The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-12
Use The MastIc
6. '. B0CACkI,

the interstate commerce law, and in
 creating the Department of Commerce
 and Labor, with a Bureau of Corpora tions, have for the first time opened chance for the National Government to deal intelligently and adequately with the questions affecting society, whether for good or evil, because of the accu- mutation of capital in great corpora
 tions, and because of the new relations caused thereby.
 These laws are now being adminis-
 tered with entire efficiency; and as. in
 their working, need is shown for
 amendment or addition to them.-
 whether better to secure the proper publicity, or better to guarantee the rights of shippers. or in any other di- rection-this need will be met. It Is now asserted that the common law, as developed, affords a complete legal remedy against monopolies." But there is no common law of the United
 States. Its rules can be enforced only by the State courts and officers. No
 Federal court or officer could take any action whatever under them.
 It was this fact, coupled with the in- ability of the states to control trusts and monopolies, which led to the pas sage of the Federal statutes known az the Sherman antitrust act and the in l. terstate commerce act: and 1t Is only through the exercise of the powers con- ferred by these acts, and by the stat
 utes of the last Congress supplement- ing them, that the National Govern ment acquires any jurisdiction over the subject. To say that action against trusts and monopolies should be limited to the application of the common law is equivalent to saying that the Ma tlonal Government should take no ac- ton whatever to regulate them. The Republicans Immaculate. Undoubtedly, the multiplication of trusts and their increase in power has been largely due to the failure of offl cials charged with the duty of enforce ing the law to take the necessary pro cedure." Such stricture upon the fail ure of the officials of the National Gov ernment to do their duty in this matter is certainly not wholly undeserved as far as the Administration preceding President McKinley's is concerned; but
 1t has no application at all to Republi- can Administration. It is alsosnndoubt- edly true that what Is most needed Is
 officials having both the disposition and the courage to enforce existing law"
 This is precisely the need that has been met by the consistent and stead- fly continued action of the Department of Justice under the present Adminis tration.
 So far as the rights of the individual wage worker and the individual capi- talist are concerned. both as regards one another as regards the public. and as regards organized capital and labor,
 the position of the Administration has been so clear that there Is no excuse for misrepresenting 1t. and no ground for opposing 1t unless misrepresented. Within the limits defined bX the Ma
 tional Constitution the National Ad-
 ministration has sought to secure to each man the full enjoyment of his right to live his life and dispose of his
 property and his labor as he deems best, so long as he wrongs no one else. It | has shown in effective fashion that fin endeavoring to make good this guaran- tee, 1t treats all men, rich or poor.
 whatever their creed, their color, or 1 their birth place. as standing alike be fore the law.
 Careful ana NFoaar.te