The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-06-06

has inundated and destroyed COM
petition The. Ststesvilie Landmark
editorially says:
The decision OF the Supreme
Court Of the United states that the
american Tobacco Company = Q
combination in restraint of trade is
not news in North Carolina. Down
here We've known that all along.
notwithstanding the fact was well
known, however. the majority Of the
members OF the Legislature nave
always been afraid 10 enact a stat
ute that would reach the combine
lest business should be disturbed.
The Supreme Court having blazed
the way. possibly-note the qualifi-
cation-the Legislature may have
he nerve 10 enact a statute ef-
fective against trust operations in
North Carolina
If North Carolina today had an an
THRUST law with teeth. prosecution
of he trust by the State while il was
also being prosecuted by the Federal
Government would compel the toDac-
Of the trust by the State while ii was
rylng to.evade 1t because il would be
afraid Of jumping out of the frying
pan into the fire.
There isn't a fairly well informed
who does not know il, as the Land
mark says, that the American Tobacco
Company lis a combination in re-
straint of trade If the trust lodges
present decree in part, North
Carolina will keep up the figh.
until it legislates after election on
trusts jus like it talks Of doing before
an election.
Concluding a long editorial, review
ing the tobacco trust decision, the
Statesville Landmark says:
But the Landmark is optimist
enough to believe, on the whole case
as Judge McNein used to say. hat the
decisions Will have a good effect. They
will necessarily give pause to the com
b~inations and at least make them have
a little more care in their operations,
even II they are not SO beneficial as
we had hoped for. But the greatest
benefit, as the LANDMARK sees it, is tho
confidence given the people that the
odhli IS v tbfc
grasp Of these great combinations.
With their great wealth and influ-
ence it is almost impossible TO secure
the enactment of laws affecting them
that do not leave sou loophole OF
escape, if indeed any law is passed at
all. But the fact that our highest
court has held hat under existing law
the two greatest combinations in the
country are unlawful and must be dis
solved, is distinct ground for hope
that the combinations which unjustly
restrict trade and SO Cypress the
masses may be and can be restrained.
Those who lave waged an honest war
fare against these combinations viii
find the are strengthened because the
people will believe, as many have not
believed heretofore. that it is possible,
at least to regulate and check the
greed and rapacity of the trusts. This
encouragement and renewed hope
will strengthen the demand for honest
Legislative service; Will, let US hope,
tend to further rouse the conscience
Of the country that enough faithfnl
men can be put or guard in Congress
and in State legislatures 50 that
la VS. will be passed or amended 10
strengthen, if need be, what We have
for the protection Of the masses
against the ~mbinatio of greed:
and that enough honest and faithful
men will be put on the bench ana in
the office of prosecuting attorneys -
see that the laws are honestly and
faithfully executed
Life in Raleigh is only one schoi@r