The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-12-04
Is UNCLE SAM
TO CONTROL?
continuad prom Page one.

Continued From Page One.
head, under the protecting arm Of the
government rather than take chances
on judicial dissolution as a result Of
the suit recently filed in Trenton, N.
j., by Attorney General Wiekersham-
others feel that he has devoted much
thought to the subject and has arrived
at the conclusion that strict govern
ment supervision is best for the corr
porations and for the sountry,
Judge Gary's suggestions were an
enlargement OF those which he made
before the special committee OF the
house OF representatives which Is in
vestigating the steel trust While a
witness before that committee he
strongly advocated federal regulation
and supervision, the issuance of fed
eral charters, etc. 1t win be recalled
that two years ago President Taft
recommended the passage OF legisla-
ton along these lines, with some vari-
atiohs, The head Of the steel corpora
ton would have q commission created
much like the interstate commerce
commission and endow it with au-
thority to regulate" corporations and
closely scFutinixe all their operations.
1t is conceded that the weakest
feature of this general plan, which has
the approval Of Col. Theodore Roose-
welt, judging from his vigorous edl-
torial In q recent issue OF The Outlook,
is that It would involve an essential
amendment of the Sherman anti trust
law, II 1t would not require the re-
peal OF that statute, just at a time
when the United States supreme court
has interpreted the law ana told the
country how far the department of
justice can 60 undsr It's provisions.
There are In both senate and house
many men who are opposed to any
essential change in the Sherman law
ct this time or In the immediate future.
They want to see IL enforced for a
time la order that the country may
better determine whether 1t Is a
wholesome or dangerous statute.
Those men who take this position
feel that 1t would be extremenly dam
gerous. from the standpoint OF the peo-
pie. to i'm any way emascuIate the
Sherman law. Whatever else is done
during the session just convened,
therefore, 1t is certain that this law
will not be tempered with unless there
Ia an unnistakable public sentiment
in favor OF mn essential change. An
effort will be made to strengthen the
law from the peoples standpoint. IL
an amendment along this line can be
worked out to q certainty and suf-
ficient number of senators and repre-
sentatives enlisted in it's favor. OF
course, II will SO through, and win be
aDprnved hy President Taft
liz 1T should trRnspire that there is
throughout the country a strong SEN
timent in favor Of federal incorpera-
tion, or the appointment Of federal
commission TO control and regulate all
Interstate corporations, Of course leg
isiation along that line may reasonably
be expected However, in view of the
fact that II has required twenty years
to find out exactly what the United
States supreme court thinks about the
Sherman law. and the vast importance
Of the subject Of corporation control,
congress naturally will be slow In au-
th0rizing sweeping change of policy
toward aggregations Of capital Al sub
JecE Of 80 great Importance. OF course,
must receive long and painstaking
consideration Tt cannot be hastily
In the Sherman law, therefore, 1t viii
be deliberately made.
One thing that should be remember
"a In this connection Is that with the
people and congress In their present
temper 1t would be much easier than
formerly tn further amend the Sher-l
man law, Il 1t were amended during
this session and the expected results
-