The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-04-03


among farmers some OF these comhina-
tions are among the most powerful OF all
Instruments for wrongdoing- Others oner
the only effective way NJ meeting actual
business needs II is mischlcvous aud UNI
wholesome 20 keep upon the statute books
unmodincd "A law. like the antitrust law.
which. while In practice only partially
effective against vicious combinations.
has nevertheless in theory been construed
SO as swcepngly 10 prohibit every COM
huntion for the transaction OF modern
business. some real good has resulted
from this law. Eut the time has come
when Il Is impcra tive TO modify a.. such
sake OF the farmers.
Dangers 20 BE Avoided.
IL has now become uncertain how far
this law may involve an labor organiza-
tionS and farmers ORGANIZATIONS, as Well
as All business organizations In conflict
with the law, or, n We secure literal COM
phance with the law. how FAR 40 may re-
suit IA the destruction Of the organizst-
tons necessary Tor the transaction OF
modern business. as well as OF all Nhor
ORGANIZATIONS and farmers Organizations.
completely check the wise movement for
securing business cooperation among
farmers. and pat back half "a century the
progress ~ the movement for the better
mcnt OF labor A bli has been presented
IN the Congress 10 remedy this situation.
Some such measure as this bin IS needed
in the interest OF all engaged ia the in
dustries which are essential TO the coun-
trys' wellbeing do not pretend 60 say
and the suggestions ! have 10 oifer are
tentative. and my views would apply
equally 10 any other measure which would
achieve the desired end Bearing this In
mind. | would suggest. merely tentatively.
the following changes In the lav.
Actual Damages as Limit.
III no such prohibition was issued. the
contract would then only be liable 10 at
tack on the ground that IL constituted an
unreasonable restraint Of trade. When
ever the period Of fling had passed with
out any such prohibition. the contracts
or combinations could be dSapproVed or
forbidden only after notice and hearing
with a reasonable provision for summary
review on appeal by the courts. Labor
organizations. farmers organizations, and
other organizations not organized FOR pur-
poses OF profit should be allowed 10 reg
lister under the law by giving the location
Of the head office. the charter and by
laws. and the names ana addresses OF
their principal Officers. In the interest OF
all these organizations business. labor
and farmers organizations alike-the
present provision permitting the recovery
Of three fold damages should be abol-
ishcd and as a substitute therefor the
right OF recovery allowed for should be
only the damages su~'a:ped 10y the plain
tin and the cost Of suit including a rea-
sonahle attorneys fee.
The law should not affect pending suits:
a short statute OF limitations should be
provided so far as the past is concerned.
not 10 exceed a year Moreover. and even
business combinations. all such suits
brought for causes ~ action heretofore
occurred should be brought only II the
contract or combination complained OF
was unfair or unreasonable IL may be
well 10 remember that all OF the suits
hitherto brought by the Government un-
der the antitrust law have been In cases
where the combination or contract was
IN fact unfair unreasonable and against
the public interest.
Means TO Avoid Strikes.
II Is important that we should sncour-
age trade agreements between employer
a strike Is clumsy weapon for Fighting
wrongs done 10 labor and we should ex-
tend. SO far as possible the process Of
Cancellation and arbitration as n substi-
tute for strikes Moreover. violence dis
order and coercion. when committed In
connection with strikes. should be as
promptly and as sternly repressed as
when committed IN any other connection
But strikes themselves are. and should be-
recognized 10 be entirely legal Combi-
nations of workingmen, have n peculiar
reason for their existence. The very
wealthy individual employer. and stll
more the very wealthy corpora tion. sta nd
at an enormous advantage when com
pared 10 the individual workingman: and
while there are many cases whore Il may
not be necessary for laborers to form q
union. in many other cases II Is indspen-
sable. for otherwise the thousands OF
small units. the thousands Of Individual
NOlhlUAIlFHs Will DE ltlN Dt4IAfNS III tIltir
dealings with the one big unit the big
individual or corporate employer
The business man must be protected IN
person and property. and so must the
farmer and the wagcworker. and as re-
CARDS all alike the right Of peaceful COM
bination for all lawful purposes should be
explicitly recognized.
Union But No Boycott
The right OF employers 10 combine ana
contract with one another and with their
employees should be explicitly recognized
and 50 should the right OF the employees
20 combine and to contract with one an
other and with the employers and 10 seek
p-aaceahly TO persuade others 10 accent
their views and 20 strike for the purpose
OF peaceably obtaining from employers
satisfa Glory terms for their labor. Noth.
ing should be done 20 legalize either n
blacklist or a boycott that would be iile-
gal at common law. this being the type OF
boycott defined and condemned by the
Anthracite Strike Commission.
The question o. financial legislation Is
now receiving such attention In both
houses that we have a right 20 expect
action before the close OF the session II
is urgently necessary that there SHOULD be
such action. Moreover. action should be
taken 10 establish postal savings banks
These postal savings banks arc inpera-
lively needed for the benefit 81 the wage
workers and men OF small means. and will
be valuable adjunct 10 our whole hnan-
cial system
The time has come when we should pre-
should he. and indeed must be. preceded
by careful investigation II is peculiarly
the province OF the Congress and not or
the President and indeed peculiarly the
province Of the House Of Representatives
TO organize a tariff bin and 20 determine
upon its terms: and this ! fully realize
Remove Wood Pulp Duty.
] am OF the opinion. however that one
change in the tariff could with advantage
he made forthwith Our forests need ev-
cry protection. and one method of pro-
tecting them would be 10 put upon the
free list wood pulp. with CORRESPONDING
reduction upon paper made from wood
pulp. when they come from any country
that does not put an export duty upon
them.
Ample provision should be made for n
permanent Waterways Commission. with
whatever power Is required 10 make II ef-
fective
Numerous bills granting water mower
rights on navigahle streams have hoen in
troduced. None Of them give the Govern
ncnt tho right 10 make reasnna bic
charge for the valuable privileges 60
granted. I'm spite 81 the fact that these
water power privileges are equivalent 10
many thousa nds Of acres 81 the best coal
lands for their production 81 power Nor
Is any definite time limit set as should
always be done IN such cases I shall he
obliged hereafter IN accordance with tho
policy stated In recent message. 70 veto
any water power bin which docs not pro-
vide for time limit and for the right az
the President or Of the Secretary con
A.