davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05
PRESIDENT TAFT'S MESSAGE
ON THE ANTITRUST STATUTE
The Law Growing Force and Ehecwne-t Should Be Strengthened Supplemental
legislation Not Repealed Amended Incorporation Recommended and Fed
ad Corporation Commission Expressed That Jail Sentences
win Be Imposed For Studied and Deliberate Defiance Of the Law

TO the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
This message is the first of several
which l shall send to congress during
the interval between the opening Of
its regular session and its adjourn.
ment for the Christmas holidays. The
amount Of Information to be commu-
nicated as to the operations Of the
government. the number Of important
subjects calling for comment by the
executive and the Transmission to con-
gress OF exhaustive reports Of special
commissions make 1t impossible to in
clude in one message Of q reasona BILE
length q disc ussion Of the topics that
ought to be brought to the attention
Of the national legislature at its first
regular session.
The antitrust Law-Ths Supreme
Court Decisions.
In May las. the supreme court hand
ed down decisions In the suits in equi-
ty brought by the United States to en-
joil the further maintenance Of the
Standard Oil trust and of the Ameri-
can Tobacco trust and to secure their
dissolution. che decisions are epoch
mailing and serve to advise the bust
ne5s world authoritatively Of the
scope and operation Of the antitrust
&C. of 1890. The decisions do not de-
part in Lny substantial way from the
previous decisions Of the court in con-
STRUNG and applying this importa ut
statute. but they clarity those deci-
sions by further defining the already
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

mon law is well understood and is
clearly defined 1t does not rest in the
discretion of the court. 1t must be
limited to accomplish the purpose OF a
lawful main contract to which in order
that it shall be enforceable ut all it
must be incidental. II it exceed the
needs Of that contract it is void.
The test of reasonableness was never
applied by the court ut comman law
to contracts or combinations or con-
spiracies in restraint Of trade whose
purpose was or whose necessary effect
would be to stihe competition. to con-
tro. prices or establish monopolies
The courts never assumed power to
say that such contracts or combina-
lions or cOnspiracies might be lawful
If the parties to them were only mod
crate in the use of the power thus Sc
cured and did not exact from the pub
lie too great and exorbitant prices. 1t
is true that many theorists and others
engaged in business violating the stat
ute have hoped that some such line
of authority has ever attempted It,
Certainly there is nothing in the deci-
sions Of the latest two cases from
which such a dangerous theory Of ju-
dicial discretion in enforcing this stat
ute can derive the slightest sanction.
Force and Effectiveness Of Statute a
Matter Of Growth.
We have been twenty-one years max
ing this statute effective for the pur-
poses for which it was enacted. The
knight case was discouraging and
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

criminal statute on the one hand to
enable the government to shorten its
task by prosecuting single misdemean-
ors instead Of an entire conspiracy and
on the other hand to serve the purpose
of pointing out more in detail to
the business community what must be
avoided.
Federal incorporation Recommended.
In a special message to congress on
Jan. Z. 1910, ventured to point out
the disturbance to business that would
probably attend the dissolution Of these
offending trusts. I said:
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 tradesmen. 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 our present prosperity
that will cause suffering and strained
circumstances among the innocent
many for the faults Of the guilty few.
The question which I wish in this
message to bring clearly to the con-
sfderation 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 bus1-
ness into one within the lines of the
law under federal control and super
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05
vision. securing compliance with the
antitrust statute.

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 compliance with the antitrust
law. 1t is possible so to frame a stat
ute that, while it offers protection to q
federal company against harmful. vex-
atious and unnecessary invasion by the
states, it shall subject it 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 a 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 it
difficult, II not impossible. for one cor
poration to comply with their require
ments 50 as to carry on business In q
number Of different states.''
1 renew the Recommendation Of the
enactment of general law providing
for the voluntary formation Of cor
poratons to engage in trade and COM
MERGE among the states and with for
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05
ALLIGAT0Rs IN BATTLE.
The Victor Shock His Victim ~ q Del
Would n Rat

