The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-11
constitutes a menace to the nation gen

constitutes q menaceeto the nation gen
erall y, and especially to the people of
great property. - ".' So ~.
~ earnestly believe that this is true
OF only a relatively small portion of
the very rich men engaged, in handling
the largest corporations in the country;
put the attitude Of these comparatively
few men does undoubtedly harm the
country, and above all harm the men
OF large means, by the just, but some
times misguided, popular Indignation TO
which it gives rise. The consolidation
in the form Of what are popularity called
trusts of corporate interests of immense
value has tended to produce unfair, re-
stralnts OF trade of an oppressive char
acter, and these unfair restraints tend
to create great artificial monopolies.
1.-The violations Of the law known as
| the antitrust law, which was meant to
meet the conditions thus arising, have
| more and more become confined to the
larger combinations, the very ones
oppression the policy of the, law was
chiefly directed. Many of these com
protracted litigation are still unwisely
seeking to avoid the consequences Of
their illegal action.
1.-The government has very properly
|
statute; but it has become our con-
viction that in some cases, such as that
of at least certain of the beef packers
recently indicted in Chicago, it is i'm
possible longer to show leniency.
"Moreover, if the existing law
proves to be inadequate, so that under
established rules of evidence clear vio-
cations may not be readily proved, de;
fiance of the law must inevitably lead
to further legislation. This legislation
may be more drastic than I would pre-
fer. If so, it must be distinctly under
stood that it will be because of the
stubborn determination of some of the
great combinations in striving to pre-
vent the enforcement of the law as it
stands, by every device, legal and
illegal. 49,
think that the alternative is simply
between submitting to the mild kind of
governmental control we advocate and
the absolute freedom to do whatever
they think best. They are greatly in
error. Either they will have to submit
to reasonable supervision and regula.
ton by the national authorities, or else
they will ultimately have to submit to
governmental action of a far more
drastic type. ,,
Personally, I think our people
evaporation due to the acts of certain
great corporations drive them into
drastic action, and I should oppose
such action. But the great corporations
are themselves to blame if by thei1
opposition to what is legal and Just
they foster the popular feeling which
tells for such drastic action.
II believe that all corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce should bt
under the supervision of the nationa
government. I do not believe in taking
steps hastily or rashly, and it may bl
} that all that is necessary in the imme
} date future is to pass an interstate
!, commerce bill comforting upon som.
branch of the executive government tn,
power of effective action to remedy tn,
abuses in connection with railwa,
transportation. But in the end, and il
my Judgment at time not very far off
we shall have to, or at least we shall
, find that we ought to, take further &C
, ton as regards all corporations dom.
interstate business. The enormous in
J crease in interstate trade, resultin,
} from the industrial development Of tn
} last quarter Of a century, makes i
proper that the federal government
} should, so far as may be necessary t
: carry into effect its national policy
assume a degree Of administrative con
) troll Of these great corporations.
It may well be that we shall fin
3 that the only effective way of exercis
ing this supervision is to require al
! corporations engaged in interstate CON
merce to produce proof satisfa ctory, say