Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-12

and toward the wage-workers in their en-
ploy.
Under the present laws we have in the
last four years accomplished much that Is
OF substantial value; but the difficulties In
the way have been so great as to prove that
further legislation is advisable. Many cor
poretions show themselves honorably desir-
Gus to obey the law; but, unfortunately,
some corporations, and very wealthy ones
at that, exhaust every effort which can be
suggested by the highest ability, or secured
by the most lavish expenditure OF money,
to defeat the purposes OF the laws on the
Not only the men in control of these cor
porations, but the business world generally,
ought to realize that such conduct is in
every way perilous, and constitutes men
ace to the nation generally, and especially
to the people Of great property.
Big stick L. shaken.
earnestly believe that this is true of
only a relatively small portion of the very
rich men' engaged in handling the largest
tude OF these comparatively few men does
undoubtedly harm the country, and above
all harm the men Of large means, by the
Just but sometimes misguided, popular in
dignatiOn to which II gives rise. The con-
solidatio n the form of what are popularity
called trusts of corporate interests OF inns
mense value has tended to produce unfair
restraints OF trade OF an oppressive char
aCter, and these unfair restraints tend 10
create great artificial monopolies, The vio-
lations OF the law known as the antitrust
law, which was meant 20 meet the condi-
lions thus arising, have more and more be-
the very ones against whose policy OF mo-
nopoly and oppression the policy Of the law
was chiefly directed. Many OF these COM
blnatiOns by secret methods and by pro-
tracted litigation are still unwisely seeking
TO avoid the consequences of their illegal
action. The government has very properly
exercised moderation In attempting to en-
force the criminal provisions OF the statute
but II has become our conviction that IN
some cases, such as that OF at least certain
n hackers TpgpntlV In
Chicago, II is impossible longer TO show
leniency. Moreover, II the existing law
proves TO be inadequate, so that under es-
tablished rules Of evidence clear violations
may not be readily proved. defiance OF the
law must inevitably lead to further legisla-
than I would prefer. II so, II must be dis,
tinctly understood that II will be because
OF the stubborn determination of some OF
the great combinations in striving TO pre-
vent the enforcement OF the law as II
stands, by every device, legal and Illegal
, the alternative is simply between submit
ting TO the mild kind OF governmental con-
troll We advocate and the absolute freedom
to do whatever they think best. They are
greatly IN error. Either they will have Il
submit to reasonable supervision and regu.
lation by the national authorities, or else
they will ultimately have TO submit TO gov
ernmental action OF a far more drastic
type. Personally, / think our people would
be most unwise II they let any eXasperatior
due TO the acts OF certain great corpora.
tons drive them into drastic action, and
should oppose such action. But the great
corporations are themselves TO blame ii by
their opposition TO what Is legal and Just
they foster the popular feeling which tells
for such drastic action.
Clog wheels of Justice.
Some great corporations resort to every
technical eNpedient 70 render enforcement
OF the law impossible. and their obstructive
tactics and refusal TO acquiesce In the
policy Of the law have taxed 20 the utmost
! the machinery Of the Department OF Jus
tice. In my Judgment congress may well