West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-07-30
POU'S GREAT SPEECH.
He Anaiyzes Republican "Anti-
trust" Bills.
THEY ARB REALLY TRUST BILLS.


Control Prices.
ono OF tho soundcst and meatiest OF
speeches made during tho present ses-
sion OF congress- was made ON Jan. 81
10y Congressman Pou OF North Carroll
ma. Mr.. Pou summed mp all OF tho 30
called antitrust bills proposed by tho
Republicans and said that they were
either 20 require publicity or to pre-
vent discrimination. IA TO publicity
he said:
1T really looks, Mr.. Chairman. as IL
the substitute bill wero drawn 20 pro-
tcct tho trusts which are now oppress-
Ing tho people. for upon its very thresh-
old the bill exernpts all OF these law-
breakers from its operation. II pro-
vidcs that every corporation which
may be hereafter organized shall at tho
time OF engaging In interstate or for
eign commerce file the return herein
after provided for do not believe
that the publicity required by this bill
will AFFORD any substantial remedy, but
II appears that n majority OF tho com
mittee for some reason have left abso-
lutcly exempt from the operation OF the
bill all corporations except those which
may be hereafter organized. What
have our great lawbreakcrs done that
they should be thus favored by the ma
jority OF the committee? Why should
they DO permitted TO enjoy this advan-
tage? Why should they be permitted
TO live I'm the shadow while now trusts
must live I'm the sunlighti
"a favorite expression OF our Repub-
lican friends IL that there are good
trusts and bad trusts. The majority
OF the committee have evidently obscrv-
cd this distinction. Tho old trusts arc
the good trusts. Those that are 60 bc
hereafter organized are the bad trusts.
The old trusts may operate In tho dark.
Tho now trusts must operate I'm the
light.
what will be the effect OF this ex-
emptlonf II your publicity idea
amounts 20 anything. II II Is OF any
real benefit TO the people. II IT'S effect
shnll be TO force the trusts TO comply
with the law. then, I'm my opinion. IL
Will be long time before any new
trusts are organized. Old charters will
be bought In order that the law may be
cvaded, and II Will be many years be-
fore any bad trusts will rise up to chal-
lenge the supremacy OF the good trusts
which you are permitting to 1.-Two I'm the
dark.
"Isut what will your trusts care about
your publicity requirement anyway
The good trusts, those that are TO alt
I'm the darkness. care but little about
the publicity OF their operations. We
know they water their stock. Wo
know that nearly ali OF them nro over
capitalized.
''The requirement OF publicity docs
not accomplish what both political par
ties have promised 20 perform. Pub
liclty does not strike at the root OF tho
evil. 1t does not strike from the hands
OF the consumer the shackles which the
trusts have put upon him. Everybody
knows hc is at their mercy. What does
the trust care so long as congress leaves
the consumer I'm It's powerf Tho pub
licity idea is not very bright idea.
1t Will not fool anybody. II Is a make
shift. IL is merely TO temporize with a
great question. which will be regarded
with contempt by the American peo-
pie.
''The majority OF the committee
shows great solicitude for investors IN
trust stock, but n silent as to the well
fare OF the millions who are forced to
consume the products Of the trusts.
The person who owns stock In n trust
Is part OF the trust. The majority OF
the committee seems anxious TO pro-
tect him. They feel sure publicity viii
do tbs, for even Mr.. John ID. Rookie
feller advises publicity. Actually tho
majority OF tho committee have incor-
porated in their report the suggestion
OF Mr.. John ID. Rockefeller, who,
they say, Is understood 20 bo at the
head OF one of the largest Industrial
corporations in existence! They say
In this report that even Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter in effect advised publicity in bis
statement before tho Industrial com
mission Then they quote the evidence
Of Mr.. Dill, who they say, has very
large experience I'm the organization Of
corporations, is the author OF several
works upon corporations and was the
attorney organizing the United States
Steel corporation
These gentlemen approve publicity.
Therefore publicity is efficient. IL viii
correct the evil. . . Publicity IS the
mems whereby the trusts shall be
Forced to do right. for the trusts them.
geives say 10. This Is the logic Of the
Republican majority OF the committeo.r
After exposing the shams OF the bills
and showing that thsy would really
protect present trusts and by prevent
ing cutting IA rates increase railroad
earnings, Mr.. pou proceeded 20 point
out ths real evils Of trusts and 20 sue
gegt real remedies. To said:
Mr.. Chairman, the great oyii which
menaces the happiness OF millions 10
this republic is not overcapitalizatioB
IN tho formation Of trusts, Il is not iu
watered stock. II Is not IN lack Of pub
licity, Il is not IN discrimination amOns
customers. had as oll this is there is
still a worse evil, "a the presence q
which all this palos into insignlfcanca
II consists I'm the power Of tho trusts
to control the essentials Of life and te
ix the prices thereof. The great evr
which Will involve this country soones
or Inter IN revolution, unless corrected
consists In the power Of . single cor
poTaIion or rsIlviduaI to control the
food which human beings must have,
The clothing they must wear. the fuei
they must burn. the implements they
must use and the prices the people
must pny FOR these essentials Of life.
More than this, II consists IN the power
Of single corporation 70 control the
market OF the great agricultural prod
ucts 20 our people and its ability to ix
the price thereof When this Is per.
mitted, men aro 30 longer free
The Republican party has shut on