The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-29
SEN. CULLOM ON TRUSTS
Recent Decision Means Tha: Re-
straint Of Trade Must Stop.
"No Longer Can Trusts Evnd" LAW
Declares the Author or tho later
staie Commerce Eili.

Washington. D. C.-In discussing the
recent opinion in the Northern Secrri-
ties case. Senator Cullom. who was
for many years Chairman OF the Sch.
ate Interstate Commerce Committee
and author Of the bill creating the In
tcrstate Commerce Commission. said:
"TEe decision handed down by the
United States Court Of Appeals In
the Northern Securities case was nm
important victory for the Government
and for the President. who Snve In.
structions TO institute the prosecution.
Its far.reaching effect will not be fnlly
appreciated by the people until the
opinion has been carefully studied and
Is thoroughly understood.
"The decision means that the Gov.
ernment can control and suppress
every kind OF trust which restraints
trade. One nilroad In not prevented
from acquiring another lire for the
purpose Of extending Its system. nut
parallel roads are prohibited from
consolidating so SIS to destroy compe'
tition.
The most important feature OF tho
decision Is that rich and poor must
be accorded the same treatment. Pow.
erful corporations cannot hereafter
employ high salarled counsel to assist
them in evading the law. That time
has passed forever. 1t has always
been my contention that the laws on
the statute books were ample to per.
nit the control OF unlawful corpora.
tions by the Government. The der!.
sion In the ;;orthcrn Securities case
is merely vigorous enforcement OF
the laws which have been In existence
for years.
individuals may hereafter enter The
commercial field without fear Of ex.
tinction by the trusts. This will lie
possible. since 1t Is clearly demon
strated that the Government hns full
power to deal with the trusts. During
recent years the great combinations
have driven individuals out Of busi.
ness. The wealth Of the country has
been concentrated In the hands OF ths
few. As q result Of this concentration
men Of limited capital have refused to
enter the commercial field. as many
industries were absolutely controlled
by the trusts. The decision handed
down by the Court OF Appeals vii!
make It possible for these men to In.
vest their money and establish new
Industries. the Government suppress.
Ing such trusts as to prevent competi'
ton.
II hope the decision will he sustained
by the United States Supreme Court
New conditions vii! then follow. A
large number Of small concerns will
spring into existence. there will he
return 10 the conditions before so
many men were compelled to abandon
their own business enterprises md
work for the larger corporations on
salaries. This will result from the
knowledge that the Government pro.
poses to proaecute unlawful combina'
tions and alike protect the rich. the
weli-to-do and the poor.
There will now be n resumption OF
competition. and much idle capital will
he again invested. Prior to this deci
sion 1t was impossible to start new
concerns for the manufacture Of steel
or tobacco. because these industries
and many others were completely con.
trolled by the trusts and competition
was prevented"