The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-07-25
PRIcEs AND TRUSTS.

; The eoart declared in The Standarl
! 1il case that the maintenance q
4 low prices and the preservation @
high quality could not be considered
| In eAtenuation OF the offences o
combination ard restraint Of trade
] tat corporation that lowered prices
/ and SO drove competitors from the
1 4elds must not plead the benefits
accorded the public in its defense
Competition must be maintained be-
| cause competition checked prices
but how can competition check prices
when prices must not be lowered to
| increase business
Take the case nov being made
! against THE ice trust II is charged
that the ice trust failed to supply
the demand for it's product produc-
ed by an exceptional season; who
shall say a failure 10 supply the
demand is an offense III business2
The United States government has
maintained monopoly of the cur
reney. but there are times when the
supply OF currency fails. has the
government committed an offense
against it's own laws? In some
measure the government farms out to
the banks its monopoly of money
when the banks fail 70 supply the
demand Why may NOT they he nsose
cuted ana the bankers be sent 70
iail2 I'm 1907 the banks failed to
supply the legitimate demands OF
business for money when money was
plentiful III some parts Of this coun-
try and I'D Europe; ii the ice trust
Faa r.
ply the demand while supplies OF
Ice existed on the Hudson river why
should the banks he allowed to es
cape9 The Ice trust Ks accused Of |
raised their prices out of sight in !
n.and increases. the Morgan banks |
raised their prices on tof sight hi I
1907. but when was it proposed to
indict them as criminals for this Of
.ense2 Other banks have frequently +
lone what Morse did, why should
,ne man be sent to the penitentiary
and another commit like offences
With impunity2
The government claims q monop
ily in enforcing iustice--the presi- ,
lent admits the ineffieiencY Of the
'onrts and Ia1pnts the DEFICIENCIES
II the law why should the trusts
8 held to a more rigid accounta
lility than the government? How
an it be shown that 1t Is the duty H
/ the ice trust to supply ice to the
.ly of New York; When was the
ontract undertaken and how shah /
be enforced? What is the penal
: provided by law when merchant 4
ails 20 carry sufficient stock Of !
GODS 10 meet the demand Of his {
agular8 customers and oil such 9th.
RS as may suddenly call upon him !
,r help without bringing a wiling
ess to pay his prices? What should
D the8penalty inflicted on the coun- I
" hotel which finds itself unable I
supply food for crowd OF ey A
that may invade his town i
ithout notice or with notice? Dele A
ties 10 conventions have often sur a
red from this cause what Is the 7
,nalty2
Tile law seeks 10 preserve com
,titi0n what Is the good of coupeti- G
on 10 keep down prices How @
y competitor keep down prices 4
hen he Is forbidden 10 lower prices u
ID when II is a criminal offence TO q
i've competition out OF the market
10 steal" the customers 0f
ts it in order 10 secure a ease
ainst the ice trust2 If credit may a
: be given to Standard oil fos b
eping the price down and the q
ality UP why should an ice trust o
condemned for putting up the h
Ice without regard TO quality? 81