Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-02

political party which offers the coun-
try comprehensive and effective
plan by which to deal with these mat
tiers in the light of present conditions
will have no trouble in commanding
the support Of vast majority of the
people for the next quarter Of q CEN
fury. without this we will all be in
the quagmire and broken into fac
this condition will prevail in
all parties.
Perhaps 1t Is too soon to expect
It. but we must witness the chaotic
condition Of politics until 1t happens.
No reorganization which Is not built
on such foundation win amount to a
great deal.
What we want is an issue. and we
want that issue to be policies and not
persons.
About 20 years ago congress placed
upon the statute books a law which
had for its aim and purpose the des-
truction OF combinations, 2opularly
called trusts. It was confidently be-
lieved that this law would preserve in
our economic and Industrial life the
principle of competition. After the en-
actment Of this law, following close
ly the scriptural precedent and no
doubt with some of the same supreme
calm and satisfaction. Congress eaid
behold 1T was very good and there
upon 1T rested from all its work. So
far as the regulation OF control of
trusts IL concerned. the end and con-
summation Of human wisdom had been
reached upon that subject and congress
turned its attention to minor matters.
1t has never since overcome either its
WEAKNESS or its original satisfaction
to such an extent as to make any Inn
provement or change In the law. There
have been signs and threats of action,
but as a matter OF fact It still cries.
! behold it was very good, and 1t still
rests
Nothing in my Judgment except
| either sense Of constant oppressive
WEAKNESS or a most inordinate intel
lectual pride in past achievements
could persist in pronouncing the Sher-
man law as it stands and as It now op-
crates success. 1t has been wholly
inefficient and it's enforcement q la
mentable failure.
ut has not preserved competition.
1T has not destroyed or even curbed
monopoly. 1t has not kept open and
free the channels o. interstate trade.
/ above all, 1t has not and does not
now promise to give any relief to the
people at large.
1T has not protected the people fror
extortion. 1t has not given them relie
as against the destructive and annihi.
lating forces or combinations which are
fast sweeping the field Of independen
producers or manufacturers.
i Everybody seems to see this excep
congress.
"The period during which this statut'
has been upon the books Is marked
distinguished and individualized as tn,
period Of greatest growth of trusts ant
most pronounced decadence Of compe
tition. Never has there been a law 81
much talked Of and utterly disregarde'
or ignored by people.
Congress has year by year looke
upon 1t apparently satisfied with II
while the industrial world has move'
in disregard Of every phase Of this pro
. found piece Of legislation. At the tim
| |
nations were discernible on the wild
field Of industry, a few important ar
. ticles had come under the control O
the trusts. Now, at the end of 20 cd
years, the whole industrial field 10 oc
cupied by these powerful combination
and competition turks here and there a
a reminder of an Industrial civilization
as ancient as the civilization Of Tyr
and Babylon.
Almost everything we eat and al
most everything we wear, that whic
warns from without and that whic
sustains from within: all we have an
all that we want are controlled by com
binations built up in defiance of TIL
Y great and drastic statute. We are no.
living under regime of artificial val
ues. Competition in the true sense {
the term-that is, rivalry betwee
a equals-is as inefficient and powerles
= in fixing prices as congress and tn
courts have been in fighting the trust
Instead OF competition, instead {
the battle of the giants which wa
promised, we have the whole industri,
field occupied by giants. but resting
, armed neutrality. They found 1t woul
= not pay to fight one another. that the
could better AFFORD to get all the traff
would bear and divide It equitabl
among themselves.
"Those who talk to you in these day
about competition must be looking Il
the resurrection day.
whether competition is good thir
to preserve or not I am not now goir
IN disctlss am stating the fact I'll,