The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-28
THOUSANDS COME IN BLINDING SNOW STORM
 TO GREET LA TOILETTE

States, and who have made philoso- phical study of the commerce of the world economists and trained statls- ticians, thoroughly equipped for scien- tific work.
 It is an old device for the special in- terests which thrive in exploiting the public, to warn against the dangers of commsson form of government. But our social and industrial life grows daily more and more complex. Experts in framing of legislation and in the administration of law become more ands more a public necessity. So long as the commission is the creature control Or abolition, we need not be alarmed by the warning of selfish ins terests. Expert commissions are de- manded wherever technical knowledge and special training and expert inves- tigation are required, before the law can be intelligently administered.
 Speaking last evening, Senator La Toilette said: :
 The great issue before the American people today is the control of their own government. In the midst of po- litical struggle, it is not easy to see. the historical relation of the present progressive movement But it repre- sents a conflict as old as the history of man-the fight to maintain human liberty, the rights of all of the people against the encroachment of a power full few.
 A tremendous power has grown up in the country, in recent years. Again and again it has proven strong enough to nominate the candidates of bo h. political parties. It rules in the or ganization of legislative bodies, State and national, and of the committees which frame legislation. Its influence is fet in Cabinets and in the policies of administrations Its Influence is seen in the appointment of prosecut- ing officers and the selection of judges upon the bench.
 In business it has crippled or de- stroyed competition. It has stifled in- dividual initiative. It has fixed limi- tations in the field of production. It makes prices and imposes it's burdens upon the consuming public at will
 In finance its power is unlimited. In large affairs it gives or withholds credit, and from time to time con- tracts or inf1ates the volume of the money required for the transaction of the business of the country, regard iess of everything excepting it's own prof it's.
 It has acquired large control of the public domain, monopolized the nat ural resources, timber, iron, coal, and efl.
 And this mighty power has grown up in a country where, under the Con- stitution and the law, the citizen is sovereigni
 The people have never failed in any great crisis in our history. The com posite judgment is always safer and wiser and stronger and more unsel- fish than the judgment of any one tn- dividuai mind The people have been betrayed by their representatives again and again. The real danger to demo- cracy lies not in the ignorance or want of patriotism of the people, but in the corrupting influence of powerful bus mess organizations upon the represen- tatfves of the people. The real cure cracy.
 THE TRUSTS.
 The recent decisions of the Supreme and Federal courts have brought about a revolution in the position of the trusts, and a more profound reVoiu- ton in the position of the courts. ! by it's "rule of reason" and its Weap- on, the injunction. has al at once created itself into legislature, an interstate commerce commission, and a supreme court, combined in one. The rule of reason gives 1t legislative power to determine, ac- cording to it's own opinion, that some restraints of trade are lawful and other restraints unlawful. The power to carry out the dissolution and reor- of the trusts and to work out the details, to impose conditions and to supervise their execution, is just exactly the kind of administrative bower that a legislature turns over to a commission fn order to carry out the legislative intent. And, finally, 1 for contempt is the courts substitute for the criminal penalty that the legislature attaches to the viola tion Of it's statutes
 To this extent the Sherman anti trust act is amended. Instead of a CT r'mr nal prosecution for violating the provisions Of the act, with a penalty of s5,000 and Imprisonment for a year, l the court proceeds to reorganiZe the 1 trust, to lay down code of conduct, 1 and to enforce it's code by the penalty | of contempt.
 With all of this tremendous power | in its hands, what is the relief which l the courts are able to give to the peo- l pie against those combinations?