New-York tribune., 1912-04-04
"Injustice by Mighty Corporations"

The big business concern that is both
honest and far-sighted will | believe In the
end favor us in our efforts to secure thor
ough-golng supervision and control over
industrial big business, just as we nave
now secured over the business OF IN
terstate transportation and the business oil
banking under the national law. We do not
propose TO do injustice TO any man, but
we do propose adequately to guarantee the
people against injustice by the mighty
CORPORATIONS which make up the predom-
nant and characteristic features of modern
industrial life.
Prosperity can only permanently come to
this country on basis Of honesty and OF
fair treatment for all. Those men or enor-
NOUS wealth who bitterly oppose every spe-
cies Of effective control by the people
through their governmental agents over
the business use OF that wealth are. ver-
iy believe. most short-sighted as TO their
own ultimate interest They should well
come every effort to make them observe
and to assist them in observing the law
so that their activities shaIl be helptul
and not hurtful to the American people
Most surely IL the wise and moderate con-
troll we advocate does not come some day,
these men or their descendants VIII have
TO face the chance of some movement OF
really dangerous and drastic character
being directed against them,
The very wealthy men VINO oppose ms
action illustrate the undoubted truth that
some OF the men who nave the money
touch some OF the men who can amass
cnormous fortunes, possess an ability In
as specialiZed and as non-lndlcatlVe OF
other forms Of ability as To the ABILITY to
plav chess exceptionally well or TO add up
tour columns of figures at once. The men
~ wealth of this type are not only hostile
10 the interests OF the country, Dut hostile
to their own interest; their great business
ability is unaccompamed by even me
Slightest ability TO read the signs OF the
times or to understand the temper of the
American people
"R.aI Control Of All Big Business"
stand for the adequate control, the
real control Of all big business and es-
n.cialIy Of all monopolistic big business
where it proves unwise or Impossible 70
break up the monopoly.
Tbere is A grim irony IN the effect that
has been produced upon Wall Street ny
tho complete breakdown OF the prosecu-
tions against various trusts, notably, tne
Standard oil and Tobacco Irusl, %utusr % t sit
sherman law | have always insisted that
while the Sherman law should be kept
unon the books so as to be USED wherever
nnssible against monopoly. yet that II was
bv itself wholly unable TO AFFORD the fehel
Jop,anded by the American people as
opainst all the great corporations actually
or potentially guilty OF anu-socldl pIdC-
tees Wall Street was AT ntst nurrIsu It Wy
,he decisions in tho oil trust and tobacco
trnet cases But as regards the sherman
ortjtrust law. Wall Street has now caught
in with the administration
President mas tNplVoS'' N''''i
satisfaction with the antitrust law, ana
now that the results of the proSecutohs
,oI oIor II have been to strengthen the
S.andard oil and Tobacco trusts, to IN
.oaSn tho value of their stocks ana, AT
80 in tho case OF the Standard on: TO
i,opease The price TO the consumer. Wall
G.raot is also showing in practical fashloh
~ satisfaction with the workings OF the
- anJ its antagOnism TO US Wno tnteho
u, ,a h,,sh a real control of big business,
,,hicb shall not harm Legitimate business
w.. shai really. and not nomnally' put
pu, ton s'i 70 the evil practices of evil com
binations
AS 10 "lmpulsive Action
,,,,o president has stated that he dis
the i..,o,nrIsiye action" oy the public.
tfus.s inv greatly prefer deliberate action
l., , 9, ,he public. and in every proposal have
w or ~ made | have always provided Tor such
sset,herate action The President has warned
ne' , onainst soap box primaries. At least
us ", nea,i nrir,aries are better than the pri-
lhesy , Witch represented the impulsive
a,n,,,, Of the postmasters In the states
ACTOR sie ~ rnoorai, Florida and South Carolina,
llke p,b ,bnse "impulsve' postmasters hold
.,tI. whfn e,nmventions at the earliest possible
lhen men ~ ~ nc to affect the result in other
dhte, u =. ~, The Union where there is a genu-
inc Republican party, IT.. :. -
s,a,c tho postmasters have been warned
~ sos,sn their leadership In the party COM
wittee' but II the statements in the press