The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-01

cratic party for the present an
Of the nation. It Is. and 'alwa
opposed to strong Federal actlJ
party afraid OF power
I'VE cannot control our great
power. But the Democrats dare
use power themselves. nor let any j
else have It. Their. trust program. /
This s fear TaG Iery osa %ads ap's
bills propose a weak Federal trade en-
mission, with no power except X in
vestigate and report. They Tar to
cope with corporate abuses. /fhey fear
to give the commission poEer TO nre.
vent unfair trade practkes. Indeed,
co conn nu pew @0q rea, 31rdly give the
much less TO destrN by proner adj
illustrative order. IN onopolies based on
Essential ss elp to- prc6Ss Of factor
Of investigator and Observation-Disclosures
which nnm,s the afl proposes to give to the
n no ohiscR so far as they go. We have
Of the 1T is the i ,n
nnii'o,nnosoly which we condemn. Progress
no., % congressman voted for the bill.
MT because 1t represents an adequate
attempt to deal with great problem,
but in the hope that "a day will arrive
when the so-called trade commission
Will be given sufficient power to make
II real trade commission. such as our
nationa! platform promises. and such
as the bills which we have introduced
would provide.
FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BILL
The House of Representatives has
also passed bill supplemental to the
provisions of this bill deserve com
mendation, especially those which pro-
hibit certain forms Of Unfair trade
yet clearly condemned. but which up
right business men everywhere recog-
nize as wrong and tending to monopoly.
Similar provisions will be found in the
Progressive antitrust bills.
But the Clayton bill goes hopeless
~ wrong in that IL forbids specifically
any combination, or agreement In inter-
state commerce, between any two or
more corporations, firms or even in
dividuals, which In any way lessons or
restricts the competition between them.
ton. They propose that two farmers
selling milk across a State limo cam
not cooperate: and that two men doing
any business across State line cannot
form a partnership or "A corporation.
They insist that there must be no big
business power. concentrated power, or
iEa ,g enternries anywhere. and that our
of not merely 1850, but 1850; to the
cobbler's bench, the grist-mill and the
blacksmith'S forge.
This Is economic absurdity I'm
limited competition has proved ono of
the creates. curses of modern clvIli-
alton. 1t was unlimited competition
which created the great trusts, exactly
as It created the sweat-shop, and is
chiefly responsible for child labor. The
new freedom Is merely the exceedingly
old freedom which permits each man
to cut his neighbours throat.
The Progressive plan. on the other
hand" said Colonel Roosevelt, will
allow business concentratioh in SO far
economic efficiency and good service
Bu, 1t VIII also give the government
full power to sec that business con-
ends, and that 1t Is not used for un-
fair competition or for monopoly or
Tor the unfair treatment OF labor for
This Is the only tenable position on
facts, and does not try try to t taSeS bs .He
experience We have had
several cardinal facts hammered into
49,. SHOWN BY EXPERIENCE
First we cannot and do not want
TO destroy all corporations; we must
have large units to do our work.
Second, We cannot make every man
with every other man: we
cannot go back to 1850, still less TO
1850.
Third. we cannot destroy monopoly
by attacking all forms of concentra-
ton whether conopolistic or not.
Fourth. we cannot destroy real mo-
IOpoiS Wy dlihChlIB It's legal FORM.
We must find out and take away the
real economic basis OF monopoly, which
is very different thing.
Firth, we can get no effective re-
suits through the courts, with their
slow and restricted procedure
sixth, we must encourage honest
business, and allow that busienss con-
centration which will give the power
necessary to servo us. This policy OF
the encouragement OF decent business
is as important to the welfare of our
people as Is our other policy of ef-
fectire warfare against corrupt and
unfair business.
Seventh. there must be cooperation
among business men. among wage
workers and among farmers.
I'VE have had now twenty-four
years experience with trying to regu-
late business by destruction the Col
onel concluded. THE result has been
nearly fiat failure. The administration
proposes a policy of further destruc-
ton. even more unintelligent In con-
ception, and certain to be more futile
In performance, than the existing poll
Icy which II amends.
THE only alternative Is the Progress
sIve plant. From all of this
1t follows that we have a right to
ask good citizens to join against the
present administration. The policies
of the administration should be re-
bukcd by the people and Senators and
congressman returned TO Washington,
who will strive to end these policies"
BIG FIRE IN NORFOLK.