Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-27
Why Wilson's Trust Remedy
Will Fail

President Wilson is right in saying that generation of
experience has prepared the country the corporations and the
people alike to receive in spirit of cooperation laws to
the admitted evils of the past
The remedies Mr. Wilson proposes for the railroads
right Railroad willing and eager accept
They feel that they need the protection of the Government and
they willing to closer supervision Of their nan
cling Even high fnanciers longer resistant
For the Mr. Wilson has remedy He presents
idea He merely holds the olive branch them The
only regulation he proposes bureau of information without
power to do anything.
repeats ancient platitude that all private monopoly
ndefensbe and ntolerable This untrue because there
natural private monopoes like railroads telephones gas
electric lighting and anthracite COAL which Mr. Wilson
idea of abolishing, and does not find "intolerable
All these monopes necessary but they beneficial
only when their prices profits regulated by government
the prices of ALL except anthracite COAL present
Industrial monopoes should be regulated their prices
profits in exactly the whenever monopoly of
public necessity becomes strong that longer regulated
by competition This is not revolutionary Experience has
shown that it is both practicable and necessary
For the and combinations which attained
monopoly but active interstate commerce.
commission vested with to prevent every form of
strant of fraud overcapazaton has become ndpuabe
In other peace with justice be restored and main
tanned.
All legitimate cooperation combination or consolidation
WITHOUT RESTRAINT OF TRADE should be permitted It
the universal tendency of modern business all countries
neither possible desirable abolish combination coop
Grafton An organization not dangerous because large
Size is not in itself evil if it is under control
criminal trust and often does kill its rivals with
other weapon than competition trust destroy
jure others by operation 1t is the true live and let live
policy.
The Industrial Commission should be an EXECUTIVE and
judicial body Control of the trusts through the judicial
branch of the Government is admitted by lawyers
failure judicial tribunal when injurious practices
proved asks only Are such practices legal? Business
Court would ask only: Are such practices right9"
Granted adequate power such commission would stop evil
practices promptly leaving offenders against the law be
shed afterward by the courts like other criminals just
District Attorney for criminal prosecution another
The punishment Of the guilty should be for felony
demeanor by imprisonment not by fine and the ohassemen
should be directed against the responsible heads of the
ton against the stockholders Most the stockholders
of the greatest railroads and women
Only business experience independence
ncorruptbe integrity would be needed in the composing
the Industrial Commission No administrative genius even
a corporation lawyer would be necessary.
man of great ability required to MANAGE very large
bank railroad but it is well known that honest
nary ability and do successfully SUPERVISE banks and
railroads.
But President Wilson proposed Industrial COMMISSIONS
clearing house bureau of information media
ton between the great corporations and the and
the courtswould only increase official redtape multiply
off would SETTLE