New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-10
No Sherman Law Amendment.


% During the last twelve years the mean
ing and application of the so-cailed Sher,,
nan antitrust law have been dehned ana
clarified by numerous farreachins decisions
OF the United states supreme court. Indi
law should not and need not, be amendeu
o. weakened. What is now needed Is sup
Elementary legislation, conceived In the
same broad and statesmanlike spirit that
the language of the Sherman antitrust Jaw
Itself reveals, which Will make poss!pIe
administrative control, without preliminary
judicial process, of individuals and corpora
tons engaged In interstate commerce, SO
monopoly and unfair practices. This will
relieve business, both big and little, from
the uncertainty and indecision that now
hold II In check. In my Judgment. expert
ence and the judicial decisions OF the last
tv Give years Indicate with some clearnesss
the lines along which new legislation should
be drawn.
Tho proposal that the government OF
the United States shall fix the prices OF
articles used in interstate commerce.
however, is absolutely abhorrent, and an
illustration Of socialism in one OF it's
most maIeficent forms, II is perfectly
possible, by the use Of the taxing power,
to control and to limit privilege and
monopoly without placing ourselves un-
dor the tyrannical regime OF government
made prices.
I0tcFndtlCH9' GOlIClcS'
(0 The International policies which have
dignilied and made memorable the admins
tration OF President Taft should be con-
tinued and extended until We have cOl-
vinced not only the whole civilized world,
but ourselves ss well that we are. commit
ted TO a policy of peace, good VIII and the
judicial settlement OF Information dis
putes The organization OF our own federal
government illustrates to the fullest ey;
tent the possibilities OF a civilized world
in which one standard OF justice rules and
one great court Is its fnal interpreter.
Some good people have yet to learn that
treaty With another nation. pledging our
selves to submit all differences between the
two nations for Judicial settlement is no
more an alliance than a lawsuit is q mar
ria6e. This will perhaps become clear IN
time even 10 the most botsterous elements
Of our population.
ssl The sppalling eeStr coag nee t qt ges-
Il. II may well be asked whether, in in
shutting 9 much-needed inquiry into the
high cost of living. we should not begin
being governed An experienced statesman
IL reported TO have said that the govern
ment of the United states could be con.
Quoted at saving Of s30o 900 year II
II could be organized on business principles.
1t would be an act OF constructive states
manship 10 make serious EFFORT 10 test
what saving could actually be MADE y a
OF government In order that the burden
Of taxation may be relieved. The conven-
tionai excuse Tor huge appropriation IL
that this is rich country. II is not the
country, however that pays taxes; taxes
are paid by human beings
~ Those natural resources Of the coun-
try that still remain part of the public
dcmsin, whether forests mineral lands, or
water power. should be SO used and devel-
oIed as 10 give the benefits of ownership
opportunity TO those who undertake the
task OF development 10 gain a fair reward
foI their labor and their Investment;
6) That the courts, both federal ana state
may bear the heavy burden laid upon them
TO the complete satisfaction OF public opin-
ION steps should speedily be taken 20
avoid the long DELAYS and the tedious and
10 a dsriai Of Justice in civil cases and 10
A failure 20 protect the public az large IN
criminal cases. This reform would, OF itsell
relieve the courts OF much CRITICISM now
directed against them. but which they,
without legislative assistance, arc not able
to meet
Ir short time ~e shall have completed
the work that has called US here. We shall
have declared our wishes and intentions
ana we shall have made a declaration or
our principles. The Presidential campaign
Will soon open with vlsor and IN earnest.
doubt; there will be appeals and coupter-ap-
peals, denunciations and -denuncia-
items. there viii be great outbursts or en-
thusasm and OF feeling Of devotion 70 IN
diyidual leaders, and OF adherence TO par
ticuIar principles. Yet the next President Of
the United states will not be chosen IN any
OF these ways. nor will the policies OF this
Republic for the next four years be SO de-
terlnined
The next President OF the United
States will be the deliberate choice Of
tho American people after they have had
time to think after they have had time
TO weigh the attacks upon the foundation
Of their government, and after they have
had tino to contemplate the almost i'm
distance which separates
that progress which is true and lasting |
from, that progress which is false and