Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-12-09

the disturbance to business that would
probably attend the dissolution OF these
offending trusts. i said: Z
But such an investigation and pos
sible prosecution OF corporations whose
prosperity or destruction affects the
comfort not only of stockholders, but
OF millions Of wage earners. employees
and associated fradeSmen. must neces-
sarily tend TO disturb the confidence
Of the business community, to dry up
the now flowing sources Of capital
from its places Of boarding and pro-
duce halt in orr present prosperity
that will cause suffering and strained
circumstances among the innocent
many for the faults of the guilty few
The question which | wish In this
message to bring clearly to the con-
sideration and discussion of congress
Is whether. in order to avoid such a
possible business danger. something
cannot be done by which these bust
ness combinations may be offered a
means. without great financial dis
turbance. of changing the character,
organization and extent of their bust
ness into one within the lines of the
law under federal control and super
vision. securing compliance with the
antitrust statute.
Generally In the industrial combina-
tons called trusts the principal busi-
ness is the sale of goods in many states
and in foreign markets-in other words,
the interstate and foreign business far
exceeds the business done in any one
state. This fact will justify the fed
eral government in granting a federal
charter to such combination to make
and sell in interstate and foreign COM
merce the products Of useful manufac-
ture under such limitations as will Sc
cure a compliance with the antitrust
law. 1t is possible so to frame stat
ute that, while IT offers protection to
federal company against harmful. vex-
atious and unnecessary invasion by the
states. 1t shall subject 1t to reasona-
BILE taxation and control by the states
with respect to its purely local bust
ness. =
Corporations organized under this
act should be prohibited from acquir-
ing and holding stock in other corpo-
rations except for special reasons,
upon approval by the proper federal
authority, thus avoiding the creation
under national auspices of the holding
company with subordinate corporations
In different states. which has been
such an effective agency in the crea
ton of the great trusts and monopo-
lies.
IF the prohibition OF the antitrust
act against combinations in restraint
of trade is to be effectively enforced
1t is essential that the national govern
ment shall provide for the creation of
national corporations to carry on le-
Ultimate business throughout the Unit
ed States. The conflicting laws of the
different states of the Union with re-
spect to foreign corporations make 1t
difficult, if not impossible, for one cor
poration to comply with their require
ments so as to carry on business in a
number Of different states"
| renew the recommendation or the
enactment Of q general law providing
for the voluntary formation Of cor
porations to engage in trade and COM
merce among the states and with for
eign nations. Every argument which
was then advanced for such a law and
every explanation which was at that
time offered to possible objections has
been confirmed by our experience since
the enforcement Of the antitrust stat
ute has resulted in the actual dissolu-
ton OF active commercial organize
tons.
Ii is even more manifest now than
1t was then that the denunciation OF
conspiracies in restraint of trade
should not and does not mean the de-
NAL of organizations large enough to
be intrusted with our Interstate and
foreign trade II has been made more
Continued on page three.