The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-09-11
BRYAN ON TRUSTS
DiSPELS IDEA THAT HE is ENE
MY OF INDUSTRY.
Democratic Candidate Logically Out
Lines His Policy for Regulation Of
Big corporations--Plan Both
Definite and Practical.

In fulhllment of his plan Of elab.
Grating and interpreting the various
planks of the Democratic platform,
MIR. Bryan chose the trust question
for his subject at the Kern notlGca.
ton proceedings at Indianapolis. It
IL one OF the most elusive of themes,
AZ II Is one of the most yexatious of
problems. Mr.. Bryan succeeded in
dispelling the idea that he is the en-.
envy Of industry or the friend OF cen
tralization.
AS was the case al Des Moines,
where he handled the tariff question.
Mr.. BRYAN had again the tremendous
advantage of no embarrassing al.
liances. UNDERSTANDINGS or connections
with the forces for whose control and
regulation he argued. He left the
Democratic remedies for trust evils
more clearly understood and as log
ically placed as is possible without
practical test
His definition of trust as a "cor.
poration which controls so large n
any article used in this country as to
be able to regulate the price and
terms OF sale" is probably as good rs
any of the others. even If made to fit
the platform declaration. II was also
made clear that the fixing OF % per
cent. OF the outpat OF an article as the
proportion OF control which makes
necessary a federal license was an
arbitrary proceeding and 80 per cent.
as the forbidden point beyond which
control may not pass was equally ar.
bitrary. 70 deny the correctness OF
these figures is merely one way Of
avoiding discussion of the correctness
OF the principle involved. For pur.
poses Of illustration. 10 and 40 per
cent, or 30 and 60 per cent. would
be as good 1t is an insignificant
matter.
The poipt is that where the exte2;
Of business passes n certain line 1t
ceases TO be a matter Of private con.
Germ: 1t becomes a matter of public
concern for the very simple reason
that the interests of the public are
paramount. Beyond this point, what.
ever 1t is, there must be federal reg.
ulation and supervision. Beyond an.
other point even such regulation and
supervision promises no protection
against the power and financial
strength involved. Government itself
may be smaller than the corporation
which would control more than 80 per
cent. OF some commodities.
Mr. Taft's idea Of recourse to in.
1unctive process, when necessary,
may be In greater harmony with legal
theories than the fixing by law OF ar
bitrary lines. but II leaves openings
too large. Experience with the eff
cacy OF the injunctive process has not
been satisfying. and Mr.. Roosevelt's
experience in trying to free his party
from trust domination is fruitful in
indications pointing to failure OF the
Taft remedy.
With Mr.. Bryans calculation OF
these points as the basis of the Dem.
ocratic program for trust regulation.
the remainder Is matter Of detail
designed to contribute to the attain
ment OF the one end--namely. the re-
tention Of the benefits that come from
the perfecting Of organization and
economics under combination without
seriously impairlng competition or
curtailing those equal opportunities es. |
sentlal to the development Of individu. |
allsm.
Compared to the vague and decep-
tive demand Of the Republicans for |
more laws" and the amendment Of |
existing laws" the Democratic plan
has the merit of being definite and ap- |
parently both practical and practlca.
Bile. 1t certainly would insure uni. |
formity OF treatmen; and admit the
playing OF no fayorites.--St. Louis Re.
public,