The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-31

the Democrats has enabled the champions Of
the trusts to tsunt him with following Dem
ocratic leadership. He has probably gone
ss far he could without incurring the
hostility of the loaders Of his party.
The trouble is TINT the Republican party is
not In position 20 apply Effective and
thorough going reforms because il has built
up through special legislation the very
abuses which needed to be eradioa.ed.
Definition of Trust Needed.
Before any Intelligent action can be taken
| against the trusts We must have a definition
| of trust. Because corporation has an
absolute and complete monopoly OF any i'm
| portant product, the apologlsts for tho trusts
insist there are in reality trusts, Others
Insist That it is impossible to legslate
against such trusts as may exist without
purpose of this discussion, it is sufacien.
10 draw the limo at the point whero com.
petition ceases TO be effective and to desis-
nate as trust any corporation which con
| trolls 40 much Of the production Of any arti.
| Gle that IL can fix the terms and conditions
| OF sale,
Legislation which prevents a monopoly not
only does not niure legitimate business, but
actually protects legitimate business from in
jury. We are indebted to the younger Rookie
ieller for an illustration which makes this
distinction clear, In defending the trust sys-
tenn hc is quoted saying that. as tho
American beauty cannot be brought to per-
fection without pinching off ninety -nine buds
80 that the one hundredth bud can receive the
full strength OF tho bush, great Industrial
organizations are impossible without the
elimination OF the smaller ones. 1t is cruel
curate picture Of trust methods. The Demo
cratic party champions the cause Of the
| ninety-nine enterprises which are menaced-
they must not be sacrificed that ono great
combine may flourish aud when the subject
lis understood shall receive the cordial
support Of hundreds OF thousands OF business
men who have themselves felt the oppres-
sion OF the trusts OF who. having observed
the effect OF the trusts upon others, realize
that their safety lies not in futile attempt at
tho restraint OF trusts, but in legislation
which will make private monopoly inpos-
sible
There must be no mistaking an issue and
no confusion Of the line of battle. The trust
as institution will have few open defend
ers. Tho policy Of the trust msgnates will be
TO insist upon 'Teasonabls legislation, and
rupt legislatures and intimidate executives
TO prevent the application OF any remedies
which would interfere with the trusts. Our
so.5o %uss sad Ss0Poy is e.
attack must contemplate the total and COM
plete overthrow OF the industry. We need
not quarrel remedies. We must show
ourselves willing 10 support any remedy
which promises substantial advantage TO tho
people in their warfare against monopoly,
Something is TO be expected from the enforce
mont OF the criminal clause OF the Sherman
antitrust law, but this law must be enforced
not against few trusts. SIS mt present, but
against all trusts, and the aim must be 10
fine. What is \ fine of thousand dollars
or even ten thousand dollars. 10 a trust
which makes hundred Thousand dollars
while the trial is in progressi II the criminal
clause is not good TO be enforced il ought TO
bo repealed. II imprisonment is TOO severe
q punishment for the cminently respectable
gentlemen who rob eighty millions of people
OF hundreds OF millions OF dollars annually
tho language of the statute ought TO be
changed, for nothing j; more more calculated to
law against rich criminals while ii is rigidly
enforced against petty offenders.
New Laws Needed.
But il is not sufficient to enforce existing
laws II ten corporations conspiring together |
in restraint OF trade are threatened with pun
ishment all they have to do is to dis
solve their separate corporations and turn |
their property over to a new corporation The |
new corporation can proceed TO do the Same |
thing that the separate corporations attempt |
ed, and yet not violate the law. We need, |
therefore, new legislation, and the Republican |
party not only fails TO enact such legslstion,
but fails even TO provide. The Democratic
party must be prepared to propose and |
efficient legislation.
Recent Investigations have brough, to light |
that nearly all crookedness revealed in the
management of our large corporations has ,
been due to the duplication OF directorates. |
A group OF men organized or obtained control
OF several corporations doing business with |
each other, and then proceeded TO swindle
the stockholders OF the various corporations
for which they acted No man can serve two
masters, and the director who attempts to do
will fail, no nstter how much money he
makes before his failure is discovered. Many
OF the trusts control prices by the same
methods. The same group Of men secure con-
troll of several competing corporations, and
the management is thus consolidated. IL is
worth while to consider whether blow may
not be struck at the trusts by a law Masking
IL illegal for the same person TO act as di-
rector or officer OF two corporations which
deal with each other or engaged in the
Same general business.
A Still more far resching remedy was
proposed by the Democratic platform, OF
1000, namely. the requiring OF corporations
70 take out Federal license before engag-
ing in interstate commerce. This remedy
is simple. easily applied and comprehensive.
The requiring of license would not en-
barrass legitimate corporations-it would
scarcely inconvenience thsm-whle il would
confpe the predatory corporations TO the
State Of their origin. JUST license 20
sell liquor leaves the possessor OF the license
to sell only in accordance with the laws
of the State in which he resides, so a cor
poration license granted by q Federal com
mission would not interfere with the right
of each State 70 regulate foreign corporations
doing business within its borders. II corpo-
IA tions we're required TO take Federal IL
censA the Federal Government could then