The Washington times., 1912-02-21

portstinn agencies which are engaged
IN irtel state business. Tile 'tnu-trust
law does good In so far as II can b. In
voked against combir atoms which really
are monopolies or which restrict nro-
duction or which artificially raise prices.
But In so far RS its workings are UNI
certain, or as II threatens corporations
which have not heen guilty OF anti
social conduct, II does harm. Moreover,
Il cannot by itself accomplish more
than q triling part of the Cover nnlentnl
regulation of big business which Is
The nation and the States must
cooperate in this matter. Among
the States that have entered this field
Wisconsin has taken Q. leading place
Following Senator "a Toilette, a num-
her Of practical workers and thinkers
In Wisconsin have turned that State
into an experimental laboratory of wise
governn entail action In aid of social and
justice. They have initiated
the Kind of progressive government
which means not merely the preserva-
ton OF true democracy, but the extern
sion of The principle of true democracy
into industrialsm as we'll as into poll
has been 90 successful in this policy lies
ir the fact that Il has done Justice to
corporations precisely as II has eXacted
justice from them. Its public utilities
swercd certain critics as follows:
ITO be generous to the neoplc of the
State at the expense of justice to the
carriers would be a species OF official
brieandage that ought to hold the per-
petrators up to the execration OF all
honest men. Indeed, we nave no idea
that the people of Wisconsin have the
remotest desire 10 deprive the railroads
of the Stat of auSht that, in equality
and good conscience, belongs TO them,
and If any OF them have. their vishes
carrot be cratitled by this commission"
This is precisely the. attitude we
the. practical application Of the .prin-
ciple Of the square deal. Not only as
a matter of justice, but in our own in
terest, we should scrupulously respect
ard should encourage 1t where its &C.
tiv,tles make, as they often do make,
for the common coed 1t Is for the Id
vantage of all of us when business pros
us 10 nave II" United States. he
como the leading nation In inter
national trade, and we shodld not
deprive this nation. we should not
deprive. this people, of the instru,-
ments best adapted to secure such
international commercial supremacy.
In other words. our demand is that
Mig business give the people a square
deal and that the people give a
square deal to any man engaged in
big business who honestly endeavors
to do what is right and proper.
Bad Corporations.
On the other hand. any corporation,
big or little which has gained its
position by unfair methods and by
Interference with the rights of Others
which has raised prices or limited
output in improper fashion and been
guilty OF demoraliZing and corrupt
practices, should not only be broken
up. but 1t should be made the bust
ness of some competent government
al body by constant supervision to
sec that 1t does not come together
again, save under such strict con-
troll as to insure the community
against all danger Of a repetition of
the bad conduct. The chief trouble
with big business has arisen from
the fact that big business has so often
refused to abide by the principle OF
the square deal; the opposition which
personally have encountered from
not because ] did not give a square
deal but because l did.
All business into which the ele-
ment of monopoly in any way or de-
practice impossible totally to elimin-
ate this element OF monopoly. should
be carefully supervised, regulated,
and controlled by governmental au-
thority; and such control should be
exercised by administrative, rather
than by judicial, officers. No effort
should be made to destroy n big cor
poration merely because 1t Is big,
merely because 1t has shown itself
a culiarly efficient business in
strument. But we should not fear,
II necessary, to bring the regulati on
of big corporations to the point OF
controlling conditions so that the
age-worker shah have wage more
than sufficient to cover the bare cost
of living, and hours of labor not so
excessive a S to wreck his strength
by the strain of unending toll and
leave him UNFIT to do his duty as a
good citizen in the community. Where
regulation by competition (Which is,
of course. preferably proves insult
hCient, we should not shrink from
bringing governmental regulation TO
the point of control of monopoly
prices If 1T should ever become nee
essary to do so, just as in exception
al cases railway rates are now reg
ulated.
ministraIive department. in regulat-
ing combinations and checking abso-
Lutte monopoly, I do not. of course,
overlook the obvious fact that the
do their part. The Legislature should
make 1t more clear exactly what
methods are Illegal and then the
judiciary will be in better position
" PUNISH ana relentless
lY those who insist on defying the
clear legislative DEGREES do not
believe any absolute private monop-
oily is justified, but If our great com
binat tons are properly supervised, sc
that immoral practices are prevented
absolute monopoly will not come to
pass, as the laws OF competition and
efficiency are against 1t.
The important thing is this: that
Under such Government recognition
as we may give to that which is
bene1cent and wholesome in large
business organizations, we shall be
most vigilant never to allow them
to crystalline into a condition which
shall make private initiative difficult
It is of the utmost importance that
in the future we shall keep the broad
path of opportunity Just as open and
easy for our children as 1t was for
our fathers during the period which
has been the glory of Americas in.
dustrial historY-that it shall be mo-
only possible but easy for an am.
bilious man, whose character has sc
impressed itself upon lis neighbor.
that they are willing to give him cap,
ital and credit, to start in business
for himself. and. If his superior eff
| fcienCy deserves 1t, to triumph ovei
! the biggest organization that may
! happen 20 exist in his particular field
whatever practices upon the part o
| large combinations may threaten t
| discourage such a man, or deny Il
| him that which in the judgment o
| the community is square deal
| should be specifically defined bV tn,