The Victor Shock His Victim % Oes
Would Rat.
Two alligators belonging to q Flori.
da man after living peacefully togeth-
err for eight years finally got together
for fierce and fatal fight. For some
weeks the two great reptiles had been
showing signs Of discomfort with each
other. but NO one anticipated the ter
rible and fatal termination Of this Gu.
rious quarrel.
One day the attention Of the garden
er, who was at work near the tank,
was attracted BY q commotion in the
water. and. looking up. he saw the
two animals were engaged In a des-
perate struggle. The man rushed to
the spot. but was powerless to stop
the fight. which was raging 80 fiercely
that the water was dashed into foam.
The larger Of the combatants was
seeking to get the body Of the smaller
In his wide open jaws, but tho other
was too quick to be caught and moved
around and around. striking the big
reptile with his tail and sometimes
getting the enemy's legs In his Jaws
and biting them. The tank soon was
Redeemed with the blood which flowed
from the wounds inflicted.
The gardener attempted to separate
the maddened contestants by beating
them with long pole. but they paid no
attention % this and continued their
fight all the; more Desperately. Thex
rolled over eaci1 other. sometimes Ia
the water and at times ON the bank,
but always lashing with their tails.
The smaller and more agile gator eou.
tinued to bite the legs and body Of the
big alligator, which moved about slow
~, seeking to make a successful graft
at his opponents body. Their sleepy
eyes had become bright and snappy,
and it was evident that the 6ght was
to be to the death. At last. in an effort
to snap the spinning tail Of the larger
the small alligator fell over on his side.
and before he could get out Of the way
the big jaws of his enemy were CLICKED
upon him.
Then occurred the most curious fea-
ture Of the battle. Raising himself
slightly upon his forefeet. the big ALT
gator lifted the smaller one from the
surface Of the water and shook him ~
a dog would shake a rat-shook him. In
fact, until his back was broken and he
lay dead and limp In the great jaws.
Then the victor dropped the body and
moved OF to sun himself.-New York
Press,
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

hoped to destroy Now tn e6icacy b
seen: now its power 10 heavy: now tn
object Is near achievement. Now W
hear the call for tn repeal on the plea
that 1t interferes with business pros
perity. and we are advised In most
general terms how by some other stat
ute and In some other way the evil
We are just stamping out can be cured
II We only abandon this work Of TWEEN.
ty years and try another experiment
for another term Of years.
1t is said that the act has not done
good. Can this be said In the face OF
the effect Of the Northern Securities
decree? That decree was In no way
SO drastic or inhibitive In detail ~ ei-
Their the Standard Oil decree or the
tobacco decree. But did It not stop
for all time the then powerful move
ment toward the control Of ail the
railroads Of the country In a single
hand: Such a one man power could
not have been a healthful influence in
the republic. even though exercised
under the general supervision OF an
interstate commission.
n we desire to make such ruthless
combinations and monopolies lawful2
When all energies are directed. not to-
ward the reduction Of the cost Of pro-
duction for the public benefit BY q
healthful competition. but toward new
ways and means for making perma-
nent in few hands the absolute con-
troi OF the conditions and prices pre-
vail!ng in the whole Geld Of industry.
then individual enterprise and effort
will be paralyzed and the spirit Of
commercial freedom will be dead.
wM. II. TAFT.
The White House. Dec. 8. 1911.
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

we are met by cry from many differ
emit quarters for its repeal. 1t Is said
to be obstructive Of business progress,
to be an attempt to restore old fash
toned methods Of destructive competi-
ton between small units and to make
impossible those useful combinations
Of capital and the reduction OF the cost
Of production that are essential to con-
tinued prosperity and normal growth.
In the recent decisions the supreme
court makes clear that there is moth
ing in the statute which condemns
combinations Of capital or mere b.
ness Of plant organized to secure econ
omy in production and a reduction Of
it's cost. 1t Is only when the purpose
or necessary effect of the organization
and maintenance of the combination
or the aggreg" ton Of immense size are
the sitting of competition. actual and
potential, and the enhancing Of prices
and esta blishing monopoly that the
statute is violated. Mere size is no
sin against the law. The merging of
two or more business plants necessari-
" eliminates competition between the
units thus combined, but this elimina-
ton is in contra vention Of the statute
only when the combination is made for
purpose of ending this particular COM
petition in order to secure control Of
and enhance prices and create a mo-
nopoly.
Lack Of Defnitsness In the Statute.
The complaint Is made Of the stat
ute that it is not sufficiently definite
in its description OF that which is for
hidden to enable business men to avoid
its violation. The suggestion Is that
we may have a combination Of two
corporations which may run on for
years and that subsequently the at
torney general may conclude that it
was a violation Of the statute and that
which was supposed by the combiners
to be innocent then turns out to be
combination in violation OF the statute
The answer to this hypothetical case
is that when men attempt to amass
such stupendous capital as will enable
them to suppress competition. control
prices and establish a monopoly they
knew the purpose of their acts Men
do not do such a thing without having
1t clearly in mind. If what they do il
merely for the purpose of reducing the
cost Of production. without the thought
of suppressinS competition by use of the
bigness Of the plant they are creating.
then they cannot be convicted at the
time the union Is made, nor can they
be convicted later unless it happen
that later on they conclude to sup
press competition and take the usual
methods for doing 50 and thus estab-
lish for themselves a monopoly. They
can in such a case hardly complain il
the motive which subsequently In dis
closed - attributed BY the court to the
ORIGINAL comblnation- IA
MIA = ss11 e ~ gapaal e Til
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

