River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-09-17
CURTAILMENT OF PRODUCTION
What Would be the Effect of Bryan's
Plan for Curbing the Trusts?

Plan for Curbing the TrustsP
Now comes the suggestion that, by
law, the operations of corporation
shall be so curtailed that to the whole
output it shall not contribute more than
so per cent Those who have neither
the time nor the inclination to so below
the surface of things may acquiesce,
but even they may not.
Presume a machine to be invented
and presume its promoters, not only to
establish a plant for it's manufacture,
but to be fortunate to the extent that
the use of the continuance becomes gem
eral. AT the start they make the whole
output. Then comes a rival, beginning
by producing % per cent. Down swoops
the government, compelling contrac-
ton by the pioneer.
What is the result? 1t is to reduce
the total production, though the de-
mand for the machine may be greater
than the supply. The pioneer plant
cuts off so per cent in obedience to gov
ermental mandate, and it's rival makes
good but half of the deficiency. OF
course, there are what may be called
secondary effects, and they ensue imme-
diately.
Presume the first plant to have cost
two millions and to employ 1000 men.
No sooner is the second plant estab-
lished than 1000 men are thrown out
of work, and property represented by
million is converted into an Industrial
junk shop. The author of this brilliant
idea suggests that the company sell
what it becomes illegal to use.
This is equally brilliant. 1t may
take the entire plant to produce one
machine, of which there may be many
parts. In that event, compliance with
law can come only by discharging 1000
men or by keeping 1000 at work on
half time. Nor does the proposition
emanate from an occupant of home
for the predetermined.
1t comes from the Democratic candi-
date for the Presidency. 1t comes from
mental machinery which enjoys a mo-
nopoly Of that sort of thing. OF this
machinery the aggregate output is
large, but no effort has been made to
restrict it. One Of the choicest of its
products is that monopolies be exter-
minated. This is a pet thunderbolt-
but Mr.. Bryan has the crudest notions
as to- it's significance. He seems to
think that in some mysterious way it
would benefit the ''plain people"
A big corporation produces on big
scale. Exterminate it, and it stops.
Corporations become big for reasons
economists have no trouble in compre-
hending. They do things by wholesale.
And part of what they save remains in
the pocket of the consumer, who would
otherwise have to pay far more for his
purchase.
Mr.. Bryan says he would dissolve,
destroy, obiterate, extirpate, eXter-
inmate. Sometimes. he says, kill. lie
finds fault with Mr.. Taft because he
will make no use of these terms or Of
synonyms for them. Well, the Repub-
lican candidate for the Presidency has
not lost his mind. He is not formulat-
ing a policy Of destruction He knows
that evolution from the little to the
big was not only inevitable, but bene-
ficent.
In defamation the Nebraskan is eff
fective and impressive; in elaboration,
in detail in what are called specifica-
tions. he is out Of his element. To ask
him to be exact is to suggest that he
clip his own wings. The only known
equivalent for his Democracy is De-
struction.-Brooklyn Eagle.