Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-01-28
makers, both State and Federal.


large majority Of tho States have
passed laws defining monopolies and
seeking to prevent their formation,
and Congress- has likewise passed
anti.trust Legislation, but the subject
is 80 complex and information upon
which to base action so difficult to
obtain, that the tendency towards
Capitalization of wealth and combi-
nations is becoming more and more
marked each year.
eIn this State we have constitu-
tional article giving to the General
Assembly the power to enact laws
to prevent trusts, combinations, etc.,
and to provide penalties to the ex-
tent, If necessary for that purpose, of
the forfeiture of the franchises, and
in 1897 an act was passed carrying
ont the provisions of this article.
This act being deemed defective and
not far-reaching by the Attorney
General, at the last session of the
General Assembly, another act was
passed, amendatory in its nature,
and going nearer to the root Of the
trouble. Power was also given to
the Attorney General to secure testi-
mony, and it is to be hoped that this
legislation will be found sufficient to
protect the interests of the people
from oppression by combined capi-
tai. If not, it is thereby the duty
of the General Assembly to amend
our laws upon this subject from time
to time as the necessities of the case
may demand. With a view always
to give to capital all of it's legal privi-
leges, and to restrict in no way inno-
cent associations among our citizens
and yet to see that corporations, to
which it has given life and clothed
with great powers, use these powers
for the betterment and not to the
detriment of the masses of the peo-
pie.
CHILD LABOR.
"There has been considerable dis
cussion throughout the State during
the past few years in regard to the
employment of children in our textile
mills, and upon several occasions
bills forbidding their employment
have been introduced in the General
Assembly, but have failed of passage.
This is one of those questions which
will not be settled until it is rightly
settled and the civilization of to-day
regards such employment of children,
no matter how favorable the condi-
tions may be, as an evil and one
which is a menace to the future of
our State. In my judgment the
General Assembly should pass law
prohibiting their employment, but
in doing 30 time should be given for
both manufacturers and operatives
to adjust themselves to changed con-
ditions. This can be done by MAX.
ing the prohibition to take effect
gradually with respect to the ages of
the children. 1t is certain in this
question that conflicting interests
are involved. Under these oircum-
stances, the rights of all parties con-
cerned should be carefully considered
and just and equitable adjustment,
after full and generous discussions,
will reveal that, to a great extent,
these apparently diverse interests
have much in common. Any radical
or sudden change would inevitably
work hardship upon the interests of
all concerned, which can and should
be avoided. The end is the good of
all concerned, and this should be
borne in mind.
81 am unwilling, however, to see
any children of our State deprived
for time of educational advantages,
and this fact, it seems to me, de.
serves to be carefully borne in mind
in legislation upon this question. For
older children not to be affected by
any proposed law, nigbA school
should be arranged, if possible. Ad-
vantages would thus be given to a
certain extent, at least, and oppor-
tunities would be placed within the
reach of those who are in earnest in
their desire to receive an education.
THE DIsPENsARY LAW.
GAS Governor of South Carolina
it is my solemn duty to see that all
of the laws of our State are always
and everywhere enforced. For many
reasons it is best to emphasize this.
Where the dispensary will be con-
cerned the laws upon our statute
books will be enforced. 1t is the
duty of all law.abiding citizens to
give that same obedience to this law
which they give to others. In the
discharge of my duties / shall recog-