Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-06
Laws Against Combinations.

"A NUMBER or statutes nave Deen pass
ed in the states against combinations or
conspiracies to restrain trade, to suppress
competition, or to maintain prices, and
there has been sometimes an attempt to
insert in such statutes a proviso or
section exempting farmers or other class
es from the operation of the statute, so
as to enable the exempt classes to corner
products and raise prices while no other
class In the community can do so. The
Supreme Court Of the United States has
held that such a law gives an undue
privilege to particular class in the COM
munity, creates an unjust exemption from
the operation Of a useful law, denies the
equal protection of the laws, violates the
Constitution. and Is invalid.
Again, the federal antitrust law has
been held by the Supreme Court to de-
nounce combinations, to obstruct or re-
strain interstate trade, and to prohibit,
therefore, Illegal boycott to injure the in
terstate trade OF any persons. At the
last session Of Congress, in an appropria-
ton bill. some 100000 was appropriated
for the enforcement of the antitrust law.
To this appropriation an amendment was
proposed providing that no part of the
S2OOJO00 should be used in the proSecu-
ton of working men engaged i'm a boy
colt in violation Of the statute.
Defeated in the House.
That is not the way the amendment
read, but that was its necessary effect.
majority of the House, after a heated
discussion, rejected the amendment on
the ground that II was vicious class legis-
lation. As matter of fact. the money
thus previously appropriated TO enforce
the antitrust law had never been used
for the prosecution of workingmen en-
gagged in such a boycott, because there
was no occasion for such use, and in all
probability the QDnrOnria ted
will never be used for such a purpose
But IL was the proper viewsof the ma
jority, who voted against the amendment,
that on principle such a class exemption
or privilege should not be declared and
approved in a statute of the government
Il have not the slightest expectation
that the money will ever be used for any
thing but the prosecution of corporations
and business firms engaged In combna-
lions in restraint of trade: but TO tie the
hands Of the executive against an I'M
lawful combination OF vorkin gmen or or
any other men, IL such combination ex-
listed, and thus make any group a privi-
legged class OF iawbreakers. is neither
justice nor wisdom nor good statesman
ship.
Defends His Position.
But It is said that am not consistent
because proposed to the last Congress
that interstate railroad companies be per-
mitted to make temporary agreements.
lasting for thirty days and fixing uniform
rates for traffic between the same places,
and 10 this extent be exempted from the
operation of the antitrust law It was
said, with great FEASIBILITY, You are
opposed TO exempting- workingmen from
the operation of such a law, but you IA
vor the exemption Of railroad companies
The answer Is that interstate railroads
are restricted much more closely and are
under much more minute observation by
the provisions Of the interstate commerce
law than they can possibly be under the
antitrust law.
The President explained at length the
| workings of the interstate commerce
| law, and in conclusion said:
Glass Laws Not Needed.
This is all very important TO you and
| to me and to every American who wishes
the prosperity of the American working
men to rest on enduring foundations.
| Failure to think clearly and logically on
| this subject OF special privilege breeds
only discussions among men who are
natural allies. Farmers and workingmen.
YOU need no special privilege. Do not
| try TO secure II. On the other hand, be
vatchful to prevent any class I'm the
community from securing IL. Let us
unite our common energies and working
in harmony with the spirit of our Fed
eral Constitution and our democratic
ideals. let US all. irrespective of party,
maintain and better the social and eco
nomic conditions of all classes of our
federal men,.