The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-04-28

son far more effectively than any
mere preacher of unrest.
"A class of grievance left too
long without remedy, breeds class
consciousness and therefore class
resentment
STRENGTHEN ANTITRUST LAW
The strengthening of the antitrust
law is demanded upon both moral
and scientific grounds. Our purpose
in Strengthening ii is to secure more
effective control by the national gov
eminent over the business use of
the vast masses of individual and
especially of corporate wealth, which
at the present time mOnopoliZes most
OF the interstate business of the
country; and we believe the control
can. best be exercised by preventing
the growth OF abuses rather than
merely by trying to destroy them
when they have already grown. In
the higher sense of the word, this
movement for thorough control of
the business use of this great wealth
is conservative.We are trying to
steer a safe middle course, which
alone can save us from a plutocratic
class government on one hand, or
socialistic class government on the
other, either of which would be
fraught with disaster to aur free in
situations, state and notional. There
is grave danger to our free institu-
tons in the corrupting influence exer-
cised by great wealth suddenly con-
csatrated in the hands of the few.
We should in a sane manner try to
remedy this danger, in spite of the
sullen opposition OF these few very
powerful men and with the full pur-
pose TO protect them in all their
rights at the very time that We re-
quire them TO deal rightfully with
others.
When with steam and electricity
modern business conditions went
| through the astounding revolution
which in this country began over
half a century ago. there was at first
much hesitation as to what particu-
used to grapple with the new condi-
tions. At almost the same time.
about twenty years since. the effort
was made to control com binationS by
regulating them through the inter
state commerce commission to aoOl-
ish them by means of the antitrust
act, the two remedies therefore.
being in part actually Incompatible
The interstate commerce law has pro-
duced admirable results. especially
since it was strengthened by the
The antitrust law. though it work
ed some good, because anything is
better than anarchy and complete alb
Sence of regulation. nevertheless, has
proved in many respects not merely
inadequate but mischivous. Twenty
years ago. the misuse of corporate
power had produced almost every
conceivable form of abuse, and had
worked the sravest injury TO bust
| ness morality and the public con-
science. For a long time federal
regulation of interstate commerce
| had been purely negative, the ma
| tional judiciary merely sitting in iso-
| lated cases to restrain the state from
exercising a power which il was
clearly unconstitutional as well as I'M
wise for them TO exercise but winch
| nevertheless the national government
itself failed TO exercise Thus the
corporations monopolizins commerce
| made the law for themselves. state
power and common law being made
Quate to accomplish any effective
| legislation and the national power
| not vet having been put forth
The result was michievous in the
| extreme and only shOrt-sighted and
| utter failure TO appreciate the gross
ness of the evils to which the lack
| Of regulation gave rise. can excuse
| the Wellmeaning persons who now
| desire to abolish the antitrust law