The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-05
nairisets Eagle
M. M. MURDOCH, Editor.
OKLAHOMA AS THE STAR OF EMPIRE.

OKLAHOMA AS THE STAR OF EMPIRE.
The newer the civilization the higher ideals and
attainments The conservatism the este perpetual of the
older Atlantic states laughed to scorn by the peoples Oh
the newer west The light OF the empire ilumn-
ates the west its shadows trailing ever and only west
ward Were the uptodate dominant in the affairs
of this country did hold the majority of the con
gress and federal courts brains and not money would
rule; virtue, combines, flourish perennlally Inc
trouble is now that in attempting legally grasp com
bine of any sort greater less number OF congress
men or other legislators found be caught and that
really righteous verdict is to hit the presiding
Judges By just so much as Kansas Nebraska and the
newer states of the west lead the Atlantic common
weahs by just so Oklahoma promise to lead
the balance the When comes to enterprise ana
innovations the Oklahoman stops at nothing.
The Oklahoma legislature, in session, while wait
ing to see whether would be waste of time to pass
laws Of general nature in view of the probability OF
losing their status in statehood have been en-
ployng it seems time determining what new Things
might be done the general good of their constituents
and what in the way the old should be avoided So
among other things the president of the council Mr.
Alexander has introduced antitrust bill which in
scope and design is drastic beyond anything ever
dreamed of by congress. With fear of adverse inter
preations by superior for const
tutiona bubbles reported precedens only mindful OF
tba rights interests and demands of those who
sutions and institute courts Alexanders bill takes aim
at ell the trusts mergers and combines and lets both
barrels The measure takes cognzance Of all lumber and
oil mill pools, of all harvest machinery and farm nipple
ment combinations only but takes surveillance OF
trades unions strike organizations and every other com
bne company conspiracy seeking to control either the
supply or price of anything, including labor
This bill which said to have been drafted by an ex
perenced able corporation lawyer, and which consists
of about two words said to have been formed
with reference to provisions of the constitution of the
United States and to demands and privileges of the
oganc act creating the trritory of Oklahoma and with
reference also to decisions of courts of
record This bill buntly defines trust to be con-
spiracy whenever it works restraint of trade directly
or indirectly prices of commodities, in
other way limits or embarrasses open competition. That
is the commonest good hard sense understood by
everybody quibbling lawyers, subsidized legislators.
eauvocatng judges and sophisticated courts excepted
The penalty of this up-todate starofempre measure.
now pending in the Oklahoma council carries penalty
of equitable and proportions $4,000 in money
and a round term in prison
This bill which hope may become law, both
present test and pointer, is long quote
in full in this connection But goes for every
conceivable species of the octopus whether foreign inter-
local and one whether he be agent, officer
stakeholder man, exempt from testfying to
knows, because such evidence might incrimnate
such witness The aim is to corral with fine and to
entire caboodle, where guilty 1t soaks
railway management $4,000 per day for fixing rebate
discriminating in any to destroy competition
Even an tgent for any trust combine is liable TO
$1,000 fine and a year in Jail
If this bill should be enacted into law and later should
be be good law, Oklahoma will have solved the
problem which has puzzlng statesmen for years
which has promoted demagogues, in untold numbers
paying positions problem only involving the
welfare of this entire country but
which has been threatening the status of citizenship
itself.