The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1909-03-05


1t potentially u has the power raise prices though
it does not actually do
The hurtful thing is not the combination itself its
Of the power control the price paid by the public The remedy
en should be sought the destruction of the combination b.
declaring unlawful limiting the power of the combination
to control prices
There should be some recognized relation between
production and the of profit limit should be the
of profit that be made Everything beyond equitable
upon capital invested should be treated usu and be
forbidden by law.
The exactons of money having by law why
not the usury of the trusts and combines?
course difficult questions Immediately arise When does
profit become usury Where is bounder legitimate
make low capital will be driven of business 1t just
here however that the efforts of Congress and the state legislatures
be hopefully applied That usuy business does exist
undoubted connected with business cob
that makes them harmful the public The remedy at
present adopted kill the Would it not be better to
limit his eSaction?
In the the United States prepared by Mr. J. c.
McRenods and Mr. Edwin Grosvenor special assistants to the
Attorney General the of the United States against the
Tobacco Company this occurred Congress
striking existing evil the destruction of competition by
powerful organizations and the resulting oppression of the public
Now he destruction of competition by powerful oganza-
ons be inevitable It probably the most characters
of the age which live and it represent
advanced position civilization reached by gradual process
evolution with which cope From the earliest dawn
of the nineteenth century up the present time there has been
every stage However dpore the result IN our
ignorance objects of bringing about why should
accept the situation rather than hope
less against itself? We may find ourselves the
position of the buffalo that tried stop the advance OF moving
railroad train by bung against with his horns Rairoadng
advanced prares and where the buffalo to-day? We
prevent destruction OF competition by powerful organza
tions
The resulting oppression of the public however IS another
matter and we hopefully seek remedy by legislative
their extorons; the Government will be obliged to take
possession of them and them the interests of the public There
appears be half way 1t mpraccabe to kill hem and
even permitted would be the interests OF the
nuny do the expense of returning to the old wastetu
system of competitive warfare.
producers combines have brought peace instead of
war; by establishing among them union of interests instead OF
opposition In the present stage of the evolution
however the be waged by the producers
efficient form of their organization against the
sunes the bulk OF the population Of the United
States
glance backward over history of the struggle will
these great and powerful organizations have stay
Why then should Congress and the state legislatures recognize
situation arrae between the opposing forces and disaTm the
lggresso by regulating and controlling the eNacons OF the trusts
and thus bring peace by peaceful method This surely would be
much safer policy than attempt paciy the country by the
wholesale execution the disturbers of the public peace
conclusion the following appear be the only practical
methods of dealing with trusts
1) Control by suitable legislation the OF profit they
AN legally receive from the public;
(2) Buy them and have the Government their business
of the people that the profits shall be reduced to
with running expenses This has been the
oan adopted with the Post Office business and socialism
o greater or less extent.
The former plan every way preferable but if long
opportunity have of establishing legislative con-
their exacton the continued advance power and in
possessed by these great corporations may ultimately compel
he people i'll sedefense adopt the alternative plan
The immediate problem the problem of control Destruction
the question: and Government ownership very doubt
u remedy to which there many objections.