New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-19
A Lesson for Business Men.


country would the claim be listened to
that in this day and generation we have
passed beyond the possibility OF tree
competition as consistent with proper
business growth, or that we nave
reached time when only regulated
monopoly and the fixing Of prices by
governmental authority are consistent
with future progress.
We did get along with competition;
we can get along with it. We did get
aIona without monopoly; we can get
aIona without il; and the business men
Of this country must square themselves
to that necessity.
Either that, or we must proceed to
state socialism and vest the government
with power to run every business.
The decision Of the Supreme Court is IN
the highest interest OF the public, and !
am glad 10 think that business men who
have Nsen violating the trust law are now
being made 10 see the necessity for putting
their houses in order, changing tnrir orig
inal organizations, giving up the Idea
that il is necessary 10 control markets IN
order 70 make profits. ana reNeruns TO the
old principle OF free competition, in which
all limit upon II 10 prevent its being eN-
cess,ve must be self-impOSed by the good
sense Of each competitor ana not by any
arrangement or contract between com
petitors or secret stipulation or wink or
The decision Of the Supreme Court as It
grows TO be understood In the near future
will be a signal for the voluntary breaking
I'D all combinations I'm restraint of trade
within the inhibition Of the statute. ana
will, I hope, lead TO complete reVulsioh
Of feeling on the part of the business men
Of this country and 10 a clear under
standing by them Of the limitations that
must be imposed by them upon any bust
rcss combinations made by them in the
The operation Of the statute has illus
trated the slowness OF judicial procedure,
and of this | have often made complaint
but in the settlement OF les OF THIS I'M
portance two decades ar 100 great length
Of time, and If in that period we shall
have stamped out an evil which would
Certainly have carried us TO socialism as
q reaction from the vicious control Of the
! few, the time spent, the effort and the
| litigation are worth the cost. There have
! Teen times when among others ] have
might have been facilitated had the courts
visited it's breach with severer punish
ment. but though the mills OF the gods
| grind slowly. yet they grind exceeding
small" and without the severity that some
/ OF ne urged and would have been glad Z"
see used revolution in business methods
where they have heretofore been violaiive
/ Of the statute will be accomplished ana
with least disturbance TO business which
/ is lawful.
In a special message on the subject OF
trusts which ] sent TO Congress January
/ T. 1910. / said.
1T is the duty and the purpose of the
| Executive 10 direct an investigation by the
Department Of Justice through the grand
/ Jury or otherwise into the history, or
( canization and purposes Of all the indus
/ trial companies with respect TO which
there Is any reasonable ground for sus-
/ picion that they have been organized for
| a purpose and are conducting business on
! a plan which is In violation OF the anti
/ trust law The work is a heavy one, but
II Is not beyond the power Of the Depart
/ ment Of Justice IL sufficient funds are fur
rished TO carry on the Investigations and
/ 10 pay the counsel engaged In the work.
! | wish TO repeat this now, and TO say