Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-01-31
CIVIC FEDERATION
FINDS SHERMAN :
LAW UNP PULAR
NEITHER CLEAR NOR
WORKABLE SAY CRITICS
Sixteen Thousand Answers to
Series of Questions Show
Little Desire to Abolish Large
Combinations,


New York. Jan. 30.-The National
civic Federation today made public
an analysis of sixteen thousand ans
wers received by it to "A series OF
questions concerning the sherman
law. The analysis of the answers is
summed up by the federation as fol-
lows:
The replies indicate little sen;i-
ment in favor of the unconditional re
peal of the sherman law. ON the 9TH
rr hand. il is shown that there is
no desire to abolish large
The public have no de-
sire for government ownership on one
side. or unrestricted ana unreguiated
private or corporate control on the
other. They will accept large COM
binations adequately regulated
The questions were sent to editors,
political economists. lawyers. public
lists. statsNcians, manufacturers,
merchants. bankers and the officers
Of commercial, labor and other organ
iZations.
Going into detail regarding the re-
plies the federation says:
Eightyfour per cent of the ans
wers pronounce the Sherman law
neither clear nor workable; or work
a Bile without being clear; but only
some twenty per cent declare in IA
vOr of its repeal.
OF these latter the large number
add that If not repealed, it should
be amended" etc.
Substantially the usual phraseol-
ogy of suggestions for amending the
Sherman law is" Make it SO that
business men can understand it" or,
Bring it into line with modern bus
mess conditions
Eighty per cent of the replies FAVOR
federal license, or Incorporation, for
engaged in interstate ccm-
nerce, about one-third of the eighty
.aking federal license as an alterna-
i've. SeVenty-tiVe per Ct IT are op-
1sed TO holding cefnpanh while of
he remainder nearly all want hold
ng companies bound by restrictions
hat would prevent abuses.
Government regulation of capital
zation is approved by ninety per cent
If those to whom that question was
a few of the minority who
suggesting that oVer-capi-
is not always an evil, but
brings capital into action
hat would otherwise remain idle.
The important advantages claim
a for those doing business on 4
arge scale--economies in production,
economies in distribution and greater
Use of -products-are admitted
Without dissent by all who answer
hat query. 'Steadier employment Of
abor and at better wages ana better
against industrial acci-
Ients' are denied by thirty-five per
ent and more command of interna-
ionl trade and 'commmand of the
l,N+ 70
ent of those answering.
About eighty per cent favor an
Interstate Industrial commission, some
ualifylng with the condition that it
hould be composed of business men
My and two labor representatives.
that the commission should
onsist of one member from each
sort Of interstate business
enate.
"A comparatively small proportion
re in favor Of control OF prices by
n industrial commission.
THAT business conditions are dis
urbed nearly every reply admits. In
he thousands of replies received
irge majority assert that business
are unsatisfactory and en-
orcement of the Sherman law is most
mentioned by business
zen as a disturbing cause, on the
round that they do not understand
he law and that the uncertainty as
, its meaning retards enterprise
lakes capital hesitate to enter upon
ew investments and prompts those
charge Of business undertakings
} restrict expenditures to labor on
Ne demands Of the trade.
Ii is significant that the leaders of
rganiZed labor, representing three
,illfons of wage earncTs Al, practic-
llv unanimous in demanding that the
herman antitrust act should either
- repealed or amended to exempt
ON its operations ORGANIZATIONS -
Dor and organizations OF farmers.
Lanv of them, however. argue for
5 amendment from the standpoint Ui ,
le business man. 4
Their experience and training on !
work and their contract
18th the employers of the country
ave led them almost universally to .
Ie position that too much competition
the death of trade. Samuel Com
.rs. John Mitchell. James Duncan,
'arren $. Stone. w. :. Carter w
Lee. James NJ. Lynch and a. B. 3
arretson. all reflect this view.
1t is interesting to note that the d
bankers wholesale and b
tail merchants and also commercial ?
that took "a membership
1te are strongly opposed To the re- /
-al OF the sherman act. but Just as
rongly want it amended along lines !
at will permit regulation through an
dustrial commission Of some KIND.