The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-12-12
PREPARES anti. .
TRUST SPEECHES
Judge Robert L. Henry Introducing
Bills Before Congress Concerning
Great Trust Problems.
MAY AMEND SHERMAN LAW
Idea Is To Follow Up With Other Bills
Directed Against Bulwarks of
the Money Trust.
MAY AMEND SHERMAN LAW


Washington, December 12-"First
and foremost, teeth of steel for the
Sherman law-after that, deal with
the Money Trust" This is the at
titude of Judge Robert L. Henry,
Chairman of the Rules Committee of
the House, and one of the leaders
whose voice will have influence in
the shaping of legislation dealing
with the great trust problem. 9
Judge Henry is fitting actions to
his words by introducing in the
House a series of bills on the trust
question. The first of these Is
bill to amend the Sherman law, to
make it's jaws as deadly as those of
a bear trap,
The bill defines exactly what cor
poration can do legally in the way
of monopolizing an industry, and
the prescribed acts in restraint OF
trade. There is to be no shadow land
in the Sherman law where courts to
interpret as they please, If Judge
Henry has his way. His bill would
repeal the Supreme Court "amend-
ment" which read the word reason
able into the law. And finally the
bill adds the teeth-from two to ten
years in the penitentiary for VIOLA
ton of the law, with no discretion
allowed to courts to substitute fines
FOR imprisonment.
This bill will be followed by a
measure drawn by Judge Henry plac-
ing the governments interdict on in
terlocking directorates. Other bills
will be directed against other bull
warks of the Money Trust, and the
entire series is designed to be COM
plete solution of the question. With
Attorney Brandeis, of Boston, Judge
Henry believes that there can be no
real condition of competition again
until the Money Trust is destroyed.
What can we do to restore free
dom to American industries?"
asked Judge Henry. eve can drive
out of Interstate and foreign COM
MERGE every corporation with ficti-
tiOus and watered stock, those whose
capital stock is SO great as to make
them approximate monopoly, all
holding companies, and all corpora
lions whose stocks are owned and
controlled by holding companies and
other corporations.
1--WE can place limitation on the
capital stock Of these corporations
and banks; we can prohibit the hold
ing and voting of the stock of these
banks by other corporations; we can
prevent interlocking directorates.
eve can prohibit their consolidate
ing in the roundabout way now in
vogue which piles up money in their
vaults amounting to many millions
of dollars to detriment of the entire
country
"We have power under the consist
tuition to prevent this interlocking
of directorates and coalescing of
stocks and interests, and should has
ten to apply it by congressional &C
ton. We know the facts, and COM
prehensive law will bring the relief
so manifestly just to the people,
owe must have no class legisla-
ton and arraying of class against
class. We must have no clamor leg
itimate wealth honestly acquired
There must be no unjust attack
against corporations and corporate
powers within the limits of their
granted charter rights. And still
trusts and monopolies must be dis
inte grated and utterly eradicated
The conflict is and should be ir-
repressible"