The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-02

will compel the disclosure by each big corporation of iss stock holders \ and of it's properties and tusiness, whether owned directly or through subsidiary or affiliated corporations.
 "This will tend to put a stop to the securing of inordinate profits by ia vored individuals at the expense of either of the general public. the stockholders. or the wage workers. Our effort should be not 50 much to prevent cancellations as such, but so to supervise and control 1t as to see that it results in no harm to the people.
 "In enacting and enforcing such legislation as this Congress already has to it's credit. we are working on a coherent plan. with a steady ende- avor to secure the needed reforms by the joint action of the moderate men. the plain men who do not wish any thing historically dangerous, uutwho do intend to deal in resolu.e common sense fashion with the real and great evils of the present system
 'eThe reactionaries and the violent extremists show symptoms of joining hands with us. Both assert. for in- stance. that If radical we should go to government ownership of rail- roads and the like. the reactionaries because of srch m issue they think the people would stand with them while the extremists care re her to preach discontent and agitation than that to achieve solid results.
 .As a matter of fact, our positi'e, is as remote from that of a Bourbon reactionary as from that of the inn- practicable or sinister visionary. We hold that the government should not conduct the business of the nation. bur that 1t should exercise such su- pervision as will insure its being com ducted in the interest of the nation. Our aim Is. so far as may be. to se- cure for all decent, hard working men. equality of opportunity and equality of burden.
 "The actual working of our laws has shown that the effort to prohibit all combination. good or bad. is nox- ius where 1t Is not ineffective. Com bination of capital, like combination of labor. is a necessary element or our present industrial system. It Is not possible completely to prevent 1t; and if it were possible, such com plete prevention would do damage to the body polite.
 Good Combinations and Bad.
 What we need is not vainIy to try to prevent all combination. but to secure such rigorous and adequate control and supervision of the com binations as to prevent their injuring the public or existing In such form as inevitably to threaten injury--for the mere fact that a combination has secured practically complete control of a necessity of life would under any circumstances show that such com bination was to be presumed to pc ayerse to the public interest.
 .It is unfortunate that our present laws should forbid all combinations | instead of sharply discriminating be- l tween those combinations which do good and those combinations which oo evil. Rebates, for instance. are as often due to the pressure or DIE shinpers Gas was shown in tbe inves- l tipatfon of the Standard OH Company l ana which has been shown since py I inc investigation of the tobacco and sugar trusts) as to the Initiative ol big railroads. ,. .o ,o,, | bine for the purpose of preventing hip shipper from maintaining inn nroner advantages at the expense oi smaIi shippers and of the general
 nnnIic Such a combination, instead of heinz forbidden by law. should De | savored. Tn other words. it should | h. nermitted to railroads to make
 ~ ssrsements. provided these agree ynents were sanctioned by the Inter state Commerce Commission ana were nnhlished, With these conditions l complied with, 1t Is impossible to zee l what harm such a combination couio l So to the public at large.
 sr -Iou1s LEADING HOTEL. l xuh.n in st Louis stop at the Planfers ! uassi vou'it meet your friends there. s-m-w