The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-08

to one of your customers as you do to
another" In order to accomplish the re-
suit contemplated by this section it must
be shown that the trusts have an unlaw-
full purpose in making the discrimination
/ fear that the friends of this bill Will
find its provisions as utterly impotent as
the provisions of the Sherman antitrust
law have appeared to be. | honestly be-
lieve that the trusts will not be at all dii-
turbed in the fragrant expressions, of
which they are guilty, even if the bill is
enacted into a law.
The majority report of the committee
shows great solicitude for investors in
trust stock, but is silent as to the welfare
of the millions who are forced to consume
the products of the trusts. The person
who owns stock in a trust is a part of
the trust The majority of the commit
tee seems anxious to protect him. They
feel sure publicity will do this, for even
Mr.. John d. Rockefeller advises pub
licity. Actually the majority of the COM
mittee have incorporated in their report
the suggestion of Mr.. John y. Rockefel-
Ter, who" they say, "is understood to
be al the head Of one of the largest in
dustrial corporations in existence" They
say in this report that "even Mr.. Racke-
Teller in effect advised publicity in his
statement before the Industrial Commits
sion" Then they quote the evidence Of
Mr.. Dill who" they say, has had very
large experience in the organization of
corporations, is the author of several
works upon corporations and was the
attorney organizing the United States
Steel Company"
These gentlemen approve publicity
Therefore publicity is efficient 1t will
correct the evil This must be so, is the
conclusion of the Republican majority of
the committee, for Mr.. Rockefeller the
head of one great trust, and Mr. Dill at
torney for another advise it. Publicity
is the means whereby the trusts shall be
forced to do right, for the trusts them
selves say so. This is the logic of tho
Republican majority of this committee.
Mr.. Chairman, the great evil which
menaces the happiness of millions in this
Republic is not overcapitalizaton in the
formation of trusts. it is not in watered
stock. it is not in lack of publicity. it is
not in discrimination among customers.
Bad as all this is there is still worse
evil. in the presence of which all this
pales into insignificance. 1t con-
sists in the power of the trusts to con-
troll the essentials of life and to fix the
prices thereof. The great evil which will
involve this country sooner or later in
revolution, unless corrected consists in
the power of a single corporation or in
dividual to control the food which hui
man beings must have. the clothing they
must wear, the fuel they must burn, the
implements they must USE and the prices
people must pay for these essentials of
life. More than this; it consists in the
power of a single corporation to control
the market of the great agricultural pro-
ducts of our people, and it's ability to
fix the price thereof. When this is per-
mitted men are no longer Free
We might as well face the issue
squarely now Sooner or later we will be
forced to face it,.
Now, by section of this bill you say
you have the power to prohibit the use
either directly or indirectly, of any of the
facilities or Observation-Disclosures of inter
state commerce" to corporations which