The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-09-20
TAFT GOMBATSTHE
GENERAL OPINION
ON TRUST LAW
Antitrust Law should Be Amended
Both in Interests Of Business and
Consumer, Declares Iowa States
man, in Reply To Detroit Speech.
Says Confusion viii Continue Until
Reasonable and Unreasonable Re-
straint of Trade Are Defined.
SENATOR cUMMlNs.

DIES MONIES, Ia. Sept 20,--"I am
greatly surprised to know that Presi-
dent Taft Is so emphatically opposed
TO any amendment or supplement to
the antitrust laws," said Senator A. B.
Cummins In a statement TO the United
Press today In which he discussed the
presidents speech on trusts in De-
troit. Monday.
Personally" said the senator, 81 be
lieve that the antitrust law should be
amended OF supplemented both in the
Interest OF large business enterprises
and In the interest OF those who must
buy the products OF such enterprises"
The statement follows:
II have no comment TO make upon
the presidents view or the opinions OF
the supreme court I'm the Standard Oil
and the American Tobacco cases. The
Interpretation put upon the antitrust
law IN these opinions must be accept
ed - final, and whether the construc-
ton 10 sound or unsound, 1t will stand
rs the law or the land. I am greatly
surprised. however, TO know that the
president n so emphatically opposed
TO any amendment or supplement to
the ,anti-trust law. I have discussed
that subject with great many people
since these opinions were delivered
and while they have not concurred in
the kind or amendment that ought to
be made they have all been earnestly
In favor OF some change.
Personally I believe that the anti
trust law should be amended or sup
plemented, both In the interest Of
large business enterprises and In the
interest OF those who must buy the
products or such enterprises. The sit
uation Ia intolerable from the business
point Of view. Some restraint OF trade
ID declared to be lawful by the SUI
pneme court, but the extent OF that
lawful restraint cannot be known by
the business man until he Is prosecut-
ed and his case reaches the supreme
court. He does not and cannot know
as he proceeds with his business
whether he IN good citizen or Grim
fnai.
we all recognize that great part
OF the business OF this country must
be carried on In q big way and those
who carry It on have a right to de-
mand that the law shall be 50 clear
and so definite that they may know in
advance what they can lawfully do
and what they are prohibited from do
ing. believe that most OF them would
Ike TO obey the law, but there viii
Be nothing but confusion until the
country Is informed what IL and what
y not reasonable restraint OF
trade
From the standpoint of the buyer
or consumer the demand for an amend
ment Is even more imperative. The
antitrust law was enacted to preserve
competition in business and thus keep
prices down to the point OF fair profit.
II has not done this In the past and Il
viii not do II In future, no matter
how vigorously Il IL enforced. Under
any construction that has been given
20 II OF that viii be given TO II Il will
still allow corporations to grow to such
magnitude that they will exercise a
dominating influence over prices and
We might just as well have absolute
monopoly as to permit one corporation
70 fix prices for a series of other cor
porations engaged In the same bust
ness. II we intend to maintain com.
petition as an effective force in deter
mining prices the necessity for
amending the antitrust law is appar-
ent to everyone who has given careful
thought to the subject. The time has
come for constructive legislation upon
the most vital question OF our indus
trial line. After careful inquiry this
conclusion has seemed to me to be the
universal Judgment and deeply re-
gret that the president has announced
90 positively HIS opposition to the gen
eral trend Of economic opinion"