Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-09-10
BRYAN ON TRUSTS
DISPELS IDEA THAT HE is ENE'
MY OF INDUSTRY.
Democratic Candidate Logically Out
Lines His Policy for Regulation Of
Big corporations-PIan Both
Definite and Practical.

In fulfillment of his plan of elab-
Grating and interpreting the various
planks of the Democratic platform,
Mr.. Bryan chose the trust question
for his subject at the Kern notiflca-
ton proceedings at Indianapolis. 1t
is one of the most elusive of themes,
as it is one of the most veXatious 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 at 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 a trust as a "cor-
pOration which controls so large a
proportion of the total quantity Of
any article used in this country as to
be able to regulate the price and
terms of sale" is probably as good as
any of the others, ever if made to fit
the platform declaration. 1t was also
made clear that the fixing of rs per
cent. of the output of an article as the
proportion of control which makes
necessary a federal license vas an
arbitrary proceeding and so per cent.
as the forbidden point beyond which
control may not pass was equally ar
bitrary. To 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, Is and 40 per
cent, or 35 and SO per cent, would
be as good. 1t is an insignificant
matter.
The point is that where the extent
of a business passes a certain line it
ceases to be a matter of private con-
Germ; it becomes a matter of public
concern for the very simple reason
that the interests of the public are
paramount. Beyond this point, what
ever it is, there must be federal reg
ulation and supervision. Beyond an
other point even such regulation ant
supervision promises no protection
against the power and ~financia
strength involved. Government itselt
may be smaller than the corporation
which would control more than so pei
| cent. of some commodities.
} Mr.. Taft's idea Of u to in
junctive process, when necessary
may be in greater harmony with lega
theories than the fixing by law of ar
bitrary lines, but it leaves opening
| too large. Experience with the eff
l cacy of the injunctiye process has no
been satisfying. and Mr.. Roosevelt
: experience in trying to free his part.
from trust domination is fruitful il
indications pointing to failure of tn,
Taft remedy.
With Mr.. Bryan's elucidation O
4 these points as the basis of the Den
4 ocratic program for trust regulation
S the remainder is a matter of detail
e designed to contribute to the affair
0 ment of the one end-namely, the re
G tention of the benefits that come fror
the perfecting of organization an
economics under combination withou
f seriously impairing competition o
curtailing those equal opportunities es
o sential to the development of individt
Il alism.
@ Compared to the vague and decor
tive demand of the Republicans TO
e more laws" and the amendment Q
existing laws" the Democratic pla
n has the merit of being definite and al
6 parently both practical and practice
~ Bile. 1t certainly would insure I'm
@ formity of treatment and admit tn
+ playing of no favorites.-St. Louis RI
public.