Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-01-30


the wrong in q way that will meet aii
the equities and circumstances OF the
case.
Producing Industries. for example.
which have passed the point up to
which combination may be consistent
with the public interest and the free.
dom OF trade, cannot always BE- dis
secied into their component units "a
readily IS railroad companies or sim.
liar organizations can be. Their dis.
solution by ordinary legal process may
oftentiu,es Involve financial conse-
Queneet likely to oyerwhetm the So
eurtty market and bring upon Il break.
down and confusion. There ought to
be an administrative commission ca.
pable Of directing aud shaping such
corrective processes. not only In aid
of the courts but also by independent
suggestion, II necessary,
Make punlahmsnt ceEtalA.
"tnasmueh as our object aud the
spirit of our action In these matters
is 10 meet business half way In tia
processes of aelf-eorreetion and du.
tarh It's legitimate course as little ~
possible. We ought TO see 70 Il. and tbs
Judgment OF practical aud sskaeloaa
men of affairs everywhere would ap-
piaud us II we did see to Il that poL.
aitiea and punlshments should fall.
not upon business itself. TO its contu.
sion and Interruption. but upon the
individuals who use the Instrumental.
tiles OF business to do things which
public policy aud sound business prac-
tiee condemn Every act OF business
ia done at the command or upon the
Initiative Of some aseeFtainahle per
son or group OF persons These should
be held individually responsible and
the punishment should fall upon them.
not upon the business organization OF
which they make illegal use Il should
be one of the main objects OF our leg.
lalatinn 90 divest such persons Of
their corporate cloak and deal with
them aa with those who do not rep.
resent their corporations. but merely
By deliberate intention break the law.
business men the country through
would. | am sure. applaud un u we
we're to take effeetual steps 20 see
that the officers and directors ~ great
bodies were prevented from bringing
them and the business OF the country
into dlarepnte and danger.
other questions remain which will
need very thoughtful and practical
treatment, Enterpriaea. IN these mod.
ern days OF great individual fortunes.
arc oftantlmes interlocked. not w
being under tho control Of tho same
directors. but by the fact that tho
greater part Of their corporate stock
IL owned by q single person or group
Of persons who ara III some way In.
timateiy related In interest.
Holding compaaisa
we are agreed. take II. that hold.
ing companies should bN prohibited
but what Of the controlling private
ownershlp or individuals or actually
cooperative. groupa of individuals
Shall the private owners of capital
stock be suffered 10 be themselves IN
effect holding companieaf We DO NOT
Wish. suppose. To forbid the pur.
chase Of stocks BY any person who
pleaaaa to buy them In such quaint.
tiea ~ he can afford. o. In any way
arbitrarily 70 limit the sale Of stocks
10 bonaiide purchasers. Shall We ".
uniTe the owners Of stock. when their
voting power In several companies
which ought 70 be- independent of one
another would constitute netual con.
troll. to make selection in which 81
them they will exercise their right 10
vote7 This question venture FOR
pour consideration
There Ii another matter IN which
imperative considerations OF iuHtica
and fair play suggests thoughtful
remedial action. Not only do many
q the combinations effected Or sought
TO be effected in the industrial world
work IN Injustice upon the public In
general. they also directly and aeEt,
oueIy lniurs ths individuals who ere
put out Of business IN Ona fair way or
another By the many dislodHina and
discriminating forces Of combination
hope that We shall agree In giving
private individuals who claim 70 have
been injured By these processes the
right 10 found their suits for redress
upon the facts and judgments proved
and entered In suits By the govern
meHt where the government has upon
its own Initiative sued the comblna.
tons complained of and won its suit,
and that the statute Of Limitations
shall be suffered 70 run against such
lllleanls only from the date Of the
conclusion Of ths governments action.
individual J0sties.
II Is not fair that the private llli
CAN'T should be Obliged 70 set np and
establish again the facts which the
government has proved lie cannot
afgord. be has not the power 70 make
use Of such processes Of inquiry ~
the government has command Of
Thus shall individual justice be done
while the processes Of business are
reeflfisd and squared With the general
conscience.
II have laid the case before you. nc
doubt as # lies in your own mind. ~
/ IL lies In thu thought Of the country
What must every candid man say Of
ths suggestions have laid before you
Of the plain obligations Of which
have reminded your That these are
nsw things for which the country Il
not prepared No. but that they are