The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-11-16

be Ny In the direction OF produc-
ing on In" farm everything necessary
TO carry Cn its opera tions. and when
this is don the planter will be inde-
pendent.
While Virginia can hardly be
classed with the cotton raising States
as II produces annually only about I q ,
900 bales, IL has vitalt interest in
eEeryIhlnng which concerns the indus
trial life of the SOutn, and indeed of
the whole country, and will ALWAYS
do what IL can to advance the best in
terest OF the country, and therefore il
was represented at New Orleans Nat
urally when there is trouble with anv
OF the great interests we look for an
underlying cause. and il seems to me
mat one of the troubles of the busi-
ness world just now grows out of the
uncertainties and the enforcement of
the Sherman act.
The President can hardly ba criti -
clsed for the enforcement of the laws
OF the United States: indeed under the
CONSTITUTION, it is his duty to do so.
ana ali good ciizens approve his de-
sire and purpose to suppress unlawf,,l
trusts. combinations and monopolies
Dut a better plan might be found than
resort TO the courts. Now that the Su
preme Court Of the United States has
construed the Sherman act i'm tive
cases. IT seems to me that there are
only two questions to he solved i'm ref
erence To all trusts and corporations-
first, whether. under their organiza
ton, power and operation. they are
obnoxious to the Sherman act: second.
II In violation OF the act. how can
they be so reorganized as to be shorr
or their objectiOnab BILE powers anu
practices and be made benefcent agen.
cies for the advancement of the best
interests of the country.
Creates Unrest
Suits are now pending before the
courts OF the United States against
some OF these trusts and combinations
Tor their dissolution, which. in the ma
'' .u[e Oh the case will go to the Su-
preme Court and take considera BILE
time Tor settlement. These trusts and
com oinatiOns against which suits are
now pending. and others against which
suits may be brought by the Govern
ment, are so connected with the busi-
ness interests of the peoDle OF the
country that there is feeling Of un-
rest and uncertainty which will pre-
vent the extension of work and onera
u0ns already begun and the under
taxing OF new enterprises of almost
every kind until the questions con
nected with the powers and duties of
the great corporations of the United
states are clearly and finally settled
anu disposed Of In view OF this stu-
atlon, disastrous to all prosperity. TO
farmers and mechanics as well as 10
business men generally, with its nm
rest and uncertainty in the business
Worlu Wnlcn anectS every interest
causing stagnation in the demand for
products of the soil. affecting the great
agricultural producing interests of the
whole country, il seems to me that the
country would heartily approve OF ar
oltrauon Tor the settlement of all mat
Iers touching the legality Of trusts cor
porauonS and combinations under the
sherman act. to which i believe these
large industrial com mbinations wouid
DE willing to submit if notified OF the
purpose OF the Government to Dro-
ceed against them in the courts.
II TINS principle of arbitration were
touowed, l believe there would be a
speedy settlement of all matters in
vowed, confidence be restored, busi-
ness resume its normal condition. our
great natural resources be EMPLOYED
10 greater extent, and the inherently
Sound conditions which exist in our
country today be made to promote the
progress ana prosperity of the people
OF al sections. our crops are large
All OF the underlying conditions of the
country are sound. and we would have
acuVe business and great prosperity
IL the present state of uncertainty
could be terminated. But if il is MOI
deemed wise to resort to arbitration
II would certainly be just to the bust
ness interests OF the country for the
law department Of the Government 10
give its Interpretation OF the sherman
act so that corporations doing business
aIected by 1t might conform their
pracuce 10 the Governments inter
tice." ''0