The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-07-30

policies.
Roos~veit's High standard.
Mr.. Roosevelt has set high the
| sta ndard Of business morality and
obedience TO Law. The railroad rate
bin vas more useful possibly in the
Immediate moral effect Of lis passage
than even in the legal effect OF it's
very useful provisions. From It's en-
actment dates the voluntary aband-
onment OF the practice Of rebates and
Determinations by the railroads and
the return By their managers To obe-
dIence 10 Law in the fixing OF tariffs
The pure food and meat inspection
laws. and the prosecution directed
by the Presideny under the antitrust
Law have had a similar moral effect
in the general business community
and have made IL now the common
practice for the great Industrial cor
porauons TO consult the law with a
view to keeping within It's provisions
Ii has also had the effect of protect
ing and encouraging smaller competi-
tive companies SO that they have
been enabled to do a profitable busi-
ness
But We should be blind 10 the ordi-
nary working of human nature IL We
did not recognize that the moral
standard set by President Roosevelt
will not continue to be observed by
those whom cupidity and desire for
financial power may tempt, unless
the requisite machinery is introduced
into law which shall in its practical
and secure the country against a de-
parture from them.
Will Continue RoOseyeIt's Policies.
The chief function of the next ad-
ministration, in my judgment, Is dis
tinct from, and a progressive deyel-
opment of that which has been per-
formed by President Roosevelt. The
chief function of the next admins
tration is to complete and perfect
the machinery by which these stand
ards may be maintained, by which
the lawbreakers may be promptly re-
strained and punished, but which
shall operate with sufficient accuracy
and dispatch to interfere with legiti-
mate business as little as possible.
Under the present rate bill, and un-
der all its amendments, the burden
of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in supervising and regulat-
ing the pOreatiOn of the railroads of
this country has grown so heavy that
it is utterly impossible for that tri-
bunal to hear and dispose, in any
reasonable time, of the many COM
plants, queries, and issues that are
brought before 1t for decision. 1t
ought to be relieved of it's jurisdic-
ton as an executive, directing body,
and its functions should be limited
to the quasi-judicial investigation of
complaints by individuals and by a
department of the Government
charged with the executive business
of supervising the operation of rail-
ways.
II is agreeable to note in this re-
gard that the Republican platform
expressly and the Democratic plat
form impliedly, approve an amend
ment to the Interstate Commerce
law, by which interstate railroads
may make useful traffic agreements
if approved by the commission. This
has been strongly recommended by
President Roosevelt and will make
for the benefit of the business.
Difference Between Two Platforms.
The chief difference between the
Republican and the Democratic plat
forms is the difference which has
heretofore been seen between the
polit les, of Mr.. Roosevelt and those
which have been advocated by the
Democratic candidate, Mr.. Bryan.
Mr.. Roosevelt's policies have been
progressive and regulative, Mr..
Bryan's destructive. Mr. Roosevelt
has favored regulation of the busi-
ness in which evils have grown up
so as to stamp out the evils and per-
NIT the business to continue. The
tendency of Mr.. Bryan's proposals
have generally been destructive of
the business with respect to which he
is demanding reform.
The combination of capital in large
plants to manufacture goods with the
greatest economy is just as necessary
as the assembling of the parts of a
machine to the economical and more
rapid manufacture of what in old
times was made by hand. The Gov
ernment should not interfere with
one any more than the other, and
when such aggregations of capital
are legitimate and are properly con-
trolled, for they are then the natural
results of modern enterprise and are
beneficial to the public. In the prop
er operation of competition the pub
lie will 500 share with the manufae-
turer the advantage in economy of
operation and lower prices.
Defines the Trusts.
When, however, such combinations
are not based on any economic prin-
ciples but are made merely for the
purpose of controlling the market, to
maintain or raise prices, restrict out
| put and drive out competitors, the
public derives no benefit and we have
a monopoly. Competition in a prof
liable business will not be affected by
| the mere aggregation of many exist
ing plants under one company, un-
| less the company thereby effects