The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-31

is going to be a mighty sick man. Busi- ness is being operated on by Doctor Gov ernment quite extensively in this coun- try right now, and everybody will admit that business is quite sick, but it is argued by the doctor that when busi- ness recovers, and he assures us that it will, that 1t will be better than ever be- fore. We can only wait and see.
 Was Good Trust
 As we look at 1t, the Steel corporation, if it is d trust, was a good trust, and has been, and is, great bentft to the country, and has certainly been a great factor in the development of Birmingham. The corporation it appears to us, has al ways been very open and fair in it's dealings with the public, and has been generous indeed to its labor. It seems anxious to keep within the intentions of the law. and conceals nothing from the government about its affairs and opera tions. Still it is powerful organization. It is a centralization of great wealth. Its cry existence is a threat to competition, and it is constantly, increasing in power nd widening its influence, and great pow CT is conducive to tyranny and contempt for law. The fact that 1t controls 65 to 70 per cent of the output of iron and Steel and products of same in this country, re- Guces competition to the minimum, even though 1t does not openly fight its smaller rivals. This is a country of great com sinations of capital, and there is no ques- +1.a abused their power, and that fact is the best of evidence that they are liable to do so in the future, and every platform of both political parties fairly bristle with threats against them, a bid for votes surely, and it is not surprising that the party in power being in a desperate stu- ation, takes a shot at the biggest duck in the puddle.
 1t is argued by our democratic politi- clans that these great corporations are powerful enough to make business good ur bad, as 1t pleases them, and as they are pleased or dispeased with legisla- ton, and that a dozen or so financiers in New York control these vast combina- tions as a result control the business of the country and have it in their power to bring on a panic or create prosperity as it may suit them This may be over drawn, and doubtless is to some extent, but it certainly is not all fiction. Still the Sherma nanti-trust law was passed to control and not to destroy these great corporations, unless it is clearly proven that they have been guilty of violating it.. provisions.g In the Standard oil case the court held that they were guilty and or derea them to dissolve, and the dissolu- ton will take place in due time. Yet it is admitted that this action will not effect the oil business. or prices, and the people will still be able to get all they want, same old way so far as we are con cerned. 1t may give some of the smaller fry chance to grow without exciting the envy of the Rockefeller crowd.
 Standard Oil Position
 The Standard oil, according to the r oliticians, has many sins to answer for, and yet the Standard oil reduced prices of oil all over the country, and it was cheaper after the formation of this great ( orporation and went to the consumer cheaper than ever before. Whether this was caused by a greater supply, and tk kerefore, in spite of the Standard oil | conn. 1ny's efforts to keep prices up, we