Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12
TENDENCY IS TO COMBINE.
Judge Knapp Says Mammoth
Trusts Will Arise, and Coun-
sells Regulation.

PHILADELPHIA. May 1.-Martin A.
Knapp president judge OF the federal
Commerce Court, made a speech last night
at the annual meeting of the Law Acad-
envy of Philadelphia in the Historical So
ciety's building, prophesying that event
uaIiy big corporations will absorb all the
Industries, He gave il as his opinion that
combination and regulation is the only
solution of the complex problems which
modern transportation of persons and
freight had brought upon the commercial
field
He declared that in his Interpretation
of the signs of the times prohibitory leg
islatIon, whether state or national.
against combinations and unions of big
business would not avail to stop the ulti-
mate federation of all industrial move
ments. In spots his address strong
ly suggestive of modified socialism.
Fulton the Pioneer
Judge Knapp said in part:
Nothing new In motive power hap
pened from the days of Abraham until
Fulton tried out his little steamboat on
the Hudson. Then the new system of
transportation vastly influenced the drec-
ton and volume of commerce. the divis-
ion of labor and the social and Industrial
habits of the world. The closer contact
opened the way for worldwide brother
hood
Industrial competition used to be
thought necessary. but as the area of
distribution enlarged competition in
creased by. geometrical proportion. and
the rivalry of products, the stress and
strain of labor. became constant. How
soon will they become unbearable?
New methods must be adapted to deal
with the friction. Coordination of effort
is the only possible way. When the meth
DDS of conveyance and intercourse are
brought TO still higher perfection, when
cost is reduced and speed doubled. and
the density of population. here becomes
as IL IS in England. how then can indus
trial competition possibly endure?
Tendency to Combine
The opportunity and inducement to
combine are TO me the obvious tendency
Of the industrial and social movements of
the world. How fast this idea will move
il is hard TO say. Remedies will be sought
in profit-sharing enterprises, in increasing
the functions of government, in the rela-
tons between employers and their wage
earners. The outcome will be a central
lied control of management
Competition in trade does not fit in
this world of wireless and progress. 1t
may have served its purpose in the days
Of the spinning wheel and the hand loom;
but now every sweatshop. every half
paid man or woman, every starving
child. is a rerldiation OF its principles
If all civilization has done for US is to
make every man for himself, then, 1
think, progress is a misfortune. l am
not terrified by the cry of paternalism
or of monopoly. The trust and the labor
union, products of the railroad. are here
TO stay. Nothing can stop the growth
of industrial federation.
Vital Need of the Hour.
Controversies will always spring up
among men. and between employers and
their employed especially. no matter how
fairninded they may be. Society has
devised the judicial system to settle
these disputes. but not the slightest at
tempt is made to restore good fellowship
after the legal rights of a question are
decided. Here is a vital need for which
we have no adequate remedy.
The integrity of our institutions is
threatened. While | don't deprecate the
antitrust laws, their continual use will
not do the work we desire to consum-
mate. What we want is an old-fash-
Toned revival of honesty, a little more
robust integrity to get universal brother
hood. and l feel 1t is the privilege and
the duty of the American lawyer to aid
in the success of this undertaking."
Lewis II. Van Dusen. president of the
academy, made the Introductory address.
Judge Knapp was a guest at a private
dinner at the Union League preceding
his address