The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-31
TRUSTS
THE RIGHT OF
THE PEOPLE
To Regulate, Control, or
Destroy Trusts.

governed. When this is secured,
neither the laws of God nor the rights
If men will be contravened.
Government is not established for
any individual, or any class of iudi-
viduals. There is no individual or
class of individuals whose welfare
can equal the welfare of the people.
Governments are estab-
lished to promote "the public well |
fare and when they fail to do this,
and trample upon the peoples rights,
they no longer have right to exist.
A man has natural rights, given
him by his Creator, of which he may
be defrauded by individuals. compa-
nies, or governments. but which can
never be destroyed. and which he can
only forfeit by crime against his fell
low man.
Some of his natural rights may be
limited by law-for law is but the
measure of limitation of individual
liberty-but this cannot be done by
individuals, but only by Government,
for the good of the people, and for
no other reason. Thus, the good of
the people may require that the Gov
ernment prohibit man from main
tanning a nuisance upon his own
premises; it may require that mans
family may be shut up, to prevent
the spread of smallpox; and it may
require everybody to be vaccinated.
And in various ways it may limit his
liberty for the good of the public.
AS the Government is established
to promote the public welfare, it
may tax the people to build navies,
support armies, provide schools,
maintain courts, erect prisons, etc.
The public welfare being the aim
of all Governments, the right to leg
islate for the public good is inherent.
Therefore. a Government has a
right to create subordinate govern
ments. to which it may entrust a
part of its powers; and it may char
ter companies to do work that indi-
viduals cannot do; but this power it
can only confer, for the purpose of
promoting the public welfare. Indi-
viduals cannot SO well construct
great bridges, build railroads, work
mines; and carry on other great en-
Iterprises; and therefore to promote
the public welfare, companies are
chartered. But the right to give
such companies charters, carries
with it the right to regulate the
management of such companies, and
to withdraw their charters if they
are not conducted for the public
good.
A railroad company, chartered by
the Government, is given the right
to construct a road and conduct {
railroad business. BY reason of sucf
grant of power, it can run it's lins
through a mans farm, or his house
as it pleases. Notwithstanding he ha.
paid his own good money for the
farm, has an undisputed title to it
land can hold it against any individ
|ual. And the Government that hai
the right to invest the railroad com
ipany with such power, has an inner
ent right, to pass laws to regulate
the management of such road, fix it
freight and passenger rates, compe
it to protect its employees, and to serve
the public with proper and sufficien
Transportation facilities. Andif sucl
a company should run its business il
its own interest, regardless Of thu
public welfare, it would forfeit it
charter, having failed in keeping it
Ipart of the compact.
In no case can the Government giv'
away the rights of the individual
Except for the public good; and nj
chartered company can have an,
rights that are above the law, th'
Government, or the rights of th'
lpeople.
From these conclusions, there is n,
escape, nor from the sequiter, tina
if the people find that the railroad
are charging them exorbitant rates
Increasing the price of fuel, food
and the other necessaries of life; ar,
parties to conspiracy to delay ship
ments, in order to run up prices; ar
placing the farmers, the manufac
turer and the dealers at the mercy o
the gamblers or Trusts, at the ex
i pense of the people; and believe tina
the railroads could be managed bet
ter to the interests of the people b,
the Government; and, that the pub
lie welfare would be promoted there
by, the people through their Govern
, ment have the right to regulate tn
management and rates, or forfei
the charters of these companies, an
seize their property, paying a fai
. price therefore, just as it seized tn
lands of the farmers for the benefi
; of the railroad companies.
The same is true of coal companie
that run up the prices of fuel to VI
just rates, to the detriment of a
public interests, and to the discou
: fort and i'll health of the people.
: The same is true of any compan
: or combine or Trust, not one {
1 which has any right to exist, exceI
by consent of the Government.
E The people are supreme, above a
: individuals. companies, corporation
o and Governments. These are, al
1 their creatures. and are subject