Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-05-08

alton matters. 1t will be recalled thai
he was on the minority side Of the
Northern Securities case, and also
presented dissenting opinion in the
recent Medicine Contract Price case
which seemed to SO clearly demon
strate the mental attitude of major.
ity of the court as regards questions
of restraint Of trade. The delay in
announcing the trust decisions has
Suggested deadlock of four to four
in the court. l have no direct infor-
nation that such is the case. but it
will be remembered that Mr.. Justice
Van Devanter, was one of the four
judges Nho unanimously decided
against the Standard Oil Company.
in the St. Louis decision from which
the present appeal to the supreme
court was taken. Mr.. Justice Van De-
vanter will. it is understood, very
properly decline to take part in the
decision of the higher tribunal of
which he has recently become men,
Der, and the court for the purpose
of the trust decisions. is thus reduced
to eight members.
l can see no reason to change the
opinion so recently expressed in these
advices that even at the worst an
adverse ruling in the Trust cases by
the supreme court would not be a
vital matter. 1t would merely mean
that legal methods of doing business
must. in the future, be pursued by
our great industrial concerns. There
is no question of punishment or pen
ATTY involved in the Washington pro-
ceedings; and whatever readjustment |
is necessary to meet the views of
our highest tribunal will undoubtedly |
be promptly met. Standard Oil inter-
ests have in the past proven them
selves to be such shrewd merchants
and manufacturers-such shrewd and
efficient business men-that it would
be childish to suppose that they have
not exercised their full powers in con-
nection with this important develop
ment in their business to prepare
themselves promptly to accept the rul
ing of the court, whatever it may
prove to be.
1t is also desirable to bear in mind
that the proposed tariff revision can
hardly result in changes of the ex.
ceedingly drastic character that was
promised Immediately after the last
election. Shrewd Washington observ-
ers already see a reactionary trend
n what has become known as the
insurgents movement" and the idea,
which seems to have recently grown
n favor, of gradually reducing wool
luties instead of making sudden and
spectacular reductions is "a develop
nent that will appeal to business in
erests as obviating one of the most
lnsettling features of tariff revision
This same plan may possibly later
m be applied with advantage to the
'ther schedules on which action is
AS already noted there is continued
ecession in manufacturing and mer.
antile circles. which will naturally
ontinue until some definite indication
) available of the extent of tariff
evision. This does not mean that
ew tariff must be definitely arranged
efore improvement may be expected,
,r as soon as basis for future con-
acts is available there is very apt
history repeats itself, to be a degree
activity to correspond with the de-
and that has gradually accumulated
lring the period of dullness. When
lis increase in business does set
/ it will mean a period of business
ctivity and enthusiasm of most
lbstantial character.
The immediate outlook of the stock
arket is one suggesting cautious