The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-01-02
TRUST-BUSTING
What Governor Johnson Thinks
On the Subject
EXECUTIVE HAS IDEAS
iiiRneseta's Governor Writes a
Strong Article in Which Vala-
able Suggestions Are Made

Governor John A Johnson OF
minnesota, has written letter on
Trust Busting for publication in
Grit 1t contains many valuable
suggestions relative to this important
matter. Here it is:
There is a story of the small boy
who, when told by his father that
the Creator can do anything asked:
We'll, if God can do anything, can
He make a rock so big He can't lift
it?'
somewhat in the manner of this
small boy, the people of the United
States recently have questioned seri-
ousiy whether the State in creating
the corporation has not made a rock
bigger than it can lift
As corporations are necessary and
undoubtedly represent the highest
form of organization developed by
civilization for the adequate opera
ton of industries, theree can be no
serious thought of attempting by a
process Of enforced disintegration,
that would destroy the vast and use
ful economic machinery built up in
the mast quarter of century. to cor
rect the existing conditions of which
complaint is made.
Obedience TO law is the prime
requisite for the elimination of pres
ent day evils resulting from misuse
of the vast power possessed by rich
corporations, and to the extent that
the State and National governments
have compelled obedience to law prog
ress has been made in the direction in
which public opinion on this general
subject trends.
The interests of the people as
whole, demand that corrective meas
ur,es-to be found in Legislative modi-;
fication and amplification of existing
laws and enactment of new statutes
as need arises-be applied, and that
obedience to the law be enforced with
determination and strictest impartl-
a!ity. Some progress toward the
adoption OF such policy of govern
mental administration has been made,
but the greater part of the work re-
mains to be done.
Without steady, clear-sighted and
patriotic devotion to this cause on the
part of the servants of the public,
great harm to the interests, of the
ordinary citizen. who lives on a sal
AIRY or depends for his livelihood up
on a comparatively small independent
enterprise. must lcok TO the ballet
box for assurance that this devotion
to his interests Will be the dominant
influence in government.
Positive results achieved by the
National government in its efforts to
enforce the laws relating to trusts
and corporations have been few
Even the most spectacular of these
efforts-that which resulted in Judge
Lands imposing fine of twenty
nine and odd millions of dollars on
the Standard Oil company-in itself
may prove of small value to the peo-
ple. except as it may exert persu-
asiye influence upon potential Offend
ers.
The dissolution of the Northern Sc
curities company, hailed as epoch
making, has proved to be but the
shadow and not the substance of vic
tory for the people.
The Federal Department of Justice
in this instance succeeded in its eff
fort to disrupt the offensive merger
of three artificial individuals in one
corporate whole This assemblage of
corporations was declared illegal and
the artificial family ostensibly was