Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-22

which is unnecessary as regards small
business III do not believe in making
mere size of and by itself criminal
The mere fact of size. however does
Enthusiastically carry the potentiality
of such grave wrong doing that there
should be by law provision made for
the strict supervision and regulation
of these great industrial concerns do
ing an inter- state business much as
we now regulate the transportation
agencies which are engaged in inter-
state business.
"The antitrust law does good in so
far as it can be invoked against COM
binations which really are monopolies
or which restrict production or which
artificially raise prices. But in so far
sas it's workings are uncertain. or as
it threatens corporations which have
not been guilty of anti-social conduct.
it does harm. Moreover, it cannot by
itself accomplish more than a trifiing
part of the government regulation of
big business which is needed. The
nation and the states must cooperate
In this matter.
Among the states that have en-
tered this field Wisconsin has taken a
leading place. Following Senator La
Toilette. a number of practical work
ers and thinkers In Wisconsin have
turned that state into an experimental
laboratory of wise governmental ac-
tion in aid of social and industrial jus
tice. They have initiated the kind of
progressive government which means
not merely the preservation of true
democracy, but the extension of the
principle of true democracy into in
dustrialism as well as into politics.
Our demand is that big business
give the people 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 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 linn
tied output in improper fashion and
been guilty of demoralizing and cor
rupt practices. should not only be
broken up, but it should be made the
business of some competent govern
mental body by constant supervision
to see that it does not come together
again. save under such strict control
as to insure the community against all
danger of a repetition of the bad con-
duct.
The chief trouble with big business
has arisen from the fact that big bust
ness has SO often refused to abide by
the principle of the square deal; the
opposition which | personally have en-
countered from big business has in
every case arisen not because l did
not give a square deal but because ]
did.
"All business into which the element
of monopoly in any way or degree en-
ters, and where it proves in practice
impossible totally to eliminate thi'
element of monopoly, should be care
fully supervised, regulated and con-
trolled by governmental authority;
and such control should be exercised
by administrative, rather than by ju-
dicial, officers. No effort should be
merely because it is big, merely be-
cause it has shown itself a peculiarly
efficient business instrument
The legislature should make it more
clear eAetiy what methods are illegal,
and then the judiciary will be in n
better position TO punish adequately
and. relentlessly those who insist on
defying the clear legislative DEGREES.
I do rot believe any absolute private
monopoly is justified, but if our great
eombipatiens are properly supervised,
SO that immoral practices are prevent
ed, absolute monopoly will not come
to pass, as the laws of competition
and efficiency are against it.
shape your Constitutional action
SO that the people will be able through
their legislative bodies, or, failing that,
by direct popular vote, to provide
workLnens compensation acts, to reg
ulate the hours of labor for children
and for women, to provide for their
safety while at work. and to prevent
overwork or work under unhygienie or
unsafe conditions. See to Ii that no
restrictions are placed upon legisla-
tive powers that will prevent the en-
actment of laws under which your peo-
pie can promote the general welfare,
the common good.
so much for the ends of Govern :
ment and 1 have, of course. merely
sketched in outline what the ends
should be. Now for the machinery by
which these ends are to be achieved;
and here again remember | only
sketch in outline and do not for a
moment pretend to work out in detail
the methods of achieving your pur-
poses.
Tn the first place. / believe in the
short ballot. You cannot get good
service from the public servant if you
cannot see him, and there is no more
effective way of hiding him than by
mixing him up with a multitude OF
others so that they are none of them
important enough to catch the eye of
the average, workaday citizen. The
crook in public life is not ordinarily
the man whom the people themselves
elect directly to highly important
and responsible position. The profess
sional politician and the professional
lobbyist thrive most rankly under a
system which provides a multitude OF
elective officers, of such divided re-
sponsibility and of such obscurity
that the public knows, and can know,
but little as to their duties and the