the attendant burdens ought to demon
strate that the federal antitrust statute
Il drastic statute which accomplishes
effective results. which so long as it
stands on the statute books must be
obeyed and which cannot be disobey
ed without mourning farreaching pen
alt1es- And. on the other hand. the
successful reconstruction Of this Or
ganizat1on should teach that the effect
Of enforcing this statute is not to de-
stroy. but to reconstruct: not to de-
molish. but to recreate in accordance
with the conditions which the congress
has declared shall exist among the
people Of the United States"
Common Stock Ownership.
1t has been assumed that the pres
ent pro rata and common ownership in
all these companies by former stock
holders Of the trust would insure q
continuance Of the same old single con-
troll Of all the companies into which
the trust has by decree been disinte-
grated. This is erroneous and is based
upon the assumed inefficacy and innoc-
uousness Of judicial fnjunctions. The
companies are enjoined from co-opera-
ton or combination: they have differ
ent managers. directors, purchasing
and sales agents. II all or many of
the numerous stockholders. reaching
into the thousands. attempt to secure
concerted action of the companies with
view to the control Of the market
their number is so large that such an
attempt could not well be concealed.
and its prime movers and all its partic-
ipants would be at once subject to con-
tempt proceedings and Imprisonment
Of a summary character. The immedi-
ate result Of the present situation will
necessarily be activity by all the COM
panies under different managers. and
then competition must follow or there
will be activity by one company and
stagnation by another. Only a short
time will inevitably lead to a change
in ownership of the stock, as all op-
portunity for continued cooperation
must disappear. Those critics who
speak Of this disfntegration in the trust
as mere change Of garments have not
given consideration to the inevitable
working of the decree and understand
little the personal danger Of attempt
ing to evade or set at naught the. SOL
emn Injunction Of a court whose object
is made plain by the decree and whose
inhibitions are set forth with detail
and comprehensivenessu nexampled in
the history of equity jurisprudence.
Voluntary Rsorsanixations Of Other
Trusts at Hand.
The effect Of these two decisions has
led to DEGREES dissolving the combina-
ton of manufacturers of electric
lamps, a southern wholesale grocers'
association. an interlocutory decree
against the powder trust, with direc-
tons by the circuit court compelling
dissolution. and other combinations of
a similar history are now negotiating
with the department Of justice looking
to a disintegration by decree and re-
organization in accordance with law.
1t seems possible to bring about these
reorganizations without general bust
ness disturbance.
Movement For Repeal Of the Anti
trust Law.
But now that the antitrust act is
seen to be effective for the accomplish
ment Of the purpose of its enactment
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

eign nat1ons- Every argument which
was then advanced for such a law and
time offered to possible objections has
been confirmed by our experience since
the enforcement Of the antitrust stnt-
uto haS RESUMED IN III actual dfnpeur
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

CRIMINAL
standing society
Of
confident
b imposed
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

It seemed impossible Of enforcement.
Slowly the mills OF the courts ground,
and only gradually did the majesty Of
the law assert ftself Many Of its
statesmen authors died before It be-
came 4 living force. and they and 9th
- aR1 - O4N RoU U1ieh th8 -
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

in the
nibivs
toward the
haod7
republic
N
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

be effective for the
repeal be business
eems;e" small units and make Impossible those useful
essential to continued prosperity and growth
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05

!" the history American
effective
against the tobacco
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-05


people equality Of opportunity 10 the result Of the cont"
determination Of
uncontrolled and
his
The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-07-09

public is more keen for summer amuse-
ments than ever before Anticipating
the conditions. the management OF Riv-
erview. considered the largest outdoor
amusement enterprise m the world, has
built up to the cravings Of the crowds
Rtverview is the only park in the world
that had the courage to put half mill
ion dollars in two spectaclcs such as the
Monitor and Merrsnac'' and Creation.
each Of which leave impressions of glory
and splendor with tho visitor never to be
forgotten The Monitor aud Merr,mae
is most realistic production of the IA
NOUS battle in Hampton Roads which
revolutionized naval warfare "Cfea
ton" with beautiful electrical and scenic
effects and living tableaux. illustrates the
birth of the universe Each Of these
spectacles is described by interesting and
impressive lectures Another peculiar
feature about the amusement park idea
this summer is the demand for exciting
rides OF the thriller type Riverview
has more Of these than any other park i'm
the world, and they arc crowded with
riders all the time Aside from all these
expensive shows and rides. Rivervew
has one asset that other parks in Chicago
would pay thousands # dollars for
great acres and acres 81 .,hady trees and
green grass q Riverview also employs
none but the best bands which give con-
certs every afternoon and evening -
The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-07-09
NATURES
COURSE
1t Settled the Trouble In Its
Own Sweet Way.
BY NORA BRYANT.

