Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-04

DETROIT. Mich, October A plan
for curing the ills from which business
in the United States is now suffering was
advanced today by George w. Perkins,
the former banking partner OF ]. Pier
pont Morgan. who is giving up his busi-
ness career in order to devote himself
to the study Of economic problems. Mr..
Perkins came from New York TO speak
| before the Detroit Board of Commerce,
his subject being at Is the Function of
the Law to Define and Punish Wrong
doing, and Not to Throttle Business"
Mr.: Perkins squarely opposed PresI-
dent Tafts contention that the Sherman
antitrust law is not need OF
amendment, and urged that Congress
should provide for the fullest publicity
of the affairs of the corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce, but that
such corporations should not be destroy
ed. He made it clear in unmistakable
terms that he believes the era OF business
competition has passed away, and that
the future of American greatness rests in
monopoly. carefully regulated to safe
guard the interests of the people.
OlIlmdLum OF business.
Those who heard Mr.. Perkins accented
his utterances as the pronouncement OF
big business in the United States, and
it is believed his speech was intended by
him and by the men with whom he has
been associated in business as a lining OF
the issues upon which next years presi-
dental campaign shall be fought, so far
as business" shall participate in the
campaign of 1872
"One occasionally hears the opinion ex-
pressed that the people of this country
would never consent to the enactment of
any legislation by which the Sherman
law would be amended" said Mr.. Per-
k1nS. Two important facts seem TO
have been overlooked in connection with
this matter: First, that the Sherman law
as IT stands was passed by Congress
without the people ever. having had an
opportunity to vote on IL; second, that
our people have actually voted in favor
of amending the law: for the republican
party, at its national convention in June.
1908, adopted platform which dealt
largely with business questions, declaring
for changes in the law.
Position Of Democrats.
THE democratic party at the sans
time. In the trust plank OF fits platform.
among other things declared for q policy
that would prohibit the control by
manufacturing or trading corporation
engaged in interstate commerce OF more
than so per cent OF the total amount OF
any product consumed In the United
States
with these platforms the respective
parties went before the people OF thia
country in a vigorous campaign. Eaph
party attacked the others platform and
the subject was debated pro and con ell
over the land. One is safely within
&Ao@
speaker in the republican cause In that
campaign was Gov. Hughes, and equally
within bounds in saying that the most
effective speech Of the campaign was
Youngstown. Ohio, September 5, 1908
with such platforms and after such a
campaign the people voted on the issues
submitted and, by plurality Of over a
republican party to power in both the
legislative and executive branches.
What did the legislative branch do TO
carry out its beliefs on the trust question
as expressed to the people In its party
platform and in its campaign arguments?
II did nothing. II left the question Just
where it had been for fifteen or twenty
years; left the Supreme Court with no
choice except to interpret the law as it
stood.
Supreme Court Decision.
THE only vestige Of keeping faith with
the people on anything involved in this
question and as discussed in the cam
paign is found In the Supreme Courts
recent trust decisions wherein the rule
of reason is applied. and in connection
with this significant are the following
closing sentences from the Youngstown
speech of Gov. Hughes for the past year
a member of the Supreme Court:
But in our progress we must
seek to avoid false steps. Ours must be
the rule of reason, clear-eyed, calm,
natient and steadfast; defeating the con-
spiracies of intrigue and escaping the
pitfalls Of folly. Supreme must be tho
sense Of justice. with its recognition OF
our mutual dependence.
.'The Congress which adopted this do
nothing policy. which failed to carry out
these as well as other instructions. re-
ceived from the people in the last ma
tional election, was rspudiated by the