The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-29

LIE DALI LAM
very small percentage of all engaged in
interstate business
Mr.. RooseveIt's Proposed Classified
tion.
With such classification in view, Mr.
roosevelt recommended an amendment to
the antitrust law known as the Hepburn
bill. which provided for voluntary CLASH
ncation and created a strong motive
therefor by granting immunity from pros
ecufion for reasonable restraint of inter
state trade to all corporations which
would register and submit themselves to
the publicity regulations of the depart
ment OF commerce and labor.
The Democratic Proposed Classified
ton.
The Democratic platform suggests a re-
quirement that our interstate trade hav-
ing control of % per cent of the products
in which they deal shall take out a fed
eral license. This classification would
PROBABLY include a great many small cor
special articles commodities whose to-
tai value is SO inconsiderable that they
are not really within the purview or
sphere of the antitrust law. 1t is not now
necessary, however, to discuss the rela-
tive merits of such proposition, but 1t Is
enough merely to affirm the necessity
for some method by which greater execu-
tive supervision can be. given to the fed
eral government over these businesses in
which there is temptation to violations
OF the antitrust law.
Construction of Antitrust Law
Possible Necessity for Amendment.
The possible operation of the antitrust
law under existing rulings of the SUI
preme court has given rise to suggestions
necessary
It's application to cases which it Is be-
lieved were never in the contemplation
OF the trainers Of the statute. Take two
instances:
A merchant or manufacturer engaged In
legitimate business that covers certain
states wishes to sell his business and his
good will. and so in the terms of the sale
oblgates himself to the purchase not to
go into the same business in those states.
Such restraint of trade has always
been enforced at common law. Again
the employees of an interstate railway
combine and enter upon peaceable and
lawful strikA to secure better wages. At
common la this was not restraint of
trade or commerce or violation Of the
rights of the company or Of the public.
Neither case ought to be made VIOLA
ton of the antitrust law. My own i'm
preston is that the supreme court would
hold that neither of these instances are
within its inhibition. but IL they are to be
SO regarded general legislation amending
the law is necessary.
Democratic Plank to Limit Corpora
tion to Ownership Of Fifty Per
Cent Of the Plant and Product
Faulty.
The suggestion of the Democratic plat
form that trusts be ended by forbiddng
corporations to hold more than 80 per cent
of the plant in any line of manufacture
Is made without regard to the possibility
of enforcement or the real evil In this
connection. corporation controlling As
or 30 per cent of the products may by
well known methods frequently affect mo-
nopoly and stamp out competition in any
part of the country as completely as If
controlling go or 20 per cent thereof
Compulsory Sale of Products at Fixed
Prices lmpracticable.
The proposal to compel corporations to
sell their commodities at the same price
the country over. allowing for transpor-
tatin is utterly impraeticable. If II can
be shown that in order to drive out COM
petition corporation owning large part
of the plant producing an article Is selling
in one part of the country where 1t has
competitors at low and Improbable
price. and in another part of the country
where it has none, at an exorbitant price.
this is evidence that 1t Is attempting an AN
lawful monopoly and tustifieS conviction
under the antitrust law; but the proposal
to supervise the business of corporations
in such way as to fix the price of COM
modities and complete the sale at such
price is as absurd and socialistic a plank
as was ever inserted in a Democratic
platform.
Difference Between Republican and
Democratic Policies and Plat
forms; Former Progressive and
Reoulative; Latter Radical and
Destructive.
The chief difference between the Repub-
lican and the Democratic platforms is the
difference which has heretofore been seen
between the pvicies of Mr.. Roosevelt and
Democratic candidate, Mr.. Bryan. Mr..
Roosevelts policies have been progress
sive and regulative; Mr.. Bryans destruc-
tive. Mr.. Roosevelt has favored regula-
ton of the business in which evils have
grown up to stamp out the evils
and permit the business to continue. The
tendency of Mr.. Bryan's proposals has
generally been destructive OF the bust
ness with respect to which he is de-
manding reform. Mr.. Roosevelt would
compel the trusts to conduct their bust
ness in a lawful manner and secure the
benefits of their operation and the MAIN
tenance of the prosperity of the country
of which they are an important part:
while Mr.. Bryan would eXtirpate and de-
stroy the entire business in order to stamp
out the evils which they have practiced.
Advantages of Combinations Of
Capital.
The combination of capital in large
plants to manufacture goods with the
greatest economy is just as necessary as
the assembling of the parts Of the ma
chine to the economical and more rapid