The Mena weekly star., 1911-06-29


| The Supreme Court Of the United
States certainly Conservative finds
land tacitIy declares that trusts are
a product Of the time, which il is
not reasonable TO assume have been
prohibited by statute called the
Antitrust Law.
The first socialist member of Con-
gress Certainly RADICAL, in ex-
pressing the view of Socialism con-
corning present day economics, de-
elares practically the same thing.
The conclusions drawn in the two
declarations were different. The
courts implication (since it could
not advocate policies) was that
combinations of capital engaged in
business hitherto regarded as "pri-
vate' must be regulated by the
government. Congressman Ber-
gers expressed Interpretation OF
events was that the business of
such combinations OF wealth must
be taken over by the government
and demoeratically administered"
Whatever the variance of the
conclusions drawn, there is signif-
icance in this meeting of views
from opposite viewpoints. Those
who seek a middle course of nei-
Their regulation OF so-called private
business nor popular ownership of
| it have nothing constructive to
offer, and their counsels are log
ically illogical and conflicting. To
destroy trusts would be impossible;
to make them illegal beyond the
power of the court to read reason
into the statute, would make BUSH
ness anarchic. The day of little
competitive methods for commerce
and industry on a big scale is
passed. No cycle Of laws or theor-
les of government can stand against
steam and electricity.
Not long ago Prof. John G. Com
mons of the University of Wiscon-
sin, keen thinker, said that the
Socialists have the only extant pro-
gram for applying the efficient
agencies of government and the
efficient instruments of business to
the economic problems of the
time. That is. they know why they
want the initiative, etc, and they
know what they desire to do with
the trusts and with the agencies
which have made the trusts
steam and electricity. And so Pro-
fessor Commons said that if the
proponents of what is called the
individualist political system do
not offer also a definite program
Socialism will become the organi-
zation of society.
IL is certainly strong and even
terrible arrangement which Con-
gresham Berger brought in Con-
gress against the prevalent haphaz-
ard. formless and painless system
of production and distribution. II
was strong because it recited facts.
II was strong, also, because it ex-
pressly disclaimed revolution or re-
volt, or other violent imbecility as
the remedy. The appeal was to
mems intelligences and conscienc-
es, and if the response is not to
come as the Socialists would have
it come, it will be because an even
better appeal is made in program
which retains private owner ship of
big business.
Certainly the indictment which
Berger brings against uncontrolled
industrialism cannot be defeated by
ignoring the facts or by bawling de-
NAL of the facts. The Socialist
movement cannot be stayed by mis-
representations of it or by ascrib-
ing it to bad motives. If Social
ism has one inherent element of
strength it is the intense conviction
of its adherents that it is good and
right. Many of its leaders make
personal sacrifices for their faith.
They support It's material dogmas
with idealist fervor, much spiritual
strength which was once in the
church is now in the Socialist
Very much more of this spirit
ual or moral force is not in the
Socialist movement; but it will join
1t and make the movement ire
sistible if it is denied expression in
an individualist square deal.
The interests controlling the big
patterns of industrialism, and Civ
ing the cue to constitutional states
men. are in need of wise, rather
than smart counsel. They may not,
wisely, interpret the supreme
courts decisions as exempting them
from the operation of law. They
may not wisely, overlook the fact |
hat the right TO life includes nee
,essarily the right to work. Hence
hey may not, wisely, press their |
doctrine that property is more
guaranteed by the Constitution than |
life, liberty, and the pursuits of |
iuPpthVSo ohC Suufuitccu by the
declaration. kansas City Star.
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