The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-04
CHANGE THE Law.
George w. Perkins Says Repub-
licans Do Net Keep Pledge.
Failure TO Amend Antitrust
Measure Causes Chaos.
NEW RULE FORETOLD.
Judge Hughes Spoke of Rule of
Reason During Campaign.
Republicans Try to Pass Reject
ed Democratic Measure.
NEW RULE FORETOLD.

Detroit, Oct. 4.-Speaking today be-
fore the Detroit board of commerce to
the topic 1T is the function of the law
to define and punish wrongdoing and
not to throttle business George w.
Perkins of New York said that the
people had voted in favor of amend
/ ing the Sherman antitrust law. The
voters, he said, had approved plank
Of the Republican national platform
in 1908. This plank read:
THE Republican party passed the
Sherman antitrust law over Democrat
| ic opposition and enforced it after
Democratic derelictiOn. 1t has been a
wholesome instrument for good in the
hands of a wise and fearless admins
tration. But experience has shown that
its effectiveness can be strengthened
and its real objects better attained by
such amendments as will give to the
federal government greater superVi-
sion and control over and secure great
err publicity in the mana cement of that
class of corporation engaged in inter-
state commerce having power and OPP
portunity to effect monopOlies'
No Mistaking Language.
Mr.. Perkins said there could be no
mistaking the language used. The Re
publican party had expressed itself in
favor of amending the Sherpnan act; it
clearly indicated that there existed
tunity to effect monopolies,'' and also
clearly indicated the lines along which
the law should be amended.
THE Democratic party he con-
tinued, at the same time in the trust
plank of its platform among other
things, declared for a policy that
would prohibit the control by a manu-
featuring or trading corporation en-
than so per cent of the total amount
of any product consumed in the United
States
with these platforms. the respec-
tive parties went before the people of
this country in a vigorous campaign
Each party attacked the others plat
form and the subject was debated pro
and con all over the land. One is safe
~ within bounds in saying that the
most effective speaker in the Republic
can cause in that campaign was Gov
ernor Hughes. and equally within
bounds in saying that the most effec-
tive speech of the campaign was his
Reply to Bryan delivered at Youngs-
town, Ohio. on September 5, 1908. In
that speech Governor Hughes analyzed
the platform of the respective parties
in no uncertain language"
Mr.. Perkins quoted extensively from
Mr.. Hughes speech and added:
with such platforms and after such
a campaign the people voted on the
issues submitted and by plurality of
over a million and a quarter votes re-
turned the Republican party to power
in both the legislative and executive
branches
In place OF pTON1OlnS the suitable
publicity and supervision for which the
Republican party pronounced. for
which Governor Hughes so ably ar
gued. and which the people of this
country Endorsed. absolutely nothing at
all was done And we are now wit
Messing the spectacle of the Republican
party not only falling to carry out the
trust plank in its own platform. but
actually vigorously carrying out the
trust plank of the Democratic plat
form. which it so strenuously attacked
and which the American people repu-
dated.
Predicts Rule of Reason.
ssThe only vestige of keeping faith
with the people on anything involved
in this question and as discussed in
the campaign is found in the supreme
recent trust decision wherein
with this significant fact
are the. following closing sentences
from the youngstown speech of Gov
ernor Hughes (for the past year a
member of the supreme COURT:
But in our progress we must seek
to avoid false steps. Ours must be the
rule of reason, clear-eyed, calm, pa
tient and steadfast; defeating the con-
spiracies of intrigue and esca ping the |
pitfalls of folly Supreme must be the
sense of justice, with its recognition OF
our mutual dependence.
THE congress which adopted this !
do nothing policy. which failed to
carry out these as well as other in |
structions received from the people in |
the last national election was repudi-
ated by the people at our elections OF
a year ago: and now chaotic condl- |
tions exist in the corporate world |
which 'mingle the innocent and the
guilty in a common condemnation. /
There is nothing to indicate that