The Lamar register., 1905-10-04
What We Need

Referring to the reformatory re-
suits achieved by one man in st.
Louis and the state OF Missouri gen.
erally-the man who began his great
work ss local prosecuting attorney
and has continued it as governor OF
q great commonwealth-the Indian
spolis News remarks that Feature
of the highest value in this attain
ment is that nothing has been neces-
sary to it but an honest man. No
new law, no new machinery, or sP-
purtenances. The same regulations,
the same provision for the enforce.
ment, have existed that exist, and
yet the difference in results is total"
And further, the News pertinently
submits that this great example
"well enforces the doctrine that what
We need is not more law, but enforce
msnt OF the law we have; and that
what we need to this end is not more
power, but simply honesty and the
courage of honesty in the executive"
It occurs to the Post that all this is
quite as applicable to national as to
state and municipal affairs. 1t has
happened more than once that the
national government has vsinly
sought for authority that it already
possessed; has tsmely submitted to
practices condemned by statutes in
the belief that it had not sufficient
power under the constitution to en-
force the statutory demands.
The most striking illustration Of
this was the long rest that was CIV
on to the anti trust law. While that
act laid dormant year after year dur
ing the period of greatest antitrust
excitement, statesmen and politicians
talked Of the assumed necessity OF
An impossible amendment OF the
fundamental law. Among those who
indulged in that Respondent talk
were President Roosevelt and Mr..
Bryan. Following the hint Of Bryan
. democratic representative offered
an antitrust amendment in the house
of representatives. A few weeks
later the representative voted with
all his political brethren in the house
AS he and they were bound to do
against substantially the same
proposition, which was reported from
the Judiciary committee and, in a
grandstand play, put through the
house for bunoombe, to be promptly
and properly laid to it's last sleep in
the senate.
But, even after that, the familiar
talk of an antitrust amendment was
revived, and echoes of it were heard
in the land until Attorney General
Knox, in a memorable address de-
livered in Pittsburg, declared that
there was law enough available to
bring to book any and all combins-
tions in restraint Of trade or tratic.
How thoroughly he demonstrated
the truth of that declaration before
the United States supreme court
need not be retold, for it is fresh in
public memory, and will not be for
gotten by this generation.
Is it not much more than possible
that we are repeating, in relation to
the railway rate and kindred ques-
tions, the experience Of seeking ad-
ditional law when existing laws are
sufficientY This view has been pre-
sented and supported by arguments
that have not been fully refuted.
Would it not be we'll. at any rate, to
demonstrate the insufiiciency OF
available means for curing railway
abuses before insisting on legisl alton
that has very little sincere support
among conservative citizens of either
of the two leading parties in any Sec
ton Of the Unionf
Why not find ont if "what we need
is not more law, but enforcement OF
the law we haysw-Washington
Post.