tween the trusts and thir rivals would remain as marked as ever.
 Tn other words, the trust, or big cor poration, would have suffered relatively, | 100, and in the interest of it's foreign competitors; but it's relative position to- ward its American competitors would probably be improved; little would have | been done toward cutting out or minim- izing the evils in the trusts; nothing to- | wards Securing adequate control and reg uIation of the large modern corporations. Tn other words, the question of regulat- | ing the trusts with a view to minimizing | or ahoIishng the evils existent in them. | is separate and apart from the questions | of tariff revision.
 ''The necessary supervision and con trol in which firmly believe as the only
 method of eliminating the real evils of the trusts must come through wisely and cautiously framed legislation, which shall aim. in the first place, to give definite control to some sovereign 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 essen tial for satisfactory action.
 Publicity Desired.
 Then when this knowledge-one of the essential features of which Is proper publicity-has been gained, what further steps of any kind are necessary can be taken with the confidence born of the possession of power to deal with the sub
 ject and of a thorough knowledge of what ought and can be done in the matter. We need additional power and we need knowl- edge.
 Tt might he better If all the States could agree to work along the same lines in dealing with these corporations. but see not the slightest prospect of such agreement. Therefore. I personally feel that ultimately the nation will have to assume the responsibility of regulating these very large corporations which do an interstate business. These States must combine to meet the problems caused by the great combinations of capital, and the easiest way for the States to combine Is by action through the National Govern ment.
 'T am well aware that the process of constitutional amendment is necessarily a slow one. and one into which our people are reluctant to enter save for the best of reasons, but I am confident that in this instance the reasons exist. I anf also aware that there will be difficulty in framing 2 n amendment which will meet the necessities of the case and which will receive the necessary support The very fact that there must be delay In se- curing the adoption of such an amend ment insures full discussion and calm consideration on the whole subject and will prevent any ill-corsidered action.
 II have no intention of trying to out line the proper phraseology of such an amendment for l know it must come a a matter of agreement and discussion, But I firmly believe that all these ob- st. cles can be met if only we face them both with the determination to overcome them and with the further determination to overcome them in ways which shall not do damage to the country as a whole; which, on the contrary, shall further our industrial develOpm ent and shall help instead of hinder all corporations which work out their success by means tHht are just and fair toward all men.
 Remedy Through Law.
 Without the adoption of a constltu- tional amendment my belief is that good deal can be done by law, It is difficult to say exactly how much, because ex- perience has taught us that in dealing with these subjects. where the lines divid- ing the rights and duties of the States and