Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-06-26
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OPP. eleventh Street.

and against the Tobacco Trust and
secured favorable decisions from
the Supreme Court Both the Standard
On company and Tobacco Trust were
dissolved" into various component
parts.
The result in each case was bene-
fetal to the trusts, which now. since
they are dissolved" have really, for
the first time in their existence, a
legal basis on which to do business.
The ownership Of these trusts, of
course, remains the same as before.
Their methods are the same and the
profits go to the same persons.
Naturally enough their stock went
up after the decision Of the Supreme
Court to dissolve.
Third: There was the Dem ocratic
party, which wanted new laws passed
In order to get back to the individual
ism of Thomas Jefferson and the com
petition Of the old style. That is i'm
possible. These good folks might just
as we'll propose the abolition OF the
railroad mad return to the days Of
the old stage-coach The trust form
Is the modern way Of doing business.
Business has learned how to walk
S4A0 Will u0ESI creep again.
Fourth: We have the so-called
Progressives Of the LaFollette type.
They wish to regulate the trusts.
But regulation must necessarily fail,
because the government cannot effect
ually regulate anything it does not
own. Moreover, the trusts naturally
will try to appoint, directly or in
directly the commissioner that are
to regulate them, or to influence the
commissioners after they are appoint
| ed. It will be a matter OF business
with them. If they do not succeed,
they will simply appeal to the courts
as they have done in similar cases
everywhere. And the courts have to
decide by custom and precedent es
tablished in centuries gone by. Reg
ulation is, therefore, bound TO fail.
There remains only one more propo-
sftton, and that is the Socialist propo-
sition. 1t is the natural solution Of
the question: namely the national
ownership of the trusts by the nation.
The Socialists contend that com
plete justice can be accomplis he'd only
by the collective ownership and dem
ocratic management of the trusts and
other social means Of production and
distribution.
/ realize that all this cannot be
brought about by single strihe-by
one days evolution. But l know that
all legislation. in order to be really
progressive and wholesome, must
move in that direction.
You will say-how are you going
to evolve the new system? How are
you going to limit it?
l. We believe that everything that
is necessary for the life of the nation,
for the enjoyment OF everybody with
In the nation, the nation is to own
and manage. Therefore, we will take
over the trusts, railroads, mines, tele-
graphs and other monopoles Of ma
tionaI scope.
2. Everything that Is necessary for
the life and development of the state,
the state is to own and manage. There
are certain business functions that
the state will have to take care Of,
like interurban lines, for instance.
3. Everything that is necessary for
the life and development of a city, the
city is to own and manage, not only
street cars and light and heating
plants, but also abatoirs, public bake
shops, the distribution of pure milk
and so forth
/ I. Everything that the individual
can own and manage best, the individu-
al 10 to own and manage. That is
simple enough.
Important changes are imminent.
We see the trusts not only doing
away with competition, but also asa
ing for government interference and
for government regulation of prices.
In other words, we have the spectacle
of the trusts surrendering part Of
their ownership because they feel
ing that part of the ownership to the
government.
Thus the trusts-or at least some
Of the trusts-are willing to part with
their ownership heoause they feel
that their business has ceased to be
. private concern. The trusts feel
that their business has become a puo-
lie utility-of the most public and
utilitarfan sort.
But the change is also coming for
the other side.
| The majority a. the people have no