Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-02-18
Sends Message to the Legs
lature.
IN ACCORD WITH PLATFORM
Urges Amendment Of Antitrust
Law Of --907-Give Attorney Gen
eral Adequate Opportunities.

After q brief introduction Of the
the Governor says: ian
has been placed before the
in the press, that the present
Iaw cannot be enforced, though moth
ing was suggested to strengthen OF
render the law enforceable. l con-
ceive that whatever difficulty exists,
is largely in the machinery for its
enforcement. Two years ago many
able legislators thoroughly consider
ed antitrust legislation. All realiz-
ed the difficulty of the States coping
with the evil against which their eff
forts were aimed. A bill was con
sidered,. which BY its supporters was
thought the best that could be devils
ed. It became a law in all its es-
sential features save one
He quotes from the. last Demo-
cratic platform these words:
"Private monopolies should be de-
stroyed. Conspiracies by prospective
purchasers to put down Or keep down
the prices Of articles produced by the
labor Of others, should be made GRIM
inal, and all persons or corporations
entering into such conspiracies should
be punished"
The Governor says the opportunity
has come to nuke such conspiracies
criminal and to prescribe punishment
for such c~opspirators.
"Failure to make such conspiracies
criminal can be justified only in case
it can be clearly demonstrated that
the convention was wrong in adopting
such a platform.
"A mere statement Of the PROPOSE
ton that a conspiracy by purchasers
to put down the price Of an article
produced by the labor Of others, is
wrong, is SO clear and convincing IN
its simplicity, that it would seem idle
to argue its justice to any American
legislative body. Every community
which produces mere than its people
! consume, must suffer the oppression
that comes from any artificial de-
preston Of the price Of its products.
A community producing peanuts, cot
ton, tobacco, wheat, lumber, or other
article in excess of it's ofn consump-
ton Of such article, its unjustly de-
prived Of material wealth, hindered
in its industrial development, weaken
! ed in it's revenues, injured in its edu-
%cational progress, and crippled in all
its social life, by conspiracy of men
or corporation, which puts down the
price Of such article. The universally
acknowledged principle Of self de-
Tense, applicable to States Is indivi.
duals, would destroy a conspiracy sc
damaging in its effect and so genera,
in its blight. The duty of repressina
wrong and protecting those who can
not protect themselves, requires thu
law makers to put the whole power o.
the State against such conspiracies.
therefore recommend that the Genera
Assembly comply with that declara
ton, because it is right and ought t.
be the law, and because the dominan
party is pledged to its enactment
and I also recommend that the put
ting down or keeping down by pul
chasers Of the prices Of articles pre-
, duced by the labor of others, in pul
! suance of such conspiracy, be mad
criminal.
Assuming, as I do assume, ths
: the General Assemble will amend tt
law in accordance with the specif
platform utterances. I recommen
t that the Attorney General be give
g the power and charged with the du'
to institute action, civil or crimins
|, in the Superior Courts of this Sta
q in Wake county. or in any other cou
/ ty of his selection, in any and
cases Of violation Of any of u AM
q trust laws, Dr. any , amendments
d them. Where such laws are violat
IS most, it may be difficult to have ST
cessful prosecutions, on account
a the fear and favor which the wron
N doors inspire and exert in the co
" munity.
ct m of the opinion that after p
H. fecting, as far as possible, our an
n trust laws, declaring the offenses a
" prescribing the penalties, it IS j
portant and even essential, to con.
upon the Attorney General the dl
Of undertaking its enforcement, q
- Of selecting the venue subject to
ell power of the court to removal in
'al discretion, for proper cause and
10 giving him every proper authority
of securing evidence, including the &C
M pulsory production Of books and
an pers, the examination of witnes
60 prior to trial, and all other pow
ar appropriate to the full discharge
TX, duty in the faithful execution of
lng law. Respectfully submitted,
w. w. KITCHIN, Governo,
ENGLISH PORK PIE.