The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-02

power that sometimes makes one tremble.
The personnel OF the commission becomes.
therefore. as important as that of our
highest courts. The responsibility of the
Executive in the appointment of the
commissioners is heavy one A trend
or bias OF mind on the part OF a member
is dangerous The judicial quality OF each
should be fine.
We have said to the railways and their
stockholders, We cannot trust TO COM
petition and We cannot trust 10 you the
fixing OF proper rates" Having created a
tribunal with power 10 settle what rates
are just. it should be borne in mind that
the public welfare and the whole business
interest OF the country may be injured
quite as much by injustice TO the railways
as the result OF an unwise clamor for low
rates, as by the imposition OF extortionate
rates. Ii is not without significance in
this connection that employees and wage
earners of railways are to-day associat-
ing themselves together for the purpose
Of using their Influence to prevent injus-
tice to their employers by oppressive
legislation or oppressive regulation under
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Progress L. shown.
Fifteen years ags the general control OF
legislatures by corporate influence and
corruption was far greater than 1t is to-
day. The crusade initiated by Mr.. Roose-
welt and carried on during his term OF
office has resulted, first. in arousing the
entire community 20 the necessity for re-
form, and, second. in inducing many cor
poration managers 10 abandon methods
that were questionable and to leave poll
itics 10 other hands
1t was impossible TO arouse the people
TO just Indignation at corrupt corporate
control through machine and boss rule
without having such movement acquire
an impetus that carries il to extreme
views, and the electorate is now search
ing for reform procedure under which
bosses cannot live, machines can never
control, and corruption can never exert
influence. Hence. We have movements to
eliminate the middeman In politics. and
TO give popular sentiment more immedi-
ate effect In government than perhaps
would have been thought wise by our
fathers
The existence Of such a popular impulse
ought to rejoice every patriot with the
hope that twill be turned 10 a useful
and permanent betterment of our politics.
But however effective these suggested
changes may prove at first. / venture
TO say that no great permanent good can
come from them alone unless they are
accompanied by a change in the indi-
vidual voter. and his awakening 10 the
necessity for constant watchfulness and
effort on his part TO prevent the old evils
from appearing in a new guise.
Every one will now admit that the Sher-
n,an antitrust law. passed twenty years
ago, and si9ce subjected to a great deal
OF judicial construction. Is effective for
the purpose of breaking up combinations
that result in the suppression of compe-
t.don and the establishment of monop-
olies.
The:e are pending two cases in the Su-
preme Court which. it is hoped. will throw
still greater light on the subject. making
even clearer than they are to-day the
lines between legitimate and illegitimate
business. II has been thought that those
decisions, If adverse TO the corporations,
would greatly disturb financial centers.
would halt general business, and would
bring on financial disaster do not share
these fears.
have proposed TO Congress in this con-