The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-10-03

make this effective, there have been
organized and maintained corrupt ma
chimes with both parties, which brook
the current of communication and re-
sponsive action between the people
and those who are elected to serve
and represent them.
Second: Combinations of capital in
industrial business, generally brought
together for the ostensible and COM
mendable purpose of reducing the
costs OF production and distribution,
have too often had the real purpose
of suppressing competition. controll-
ing prices and maintaining monopoly.
The natural resources of the nation
are now in the way of being conserved
for the people, who are the ultimate
owners Of such resources and ought
to remain So
Rebates Past.
Fifteen years ago one of the most
common forms If corporate abuse was
the management Of our railways in
the interest of favored individuals by
secret rebates. That day has passed.
Our new railway act goes much fur
ther and greatly increases the powers
and duties of the interstate commerce
commission. The discretion of the
commissioners. not Within judicial
control but by appeal is now very
wide and they have in their hands for
the weel or woe Of general business a
power that sometimes makes one
tremble. The responsibility of the eX-
ecutive in the appointment of the
commissioners is heavy one. A
trend or bias of mind on the part
of member is dangerous.
We have said to the railways and
their Stockholders: I'VE cannot trust
to competition, and can not trust to
you the fixing of proper rates." Hav-
ing created a tribunal with power
to settle what rates are just. it
should be borne in mind that the pub
lie welfare and the whole business
interest of the country MAJ be injur-
ed as much by injustice to the rail-
ways, as the result of an unwise
clamor for low rates =; by the i'm
position Of extortionate rates.
Fifteen years ago the general con-
troll of legislatures by corporate in
fluence and corruption was greater
than it is today. The crusade initial
ed by Mr.. Roosevelt and carried on
during his term of office resulted in
arousing the entire community to the
necessary reform. and second, in in
ducing many corporation managers
to abandon methods that were ques-
tionable and to leave politics in other
hands.
1t was impossible to arouse the peo-
pie to just Indignation at corrupt
corporate control through machine
and boss rule without ha. ing such a
movement acquire an impetus that
carried it to extreme views. and the
electorate is now searching for a re-
form procedure under which bosses
cannot live, machines can never con-
troll, and corruption can never exert
influences. Hence. We have. move
ments to eliminate the middleman in
politics. to give popular sentimnt a
more immediate effect in government
than perhaps would have been thought
wise by our fathers.
But however effective these suggest
ed changes may prove at first | ven
ture to say that no great permanent
good can come from them alone unless
they are accompanied by change in
the individual voter, and his awaken
ing to the necessity for constant
watchfulness and effort on his part to
prevent the old evils from appearing
in new guise.
Sherman Law Effective.
Every one will now admit that the
Sherman antitrust law passed twen-
ty years ago and since subjected to a
great deal OF judicial construction. is
effective for the purpose of breaking
up combinations that result in the
suppression of competition and the
establishment of monopolies.
There are decisions pending in the
supreme court which it is hoped will
throw still greater light on the sub
ject, making even clearer than they
are today the lines between legitimate
and illegitimate business. 1t has been
thought that trose decisions, If ad-
verse to the corporation, would great
ly disturb financial centers. would
halt general business, and would
bring on financial disaster. I do not
share those fears.
l have proposed to congress in this
connection a federal incorporation act
which might be taken advantage OF by
the largest corporations. 1t would
give, and it ought to give, no immunity
from the antitrust law. But it would
have this advantage: 1t would give
the government the benefit Of direct
supervision of these powerful corpor-
ations, and it would afford to those
corporations ample opportunity to dc
legitimate business within the state
borders.
1t gives me great satisfaction to
say that. in spite of all the rumors
of possible business stagnation. our
basic prosperity is assured for the
coming year in that the great volume
of the crops now being harvested in
value will exceed the products of our
fields at any period in the past.
The millionaire, the great manufac-
turer, and the capitalist seem to de-
rive more benefit, measure in dollars
and cents, from prosperity than dc
the individual workmen, farmer, mer-
chant, clerk and professional man.
Hence it is a legitimate Office OF
those charged with governmental re.
sponsibtlity to do what they can to
prevent the spreading of fears which
will drive capital to its boarding place
and prevent the investment necessary
to carry on the widely expanded bust
nooo ~ fhjs country from which ouI