Evening journal., 1914-07-07


Progressive Antitrust Program.
Let us turn now to Inc Progress
sive antitrust program. We believe
IN cooperation among business men,
among farmers, and among wage
y orkers. Our program is based on
the fundamental proposition that the
state should regard private mono
polistic power as contrary TO public
welfare, but that it should never at
tack a particular business Organiza-
tion merely because of its size. In
many lines of industry the unit of
social and economic efficiency in our
time is a large unit What we want
is business machinery, strong and
sufficient enough to do our business,
work to supply well and cheaply the
daily needs Of 90,0O0,000 people. We
want that machinery run honestly,
fairly, and without monopoly. In
short, we want business power ample
to serve us, and we do not want
that power abused We want the
control Of corporations TO be exer-
| cised effectively and promptly, so as
to get results. We should end once
and for all the attempt to regulate
business Ivy a series Of lawsuits We
wish to put stop othe marrying
end persecution Of honest business
men who do right.
Two Causes OF Monopoly.
In the main. monopoly springs
from two causes; either the ability
and the viii to engage in unfair op-
| pressive trade practices, or the con
troll of some factor necessary to the
/ successful conduct of the industry
involved
We do not object TO business su-
| premacy which results from the
social and economic efficiency of
business organization. which enables
the business TO produce good pro-
ducts at reasonable rates. We have
no quarrel with such efficiency. A
J corporation is entitled TO the reward
of its efficiency, but the control Of the
market gained by unfair trade prac-
ticos, or by taking undue advantage
OF the exclusive control of a factor
| essential to successful production.
1T is evident that the problem Of
all antitrust legislation is effectively
10 determine, on the one hand what
trade practices are unfair. and, on
the other. TO prevent the exclusive
control of any factor essential 10 pro-
ductiOn by any person or corporation
or group operated as unit IL is
primarily an administrative problem
To meet 1t we must have adequate
administrative machinery.
THE Progressiyes therefore advo-
cate the creation OF strong inter
state trade commission, and would
give such commission. primarily,
three powers:
First The power Of investga-
ton. The commission should be
able to ascertain on complaint or on
its own motion whether a monopoly
in fact exists. and if it docs exist. the
basis of its monopolistic power
Second. The power directly to
prohibit all unfair trade practices
within its jurisdiction. This power
would enable the commission to stop
ali monOpOlies based on unfair and
oppressive trade practices. When
ever monopoly is based ON such prac-
tices. what is needed is not The right
to recommend that suits be- brought
by the Attorney-Goneral. or by any
one else. What is needed is the
0irect power i'm the commission itself
to stop the wrong.
Third The power to end the OK
= elusive control of a factor necessary
TO production by an order adapted to
/ the circumstances of the particular
case. The order NAV involve
changes i'm organization, in manage
, ment or in the conduct of The bust
I ness. Where exclusive possession of
a natural resource is the basis of the
monopoly. it may be necessary to
? subject its possession to the obliga-
uon of public service; that is, the
obligation to sell TO others a reason
able amount at reasonable rates.
} No Quarrel with Large Business.
Our constructive program Of anti
f trust legislation has no quarrel with
r large business organizations as such
, On the contrary. we recognize that
: lusiness efficiency in productions can
] be alta only through business or
/ ganiza ON. But We demand that the
e Goycrhn '"t be clothed with all the
, necessary power 70 crush monopoly
- with all its attendant evils
"COntrasted with this program. VIC
D have the Democratic anti-trust pro
s Eram, now under discussion i'm the
e. senate OF the United States. Thai
s program proves the inadeuuacy of the
e Democratic party for the present and
B the future of the nation. II is. and
] always will be, the States rights
q party, the party opposed TO strong
Federal action, the party afraid oi
a power
e democrat Trust Plan Futile.
We cannot control our great ma.
t'onal businesses without power. ma.
tonal power But the Democrats
care not use power themselves. moi
T. let any one else have it, Their trus
. program, as il stands today. is mad,
{ futile by this fear Their official ad
7 ministration bills propose veal
I Federal trade commission. with M
f power except to investigate and re
d rort They fear to give the govern
e J ment the strength TO cope with cor
a porate abuses. They fear TO give IN,
z commission power to prevent unfair
c trade practices. Indeed. their measure
r. would hardly give the commission
a rowor really TO investigate. muol
T less to destroy the proper admins
s trative order, monopolies based OF
the exclusive possession OF a 'factoi
r. essential to production
d ITO the power of investigation an,
G recommendation which the bill pro
e poses to give to the commission, 8,
n far as they so. we have no objection
s 10 is the inadequacy of the commits
d SONS power TO destroy monopoly
@ which we condemn Progressive con
Il gressmen voted for the bill not be
e cause It represents an adequate at
4 tpmrt IN doal with "a erroof ,rnI,lot,,