The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1909-11-23
DEATH BLOW TO THE STANDARD
OIL COMPANY.
There il a considerable contingent

the conclusion that the trusts and
mergers which have grown up among
us during the last thirty or forty
years are merely natural develop
ments, necessary means of handling
in the most scientific and successful
manner the extensive lines of bust
ness of which they have gained con
troll. Whether these are right or
wrong as a matter of economics, 1t
is quite clear. from the far-reaching
decision in the Standard Oil case,
that their theory can not work out
successfully under our present con-
stitution. According to the holding
of the court, the power to compete
is to be maintained in this country,
even as a necessary means of pre-
serving the integrity of our institu-
tons and the freedom of the people.
OF course the decision rendered by
the circuit court is not conclusive, as
an appeal lies to the supreme court;
but the unanimity Of he judges, the
absolute c~learLesS and s~oundness OF
! the governments contention, leave
little or no doubt as to the final re-
suit. The supreme court is quite sure
10 affirm the decision of the lower
court, or if it is reversed it will be
upon some error that can be correct
ed without materially changing the
main result. The decision means not
only tina combinations in restraint
of trade are TO be destroyed, but
that monopolies are not to be toler-
! ated in this country.
1t is greatly to the credit Of Texas
that the issue that had arisen be
tween the people on the n hand
and the dangerous power of monopo-
lies on the other was first fought out
and effectively disposed of in TINS
state. AS a result of this decision
there is scarcely any doubt that the
Standard Oil company is now to be
dissolved and denied authority to do
| business in the United States under
its present organization just as it
! has been previously deprived of that
privilege in Texas. But it g not
follow that business on a large scale
should not be transacted in this
country, or that We should necessarl-
" be compelled to return to the days
of small enterprises only. II ought
TO be possible, and the News believes
- - J.; x,Aalth1n for 1arpD nppIp-
gates of capital, managed by capable
and far-sighted men to do business
in this countty in a perfectly legltl-
mate way and without violating the
laws or ruthlessly destroying com
petitors. 1t ought to be possible and
permissible to reap the advantages
and savings thai large capital and
skilful organization naturally afford,
and. instead Of depressing the people
by means of such advantages, to ac-
tually give the people a share OF the
benefits. This is the problem that
will loom up after the smoke of bat
tie is blown away, and to the soiu-
ton OF this problem our legislatures
and congress should promptly de
vote their attention.
Industrially W. are in a state OF
transition from a period Of ruthless
warfare. wherein the crudest kind
of selfishness knows no limit, to a
time when a more enlightened self
ishness will compel large commercial
and industrial organizations to take
into account not only the rights and
feelings Of their competitors and
customers, but also the most elelnen-
tary facts of human nature, and the
court decisions of both Texas and
Missouri will have greatly aceeler-
ated the advent of that time. The
country does not want less business,
but more business. The people do
not desire to discourage industry,
but want to encourage enterprise.
But what the people want and Will
have is that business and enterprise
should be conducted in such a way
as TO give equal opportunity to all in
the exercise of their talents and the
use of their money.-DailaS News,