The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-13
SHOULD BE REASONABLE.

1t is surprising to sec how much
hostile Quibbler can make out Of a small
matter. Thus, the Ogden Standard, in
an editorial under the heading "Try'
ing to Mislcad the People, prints the
following.
The Salt Lake Tribune contends that
because the trusts have been leaving New
Jersey. to make their legal homes in
Delaware. it is useless for states such
as New Jersey 10 attempt TO curb those
organizations.
The same reasoning would discourage
all State legislation that could he tempo
rarily evadcd by virtue of other states
failing to do their full duty. That argu-
ment Is too specious to deceive any one.
gardless OF other States. Eventually thai
States leadership will bring its reward
by all States following the good example
set them.
The Tribune evidently would temporlzc
on great issues and ignore principle. That
IS one Of the besetting sins OF those
papers That arc everlastingly apologizing
for the powerful, predatory rich
Now the truth is, The Tribune did
not "contend in the matter at all;
it has not at any time made any
apologies Of the kind stated. It
merely printed the facts, and ad
vised caution in that sort Of legisla-
ton; since it is a demonstrated fact
that one State cannot pass legislation
of that kind that will be effectual as
against the combinations or trusts
aimed at. These combinations and
trusts can easily slip across State lines,
and even across the continent if need
be, We said. therefore, that it was
well to be cautious about that kind
of legislation: and it would be espec
tally we'll for New Jersey to be eau
tious since it has lost a good deal of
money by the transfer.
AS to the proposition for the control
of corporations and trusts. there is no
question about that desirabiliiy Our
idea in all this matter is, and has
been frequently expressed that all cor
poratiors doing an interstate business
should be compelled to take out Ma
tional Incorporation. That is the pur
port and gist Of our whole contention,
so far as that is concerned We have
We do not see that any State ought
to have the right to issue incorpora
tion papers for any concern to do busl
ness in another State. especially as the
whole question of the control Of inter
state commerce is distinctly placed
by the Federal Constitution with Con
gress. And yet our practice has been
right along to allow States to charter
corporations empowered and authorized
to do business In any State of the
Union.
We have shown, and used the New
Jersey illustration as a further dem
onstration, that State legislation IS in
effective in this matter; that what is
needed always, in order to control inter.
state business and corporations engaged
therein, is incorporation under National
law, all such corporations TO be sub
iect to the regulation of Congress. and
beyond the control of the several
States. Intelligent and candid Trib.
une readers understand perfectly that
this is our position, and always has
been. The effort to make it appear
that we do not believe In regulating
combinations and trusts merely because
we want them more perfectly regulated
than States are able to do, is at once
jmbecile and dishonest.