The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-03
HE pRAcrIcED WHAT HE PREACHED.


Unfair competitive methods is the chief charge
brought against the International Harvester com
many in the report Of the bureau Of corporations
made public this morning. Ovcr-cspitalization'
fiat characteristic of most Of the large industrial
corporations of modern days, is not evident the
trust being acquitted on this count by the bureaus
report
with this exception, however. the findings of
the bureau Investigators furnish the best illus
fration Of the evils of monopoly and go to refute
the contention of Colonel Roosevelt and George
w. Perkins. financial promoter of the Bull Moose
party and of the corporation under fire, that
monopoly In certain lines is due to efficiency,
Tower cost of production and consequent lower
sales price Of the articles produced. The success
OF the Harvester trust is shown not to have been
due to efficiency. but TO indofensible methods of
competition with independents and to the use OF
mower to destroy competitors by unjust and lie
gal methods 1T appears, therefore" says the
report that the international Harvester com
panys position in the industry Ia chiefly attri-
butable to a monopolisuc combination in the har-
yestfng- machine business, certain unfair competi-
tive rates and superior command of capital
The latter of these need not be considered
To be able to command capital is necessary to
all business and that disadvantage must be ac-
cepted by competitors so long as the power IT
gives is not unjustly used. Of the other two
the one follows the other as effect follows cause
-Menopoiistie combinations gave the corporation
the mower to carry on those certain unfair
competitive methods" and in turn those unfair
competitive methods strengthen the monopoly
and make further depredations upon the indie
pendents easier Of success
OF the methods complained Of in the bureaus
report the exclusive clause in agency contracts,
and the operation Of purchased companies under
the false banner of independents have been
abandoned The most tyrannical Of all Of the
methods Of the company, however. the report finds
to be still practiced. Compulsion of dealers to
take new" lines which subject TO competi-
tion. on penalty Of being refused the sale OF
harvesting machines Of which the corporation has
practical monopoly; special discriminatory
prices and terms; representations by statesmen
that purchasers of competitive lines will be I'M
able to secure repair parts from the Harvester
corporations, having monopoly Of the manu-
facture OF them, and attempts TO control the re
tail prices Of the machines are among these
Competition under such circumstances is neces
sariIy difficult and as a result many independents
have given mp the fight. To prevent such prac
tees is feasible and 1t will not be necessary tc
unscramble the egg" 10 do it. That Mr. Perkins
opposes competition was made known to the eoun
try during that period when he was talking about
making 1t fit for his children to live In. 1t is
now known that he has been actively opposin9
competition for years in order to make the coun
try fit place for the harvester trust TO live in
The report of the bureau of corporations shows
that while the earnings Of the corporation have
been large they have fallen off recently. The
difference might be found in the campaign chest
o. the bold knight who last summer brought
out his brand new plan for ending competition
and fought go vanantly to have II put In practice