New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-28

semagosue and visionary who teach this un-
ruth and even sterner upon those capitalists
S7o are in truth srasping and greedy and bru-
hIiy disregardful of the rights OF others. ana
sho by their actions teach the dreadful lesson
Tar more effectively than any mere preacher ~
arrest : class grievance left too long with
sut remedy breeds class consciousness ana
therefore class resentment.
The strengthening of the antitrust law is de-
handed upon both moral and economic grounds
DUR purpose in Strengthening ii is 10 secure NOR
effective control by the national government
over the business use of the vast masses OF m
iividual and especially OF corporate, WeaLth
which at the present time monopelize most 81
The interstate business OF the country anu We
believe the control can best be exercised by pre-
renting the growth Of abuses, rather IMAM iiieiF-
" by trying TO destroy them ~heh theS 1at
already grown. In the highest sense OF me
r-ord this movement for thorough control OF 1ile
business use of this great wealth is CONSERVATIVE
We are irving TO steer a safe mldule Coui
which alone can save from putocrduc
,lass government on the one hand, or a soCldl
n hich would he fraught with disaster 70 oui
rec institutions state and national We are
irving 10 avoid alike the evils which would nov
from government ownership OF the pupiiC -
lies by which interstate commerce II cilieis
carried on and the evils which now from 1, tIie
-iot and chaos OF unrestricted lnulN "a
rbere IS grave danger TO our free institutions IN
he corruptine influence exercised pH
,,ealrh Suddenly concentrated IN the halluS oi
r. fayr We should in sane manner try TO
-arnedy this danger in spite Of the sulleh oppr,-
,itjon of these very powerful men ana MI
he full purpose 10 HIoASNA h4-oA
-irbfs Al the very time that require them TO
seal richtfully with others.
REGULATION OF COMBINATIONS,
Whom with steam and electricity modern bust
aess conditions went through the astounding
evolution which in this country began Over
7aIf a century ago. there was at nrSl AluC!i
hesitation as TO what particular governments
agency should be used to grapple with the ne"
conditions At almost the same 1Il5e' ,o,1t
.wenty years since. the effort was made to con-
rol combinations by regulating them tlIoUtil
he Interstate Commerce Commission anu ~
abolish them by means OF 'le an1i-li - -
10 two remedies therefore being in part NUT
lally incompatible The interstate CoI- tLei ~
-, ~ PRODUCED admirable results especially
.ince il was strengthened by the Hepburn lAN
NO years ago. The antitrust law though II
worked some good. because anything Is ptttF'
han anarchy and complete absence OF Iesula
Jon nevertheless has proved IN many rTSle 1.
lot ,ne~ely inadequate. but mlschleIouS- IWeIlS
.ears ago the misuse Of corporate poNtI nag
produced almost every concelNaple ioilI -
abuse and had worked the gfaNeSI INJURY 10
business morality and the pubhc c9Ilstlt !t
For long time federal regulation OF h4'ei So,
.orr7,rerce had been purely negative the natlohaI
judiciary merely acting IN Isolated cases 10
- - lr.sta from exercising power which II
as clearly 1lncorsTitUtioral as Well as UNIV iSe 10y
hem 10 exercise. but which nevertheless the Ia
innal government itself failed 70 exercise mus
h.. corporations monopoizing commerce lhaue
he Law for themselves. state power ana coIi-
non law being Inadequate To accomplish any
effective regulation, and the nti"iif'i i''NtI 10
get having been put forth me result VIZ S,.s
-fievoIls in the extreme and only sh"rJSleh1e'i
- ,,tta- failure 10 appreciate the groSsnesS OF
~. oils 20 which the lack Of regulation gave
Sc an excuse the well meaning persons VINO
.n,- desire 10 abolish the antitrust law our
-ir77- or 10 amend II by simply concerning u"-
-easana BILE combinations
Power should unquestionably be lodged some
u-lara in the executive branch OF the govern
7,s,,- 10 hermit combinations which VIII 1uTIAet
me I.uilic interest: but il must always De re-
7lernhered that. regards the great ana
r-ealrfy com limitations through which most OF
he Interstate business OF to-day Is done IT,
aI,r,jerI Of proof should he them to show th2t
rhe1 have a right to exist. No JudlClaI ulbuIldl
nss IN. know ledge or the experience TO deter
mine in the first place whether a given cofhol-
nation il adviss BILE necessary in the interest,"
If The Public Some body. whether q commits
sion or a bureau under the Department Of Com
nlerce and Labor should be given this power:
My personal belief is that ultimately we shai
7ave 10 adopt rational Incorporation law
though / ana We'll aware that this may he I'M
possible At present over the actions OF the eX-
actltive body in which the power is placed the
courts should possess merely power Of review
analogous that obtaining in connection with
the work Of the Interstate Commerce COmmlS-
sion al present. To confer this power would not
BE- a leap in the dark il would merely be 10
larry still further the theory Of effective gov
=rnnental control Of corporations which was re-
sDonsible for the creation of the Interstate Com
1lerce Commission and for the enlargement of
Is powers. and for the creation OF the bureau Of
corpora tons. The interstate commerce legtsla-
ion has worked admirably II has benefited the
public: It has benefited honestly managed and
act that the business OF the country has enor-