The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-06-02
TOBACCO TRUST DECISION.

In the light OF these forceful ex-
amples what trust can be sure that
It is safe?--P Philadelphia Press.
In the light OF reason" the mere
aggregation is innocent; the at
tempted monopoly is unlawful
Philadelphia Record,
Now, Nv. Tobacco Trust. won't
you see il you cannot violate the law
without being unreasonabie?-P
adelphia North American.
Instead Of depriving the statute of
any, OF its force they vitalize II and
make it effective for the public pro-
lection without violence either TO
lawful rights or to practical require
ments OF legitimate business. Phil
adelphia Ledger.
The decision of the United States
supreme court against the so-called
tobacco trust disposes Of the notion
that the Interpretation of the Sher-
man law in the light of reason"
had weakened that act. 1t has GER
tainly lest none of its teeth. New
York tribune.
The one great fact that looms
clear and unmistakable in this maze
of words is that the antitrust law
is a criminal statute; that guilt is
personal, and that thesnly practical
method Of enforcing the antitrust
act so that criminal trusts win fear
il and honest men will respect il is
to punish in the criminal courts
those who are guilty OF violating
it.--New York American.
Following and experimenting the
epoch-making decision of two weeks
ago, the decree in the American to-
bacco case removes the shackles
from the limbs Of the country's bust
ness enterprise. The court has
made it clear that while the law Is
to be enforced this Is TO be done de-
liberately without destruction of
property and without injury to gem
eral business and that corporations
conducting their affairs on lawful
lines have nothing to fear.-New
York Herald.
The dissolution OF the tobacco
trust proves that courts are as we'll
armed against the craft that has
developed OF late under the guidance
of the lawyers OF big business as
they are against the open brutality
which shocked and shamei the peo-
| pie in the earlier days or monopoly.
If the tobacco trust. profiting by the
experience OF Standard oil. eannot
live. then all combinations IN re-
straint OF trade and tending toward
monopoly have received their death
warrant.---New York World.
The court again holds. in sub
stance. that when the legislative de-
partment denounced as Illegal
every" contract or combination In
restraint OF trade it did not intend
anything unreasonable: IL did not
attempt TO destroy inalienable indi-
yidual and property rights: II did
not mean TO punish innocent and
gdiIty alike BY applying the prohibit:
ton 10 the numerous conceivable
restraints OF trade which involve no
wrong or intent to wrong. and It did
not contemplate the establishment
OF new and revolutionary economic
system ushering American business
straight into the jaws OF chaos
New York Sun.
The supreme court finds 1t vastly
difficult. under the proceedings be-
fore II. TO punish the guilty without
+ Furnishing the innocent. What Is
this but broad hint 20 the attor-
ney-senerai that a civil suit for dis
solution or monopoly comprehend
Ing most OF single great industry
Is the wrong proceedingg What Is
this but a fiat refusal 10 punish tile
innocent in order TO reaen the gull
/ tyg What is this but an indirect
sanction % the view which the New
York Press has uttered a Thousand
times-that the only way TO punish
individuals guilty Of a crime Is 10
Indict them individually and To send
them to Jail indiyidually?--New
York Press.