The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-08-09
PERKINS RAPS
COMPETITION
High Financier Says All Labor's
Ills Come From System That
People Clamor for
THINKS ANTITRUST LAW
SHOULD BE AMENDED
Congressional Committees Might
Amend Their Investigations
With Profit to the People II
They Directed Them Right

HOUGHTON. Mich, Aug. 7.--Mr
Geo. w. Perkins Of New York. was
to have delivered an address before
the Michigan College of Mines to-
day on the topic "Wanted--A con-
structive national policy"
Mr.. Perkins. however. was called
to testify before the Stanley steel In
vestigation committee at Washington
and in his absence, President Nc
Nair read the paper.
''Its q matter OF common knowi-
edge said the address. that twenty
or more years ago Congress passed a
law that was intended to put barriers
in the way of plans that business was
undertaking for the further upbuild-
ing and extension Of trade and COM
merce in the United States--plans
that. In the judgment of these men
were essential and which would ul-
timately operate for the greatest good
of the greatest number.
Enforcement Neglected
1T Is a matter of common knowl-
edge that the enforcement of this law
was almost neglected for years. dur
ing which business men we're allowed
to proceed with their plans. II Is a
matter OF common knowledge that
during the the last eight or ten years
some of our executives have endeav-
ored to enforce this law and while
doing so, studying its effect and see
ing its operation. have raised the
question as to whether 1t should be
amended.
at last this question reached our
supreme court. and that court has
failed to find~that BECAUSE company
is large in size it evidently Is evil In
practice.
Congress has steadily called for
the destruction for our local business
enterprises. 1t has appropriated mon
| ey to find out that these concerns have
committed and what evil practices
they have INDUCED in. but so far as
common knowledge, 1t has not taken
one step to ascertain what good these
concerns have accomplished and
whether there is anything of benefit
and value in them that should be
preserved.
"a congressional committee might
| find it of advantage to the people to
| inquire:
First: Has the cost OF articles
| made by the so-called trusts increased
or decreased?
Second. Have wages increased or
decreased?
| Third Has labor been more
steadily employed and better housed
more generally employed and bet
ter satisfied?
Fourth. Have there been fewer
failures in the lines of business in
volved?
| Fifth. Have the so-called trusts
increased or decreased our foreign
trade balances?
sixth. Have the so-called trusts
devised was and means and provided
the capital for saving and utilizing
waste products. which could not have
been done by smaller concerns?
Seventh. Is the tendency to have
the ownership of these large compan-
les and the profits made by them en-
| joyed by a few men or by many
men? Is the tendercY to have these
corporations In the future create, by
their profits. large fortunes for few
men as was the case in partners
partnerships undor competitive meth
DDS or is the tendency to distribute
such profits more generally among the
people9
Suggestions All Ignored
Congress has ignored every ques-
ton by Roosevelt. by Taft. by Wick
ersham-yes, even by some of its own
members. looking toward any method
that would preserve any good theo
res, any benefit or advantage there
is to the people in large business
| undertaking and has seemed content
to let the country drift toward bust
ness chaos.
What has started to give US sweet
shops? Competition.
What has given US child iaborf
| Competition.
What causes low wages? Com
petition.
What throws labor out OF Employ
ment? Competition.
What brings panic and falleEe7
Competition.
"And what 10 our congress at this
moment calling loudly on our a.,or'
ney general to enforce, even to the
door Of the Jail? Competition.
THE congressman who stands for
a literal enforcement OF the SherIna All
act stands for the swsatshop sad
child labor The com petitlon pro-
duoos the two extremes III Oh afro
and pauper: while cooperation looks
toward more stable conditions and a
CONTINUED on nAzG niKhD