Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1903-04-08

~. which entails the possibility of law
leSSness and violence. is an attack
upon the fundamental properties OF
American citizenship. Our interests are
at bottom common: in the long run ws
go up or go down together. Yet more
and more it is evident that the State.
ana II necessary the nation. has got to
possess the right of supervision and
control as regards the great corpora-
tions which are it's creatures: particu-
iariy as regards the great business
combinations which derive portion or
their Importance from the existence OF
some monopolistic tendency The right
should be exercised with caution and
self-restraint; but it should exist. So
that 1t may be invoked If the need
arises"
Last fall in speaking at Cincinnati
said: The necessary supervision and
control in which l firmly believe as
the only method of eliminating the
real evils of the trusts. must come
through wisely and cautiously framed
leSlslatlon. when shall aim in the first
place 10 give definite control TO some
sovereign over the great corporations
and which shall be followed. when
once this power has been conferred. Lv
system giving 10 the government the
full knowledge which is the essential
for satisfactory action. Then when this
knowledge-one of the essential fea-
lures 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 subject, and
of a thorough knowledge OF what
should and can be done in the matter.
We need additional power and we
need knowledge Such legis-
lation-whether obtainable now or
obtainable only after constitutional
amendment-should provide for a rea-
sonable supervision, the most promi-
nent feature of which at first should
be publicity; that is. the making pub
nc. both to the government authori-
ties ana TO the people at large the es-
sentlal facts in which the public is con-
cerned. This would give us exact
knowledge OF many points which are
now not only in doubt hut the subiect
OF fierce controversy. Moreover. the
mere fact OF the publication would
cure some very grave evils. for the
lght of day is a deterrent to wronk-
doing
SUIT AGAINST THE FEDERAL
SALT COMPANY.
In November. 1902. the ATTORNEY
General directed that bill for an in
junction be filed in the United States
circuit Court at San Francisco against
tHe feueraI salt Company-a corDora-
.!oi "hlch had been organized under
the laws OF an Eastern State but bad
It's main office and principal place az
business in California-and against a
huihDer OF other companies and per-
sons constituting what was known as
the salt trust These iniunctions were
! DtyN hA
contracts between the Federal Salt
/ company and the other defendants bv
Whlch the latter agreed neither 20 i'm
port buy. or sell salt, except from and
/ 10 the Federal Salt Company. and not
70 engage or assist in the production
! OF salt west of the MisSissippi river
curing the continuance OF such con
tracts. AS the result of these agree
ments the price of salt had been nd
Vanced about 400 per cent. \ TOM
porary injunction order was obtained.
I winch the defendants asked the court
! TO modify on the ground that the anti
! trust law had no application 10 con
tracts for purchases and sales within
state. The Circuit Court oveIruled
TINS contention and sustained the
governments position. This practically
concluded the case. and ii is under
stood that in consequence the Federal
SAT- Company is about to be dissolved
ana that no further contest will be
made.
a SUCCESSFUL EFFORT.
ne above is brief outline OF the
most important steps, legislative ard
administrative, taken during the mast
eighteen months in the direction Of
So"VnG' SO far as at present ii seems
plactlcaDle by national legislation or
@ ft.lt ttAY
the trust problem. They represent n
sum OF very substantial achievement
lhey represent a successful effort TO
devise any apply real remedies; an eff
loEt which so far succeeded because il
was made not only with reSolute pur-
pose and determination. but also in a
spirit OF common sense and Justice. as
ler removed as possible from rancor.
hysteria, and unworthy demagogic an
peal. In the same spirit the laws will
continue 10 be enforced. Not only is
the legislation recently enacted effec
uTe, hut in my judgment it was i'm
practicable 10 attempt more Nothing
or value is to be attempted from
ccaseless agitation for radical and ex-
treme legislation. The people NAV
wisely. and with confidence. await the
results which are reasonably tc be ey
pected from the impartial enforcement
Of the laws which have recently been
placed upon the statute books. Legis-
lation of general and indiscriminate
character would be sure to fail. either
because it would involve all interests
m common ruin. or because il wouid
not really reach any evil We have
endeavored to provide n discriminat
ms adaptation of the remedy to the
real mischief
ALLEGED REMEDIES STOO DRASTIC
Many of the alleged remedies advo-
Gated are of the unpleasantly drastic
type which seeks to destroy the disease
by killing the patient Others are so
obviously futile that it is somewhat
difficult to treat them seriously or as
hninp nnrrnn In IL