Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-20
ANTI-TRUsT LEGISLATION. .

: Correspondent Discusses the At
titude of Roosevelt and Bryan.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
When President Roosevelt, In his mes
sage to Congress. recommended national
control OF trusts a New York paper
printed cartoon representing him as the
triumphant game-cock growing over his
disabled rival. Mr.. Bryan. whose last
tail-1eather he had p1ucked and Is appro-
priating. The President, who is almost as
versatile as Mr.. Bryan himself. Is uni
3versally considered an honorable man,
and the cartoon did neither Of the dis
,tinguished gentlemen justice. Still It
served the purpose Of showing how far
we have drifted from the principles OF
.Democracy-or if that word offends-from
the principles Of the government. When
the two foremost leaders IN the country
unite on policy which might suit pater-
nal Russia, but in which the Anglo Saxon.
or as the colored man calls him, the
.Angry-Saxon.' has always viewed with
suspicion, it is time for the people who
cite the words Of Thomas Jefferson, to
look up their old works on political
economy 1t seems to the writer that the
eviliwhich this violent remedy is INTENDED
to correct has been brought about ny
the action Of the various States In putting
unreasonable restrictions upon the forma-
ton Of corporations in the form Of taxes
The natural effect Of such legislation In
dealing with individuals would be to stihe.
competition and the existing corporations
become trusts" for, as we understand It
today. a trust" is nothing more than b &
corporation and q, big corporation is Moth.
ing more than a good business man-good
because 1t has a great number to select
from. True it has no soul neither has
the good business man when at business.
When soul is brought into business It;
generally becomes rascaHty. and GER
tainlys Is not business. Business Is to
buy in the cheapest and sell In the dearest
market. Now there are so many poor
business men that If laws can make good
business men it certainly is not the part
of wisdom in legislators to put a penalty
on their creation. A corporation is only
an instrument for cooperation and co...
operation should be SO free that every.
crank could have a corporation. In bust
ness 1t Is the survival Of the f1ttest. and
how are we to know which are the fttest
unless they all have chance to start.
Moreover, that is pure Democracy. 1T
is like educating all children, as It might
ha ppen that II one is left uneducated
the ninety and nine has been educated
to no purpose, and the one left nuedu-
ca ted go to his grave mute, inglostous
Milton The present legislature has
a great opportunity to put Virginia IN
the lead on this burning question.
Z These desultory views occur to the
writer, and their application and llustra-
ton can be left to those whose business
1T is to study the subject They can be
heard around the Offices Of. country hotels
every night In the week, Illustrated by
m any ~ pointed anacdoteS Wei when
thess good story-telleFss and reasonerss be-
come legislators they leave their ptiloso-
ply at home TO such. It they are play
Ing politics. wish to say that they are
making a great mistake. The country
people have no SET aversion to corpora
lions. Throughout the counties Inere is
no more effective way OF breaking up e
church than to call 1t Bill Jones. church.
or Jack Browns church.