Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-10-26

0Sy. Ansfs y. Cumnins, IN - inAug-
0A address January ~ De:
Il = sminsatly Appropriate uQon this
eccas1ea . review eoms OF the duties OF
sltis.a.An e rsami1 e. s ns,,e q .,, "a
and - again resolve 70 promote WITH cur
0tmost endsAvos the cause Of good Guy.
Wnneat Ths experiences OF the wofto
- q 1efs Salpfui in the solution Of The
oDSlsno o. states and nations than CON.
01aAe discussion OF the plans suggested
fns rseeI Z, sno s es 81 =, t ecmmcn
- - v1Datrictsc. TO sneer az the ioea
q ro11gm and TO deride the reformef: but
% sasess and dezision proceed estnes
0inl Reform and betterment IN laws are
q essential 20 the advance of the republic
. = TIE growth OF Iss industrial, hfA
tn osetrins q Reform.
sAsrsfoss aaks 10 apology for the -
1T tAAt many g The auestsons prn1cnnd-
- . % ~ The svcluSSon OF the Time have
IS ss sssa .1 !. 1se pr.dessss i.
Tor change upon the hypothesis that what
re hare = wholly bad and proposes 20
sv9tArov ra,her than 2 Gradual ap-
ek1msnt = Q superficial agitator, who
1eons knssK to defeat b. Ignoring the
e00dAm0tA law OF mankind The true
% asvs i good but perceives that Ne
enAy have better. He sees Life and energy
eAk0 On. from time 10 time. new forms
And phases; and he knows that govern-
1s.S 70 e Just and effective, must adapt
kself 70 the changing relations Of men
and he varying tendencies OF the aga
he understands that this generation has
&C. o.s s 2 % ,San e e so, ny
Industrial Combinations.
~ ra,xd Accommodation oS oea1.h ana
n unparalleled concentration we're the
distinguishing characteristics of the last
Decade Of the nineteenth century. These
eharActeristtcs have propounGel new In
Sutrs for government Investigation
The subject has. by common con-
sent, recstve6 . name which. though onoe
ting. Commercial combinations and indus
trial trusts have provoked much thought
Originally they were, as the names imply.
through Agreements controlling the busi-
oe0 OF tie several constituent parts. In
that sense they have Substantially disap-
Reared and there have been substituted
1or them Interpretations that have become
fAe absolute owners Of the property and
Sustnass affected By them ] shall not
eause 70 INQUIRE whether these vast in'
eneaion Of the independen, trader. mer
chant and manufacturer may ultimately
fmpak ths standard Of manhood 20 essen.
- % uoo tn1dtueaonS-
a 0epiorabie Tendency.
II us shah b IT. snec. we may de-
Depr0 the tendency; but II II BE- wholly
8ysreoma. Il Will not be through the pro-
9oree1tfals warning which changes the
6rfyu0 - the Norid and teaches hu.
naaAiU o avoid approaching danger.
% nok believe that the government can
safely deny the right Of association under
ostzbMshsd forms; nor am ready to
oooceds that Industrial organizations,
however large their capital or EXTENDED
0postituts . menace to the prosperity and
welfare Of the people. The motive which
Qnderhes the so-called trusts and COM
6lnatioos = APPARENT: II is the ordinary
With the belief that it can be more read
ny. surely and largely made in that man
0ef than by any other. do not criti-
oes the motive; for 1t Is the handspring
would be to paralyze the arm Of Industry
GAaal alike 70 ambition and Improvement
Destruction Of Competition.
The most manifest evil OF these tremen-
1ous aggregations ls their effect upon
oompettion. Competition Is the para
Ssry often does. destroy: but In my 5udg-
nent II must exist In full vigor II We do
bot desire the government to assume the
power Of liking the prices Of industrial
Gle corporation owned and controlled all
eA4 transportation facilities Of the United
States It would be absolutely necessary
Tor the government to prescribe and en-
force the rates for transportation service:
Il 70 equally clear that II q single corpor-
Atom controlled the manufacture Of the
important commodities required by mod
efn life. and the monopoly was likely TO
b long continued, II would be necessary
tor the government to fix tire price at
which such commodities should be sold
II cannot be successfully denied that ev-
cry consolidation. even though il does not
draw In al the products in which 1t deals
oAErows the field OF competition. There
nay be sharp and effective competition
With two competitors: It is. however, not
- likely With greater number.
The Direction Of Reform.
I have mentioned these things, not to
Indicate that ! think there Is a perfect
Romedy within our reach, for much must
D RENTED 70 the natural laws Of indivtd-
al Enterprise; but rather to point out the
lines along which interference il not only
permissible. but demanded First. the
motive to organize such corporations
o0uld Be. and should be, limited to the
Natural desire to make profit from tho
business in which the corporation IL to
Engage Ny observation leads me to be-
nsve that many Of the large industrial
eom0inations would not have been pro-
posed or affected had 1t not been for the
eSsrs could make stupendous fortunes in