Mrs. Humphrey shelled the peas in
silence. waiting for the outburst. Ske
was meek little woman accustomed
to listening to her beautiful. tall daugh
fer and obeying. Der behests unques
tioningly. Alice possessed all the inde
pendence of spirit which her mother
lacked
I'M. mother" said Alice, selling
viciously on pea pod and breaking Il
OPENING, you can't. II just isn't born
In you. I've got TO do IL alone"
why. Aiice." exclaimed her mother
With hurt infection.
"0h, | know mother. I'm horrid
cross girl. but can't help It. Fathers
gone off again and left us with %
wood This has been going on fOt
three years now. Sometimes he re.
members 10 buy load. but when he
does we have to split IT. And in the
meantime we have TO scratch and
scramble for wood just ss If we were
as poor as poverty. lust look we've
burned most of the fences till the place
looks more ghastly than ever, If pos
sible."
nAlice. Alice" sighed Mrs Hum,
phrev. you shouldn't talk so Of your
father"
Alice's face flushed deeper, and she
shelled handful Of peas before reply
Ing. Then she looked out OF the door
at the iimson weeds
Everything ID all wrong. and it's all
fathers fault. Why shouldn't | marry
Bob Phillips? Tell me that. Just be
cause he ls college man and his PEG
pie live In town father has set himself
against him, Now. why does father
send me to college II he expects me to
settle down to chopping wood and
cooking for the rest of my life? No
mother I'm sophomore now, and
know more than I did once. am go
ing to marry Bob. and father is going
to agree TO 1t too"
Alice looked at her mother sternly
4ses your hands. blistered and hard
You creep out and chop wood every
time | turn my back Look ut my
hands. She held up slender fingers
Nice things to carry back to the col
lege this fall Now I'm going ont IT,
chop enough to get dinner with" And.
pulling shade hat over her eyes. Alice
walked out into the hot harvest sun
and picked UP the az
Straight up to the new brooder house
she went and with neat swing Of the
ax began battering up the broodcr
house door. In few moments the
door had disappeared and In its stead
on the ground near nv lay a neat pile
Of stove wood. Still not quite satisfied
Alice looked about her. a hayraek lay
on the ground waiting for the after
n3oa trip to the oatfeld few arm
The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-07-09

short time sne appeared IN the yard
with two covered dishes In her hands.
These she placed on the top OF the old
stump. where the Gun blazed down on
their shining covers, Then she return
cd TO the house and set the table.
The hay wagon ratified into the yard.
Well" called Mfr. Humphrey, seeing
Alice In the door. isn't supper readyT
Alice looked anxiousiy toward the
old stump Tim afraid things have
not begun to boil yet" she answered.
Mr.. Humphrey looked at the strange
array Of utensils on the stump Sal.
ice" be said what nonsense is this r.
1T means just this" answered Alice
MS. and this noon you forbade me 70
destroy any more OF your property So
when 1t came time to get supper the
stump seemed the hottest nlnce at
hand. and | put the vegetables out
there 10 let nature take Its course 1t
10 much easier for me"
Mr. Humphrey stood in silence, AL
Ice watched him anxiously Slowly the
angry flush died away. and the corners
of his mouth twitched He. turned 10
the man. who had been an interested
spectator.
Jim" he said you might as well
finish up the old hayrack Split up
enough wood to get supper with"
Then he walked into the house with
never so small a Wrinkle 10 his eyes,
That evening as Alice and her father
sat on the steps waiting for Mrs. Hum
phrey's return Mr. Humphrey broke
the silence
I've been thinking 1t over. Alice, "
he said 'and-~and~ we'll guess IA.
ther has been negligent OF his two
girls. You see. ! didn't realize how
hard some thugs are for women folks
Now. do you suppose you conld plan a
"a porch or IA window 81 some
thing?' he asked vaguely And wen
surprise your mother on her birthday :"
For moment there was silence.
then he beard low sob beside him
he reached out an awkward hand and
drew his daughter toward him.
Why. little girl he said, Il didn't
know 1t meant SO much to you"
Alice nestled against his shoulder
'ft means more than a porch" she
sobbed. III means that. after all, yon
are uice. like other fathers"
Mr.. Humphrey cleared his throat
"And I've been thinking, Alice" he
went on. that I've been hard on Bob
A rough old fellow like me gets prein
Iiced against these college chaps
When you finish school and Bob gets
a start--wel. you'll find that father
wants you to be happy after ALL