The Washington times., 1912-09-06
MERE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
Says the Democratic platform:


private monopoly is indefensible and intolerable.
We therefore favor the vigorous enforcement of the
criminal as well as the civic law against trusts and
received judicial construction deprving It Of much
of its efficacy and we favor the enactment of legislation
which will restore to the statute the strength which
1t was deprived by such Interpretation. ...
Governor Marshall goes bit further; in fact, he
would not only nflict penal punishment upon the
officers of any trust violating the law but also blot out
of existence every corporation that either acquires
or merges with another works in harmony with it,
In speech at Augusta, Me-. he openly ADVOCATED
this policy of destruction, which would throw thou
sands and thousands of workmen out of employment
How can we reach the tcorporation1 question? For
felt the charter of every corporation which marres
another by "gentleman's agreement" lives openly
with another Can this be done? Why not? A corpo-
ration is only creature of the State organized to do
definite things.
This goes far beyond even the Democratic
plank as that plank goes beyond the tender socitude
for the trusts shown by the Republicans
This in itself is not surprising. But it does take
one by surprise to find the Democratic candidate
for Vice President outdoing the platforms radical
ism, while the candidate for the Presidency is strv-
ing his best to undo it,
Governor Wilson, in his speech Of acceptance,
gave long and academic analysis Of the growth
not Of those who think that competition
can be established by law against the drift of world
wide economic tendency neither of those who
believe that business done upon great scale by a
single organzaton-call it corporation what you
willis necessarily dangerous to the liberties, the
economic liberties of great people like full
OF intelligence and Of indomtable energy l not
afraid of anything that is normal dare say shall
return to the old order of individual competition
and that the organization of business upon great scale
of cooperation is up to certain point itself normal
and inevitable.
The candidate for the Presidency does not be-
eve that business done on great scale by single
organization-or, as Governor Marshall chooses to
call it, a corporation-is dangerous. But the can
didate for the Vice Presidency believes that at the
very first sign of attempt to do business large
scale the corporations charter should be revoked
which means that it must close its DOORS shut off
its machinery discontinue its pay ROLL sell its prop
erty for what it will bring, and let the public 90 beg
ging for its products
And he would have this happen not only if one
corporation "marries" another but even whenever
two corporations nave understanding with each
other; whenever they organize their business upon
great scale of cooperation which, according to the
candidate for the Presidency is not only inevitable
but normal
Luckily the campaign is still young. Before it is
over we trust that Governor wilson, Governor Mar
shall and the Democratic platform will find it con-
venient to get together in large and vacant room
and fight their differences out. The public would
like very much to know which of the three programs
is to be lived up to in of victory.