The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-03-25
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
,csa,lnu.a from FIRST page,

tcenttnsed from First FageD
interest OF the public. the business use
OF the enormous agsregations OF cor
porate wealth that are 80 marked a
feature OF the modern industrial world.
hut the present antitrust law. In It's
construc ton and working, has eAem-
piihed, only too well tho kind Of leg
islation which. under the guise OF be-
ing thorough going. h drawn up In
sach sweeping form as TO become
either ineffective or else mischievous.
In the modern Industrial world com
binations are absolutely necessary; they
they are necessary among laboring
men. they are becoming more and more
necessary among farmers some OF
these combinations are among the
most powerful of all instruments for
wrongdoing. Others offer the only ef-
fective way OF meeting actual business
needs. It is mischievous and unwhole-
some 70 keep upon the statute books
law. which. while I'm practice only par
TALLY effective against vicious COM
binations, has nevertheless In theory
prohibit every combination for the
transaction OF modern business. Some
ieal good has resulted from this
law. But the time has come when II
is Imperative TO modify II. Such moui-
fication is urgently needed for the sake
OF the business men OF the country. for
the sake of the wage workers, and Tor
can not AFFORD 10 leave II on the statute
books In its present shape.
IL has now become uncertain how
far this law may involve all labor or
ganizattons and farmers organizations,
as well as all business organi cations.
I'm conflict with the law. or. IL We Sc
cure literal compliance with the law.
how far IL may result In the destruc-
tion OF the organizations necessary
for the transaction OF modern busi-
ness, as well as OF all labor crganiza-
tions and farmers organizations, COM
pletely check the wise movement for
securing business cooperation among
farmers, and put back half century
the progress OF the movement for the
Setteffneut- of labor.
Proposes some Changes.
A bill has been presented In the
congress TO remedy the situation.
would suggest. merely tentatively, the
The substantive part or tho anti
trust law should remain AS at pres
emit; that IS. every contract In re-
straint OF trade or commerce amor 8
the several states or with foreign ma
tions should continue TO be declared
illegal: provided, however, that some
proper governmental authority tsuch
acting under the secretary OF con-
merce and iabor) be allowed to pass on
any such contracts.
Probably the best method NJ provid-
Ing TOT THIS WOufu DC 10 cHatt tldt any
contract. subject TO the prohibition
contained In the antitrust law, into
which IL was desired 20 enter, might
be filed with the bureau OF corpora
tions or other appropriate executive
body. This would provide publicity.
Within, say, sixty days OF the nllng-
which period could he extended by or
der OF the department whenever for
any reason II did not give the. depart
ment sufficient time for a thorough
executive depart
ment having power. might forbid the
contract, which would then become
subject TO the provisions of the anti
trust law, if at all In restrain OF trade.
II no such prohibition was issued.
the contract would then only be liable
TO attack on the ground that II con-
stituted an unreasonable restraint OF
trade Whenever the period OF fling
had passed without any such prohibit
ton. the contracts or combinations
could be disapprovcd or forbidden cDly
after notice and hearing with a rea-
sonable provision for summary review
on appeal by the courts. Labor Or
ganizations, farmers organizations,
and ether organizations not organized
for purposes of proflt. should be al