The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-13
Gov. Stubs Avoids 'Sugar-Coated''
Words in Talking About the Trusts

Oiate the antitrust law by cnlnbtn-
ing for the purpose Of advancing
freight rates, and through their un-
lawful acts enormously to increase the
cost Of transportation to the AmerI-
can people. III the railroads are thus
permitted to violate the federal laws
with impunity, I'm broad day light,
and thereby increase their profits mil
lions Of dollars per annum, what I'm
centive has any citizen to respect the
law, when he can increase his income
by breaking II?
THE amount Of tax money collect
ed by the British empire from the
American colonists, without repre-
sentation, probably would not amount
to ] per cent Of the tribute and ex-
tortion which the consuming American
public are now compelled TO pay to
illegal combinations, trusts and mono-
poles every year. The honor, man
hood and moral character OF our re-
public are involved I'm the relation OF
the federal government to this mon
strous condition, which offends every
sense of Justice deoency and NOR
ality.
I'VE have passed beyond the stage
where self-respecting public officials
can barter and dicker and compromise
with law breakers rich or poor, high
or low, great or small, on the theory
that the rigid enforcement of law,
without fear or favor, win injure BUSH
ness.
The relation Of the federal govern
ment to these unlawful commercial
institutions organized for purposes OF
spolis and plumber is one of the most
humiliating and disgraceful chapters
I'm American history. The plain duty
and task set for this generation is to
establish once and forever the SUI
premacy Of law and It's power to con-
troll organized corporations, firms or
individuals who directly or indirectly
form combinations and restraint Of
trade. and thereby destroy free COM
petition and equal opportunity in the
commerce of the nation.
THE Sherman antitrust law pro-
vides that a combination in restraint
of trade is a crime punishable by fine
or Imprisonment Or both. The Judge
on the bench who insists on holding
the corporation responsible for vlo-
lation or law, and, not being able TO
send the corporation to prison, as
sesses a fine against it as punishment
for robbing the public of thousands of
millions of dollars, through illegal
combinations in restraint Of trade. and
discharges the officers who get the
money and are the real criminals in
the case, is wholly unfit to occupy
so responsible a public Office.
Il do not in any sense share the
opinion sometimes expressed that the
official acts Of judge are too sacred
to be criticized. No citizen OF this
republic occupies more honorable or
desirable position than just Judge
who honors his office. But there is
no more disreputable citizen than the
unjust Judge who brings discredit and
disgrace to the office that should be
held sacred and used solely for the pur-
pose netting out justice TO all kinds
and classes of persons.
"a judge belonging to the last nam
ed class is and ought to be a proper
subject for public criticism, and he
ought to be publicly branded. so that
he could be forever after identified"
Governor Stubs strongly opposed
appointment Of or election Of judges
for a life term; urged an income tax
law; a mandatory law providing
prison sentence for persons OF officers
OF corporations who are responsible
for unlawful combinations In restraint
of trade and also providing a receiver
shall operate such corporations until
assurance is given they will obey the
law. When congress enacts these
laws and they are rigidly enforced. ex-
tortions injustice and commercial cruel-
ty OF monopolies will be placed on
the same basis as other crimes and
will be no more respectable in the
community" said Governor Stubs.
The speaker favored the develop
ment Of the Mississippi. Missouri and
Ohio rivers, and declared that "the
American people are being robbed
every year of enough money by unlaw-
full combinations, trusts and mono
poles to build this entire work.