The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-12
President Van Aise Says Politics
Protects Numerous M0n0p0-
lies and Hits Others
SHOULD SUPPLEMENT ACT
Chamber of Commerce Speakers
Favor Proposed Interstate
Trade Commission

Charles r. Van Hisc. of the Cniver-
s1y If Wisconsin proposed before, the
chamber of Commerce of America
here today that the sherman anti
tust law should he supplemented hy
an act which would forbid only COM
lfultions and contracts i'm restraint #
,,odn that are detrimental To the well
fare of the people.
Ue charged that for political rca-
sons laws against monopolics and re-
sir,,nis of trade are enforced only
a.arst "hg business the small deal
cr. the farmer and the laborer being
r,r,,iltrd to combine and monopoliEr
ai win.
FINDER the enforced competitive
slst,m." President Van iIise said.
eve are rccklcssly sldmming the cream
Of the natural resources of a virgin
continent, with no concern for the fu
turc,'
10 support this contention, the
speaker said that the coal mines could
produce 2O0,OOo,0G0 tons more coal per
year than the market demanded. but
that the operators. regulated by tho
Sherman act, were compelled To ham
de their mines, without cooperation
in limiting the output, dividing terri
tcy or regulating prices. Such prac-
ices result. he said, in mining in
Vascful fashion. working thick veins
and ucglccting the thin veins in order
Ia get coal To the market at the lowest
possible cost.
N the operators could agree upon
limitation of output So as To reduce
freight" continued the speaker, and
coult arrange for reasonable prices,
which would exploit coal conservative
ly. and they would he the gamers ~
prol, sing the life of the mines for
future generations.
$50 far as the public is concerned in
The -oparation of the Union Pacific
and southern Pacific railways, the
only effect is that there will be fever
through trains, greater expense IN
accounting, and less close cooperation
between the two systems, in handling
the freight and passenger business.
Law Is Not Impartial.
81 am willing To stand for enforce
mcut Of the law when it is enforced
alike for ALL but when some one is
picked out because it is good politics
to attack him. and the others are al
lowed to escape, | say, It is a profound
A immoral situation. To have a stat.
rtc which requires the officials Of JUS
tee To close one eye whenever they
pass by the men IN control of some
industries, and, at the same moment,
see other men not one whit more gull
~ is not Justice And that is exactly
the existing situation in this country.
The speaker said it had been gener-
ally assumed that the only violatols of
ibo sherman act were combinations
such as the steel and Tobacco trusts.
and that the small business men ana
small producers were not dealt with
under the law although they cooper
ate in exactly the same way as the
mor" powerful organizations.
congress well understands this sit
uatun.' he continued, and ut recent
session a paragraph containing an ap7
appropriation of $300,000 for the en-
lor'cmcnt of the antitrust laws was
attached with provise that none OF
Tho money should he spent in proserut-
ms combinations or agreements cf
labor, or for the prosecution of pro-
duc"rs of farm products and associa-
lions Of farmers.
Some state legislatures including
Texas, Louisiana, Illinois and South
Dakota, appreciated that the farmer $
had so many votes that they had to hc
dealt with gently when they form
UuSt ana acted accordingly"
Il confidently look forward to n new
era of social responsibility on the part
~ both the we'll -to-do and the poor.
Mr Van IIisc concluded, and to a
'lln' when reason and science rather
IMAM vested interest shall control econ
"mic legislation"
Proposed Measures Criticized.
Attention of the Chamber of Com
meice of the United states was held
oy animated discussion and criticism
" me administration antitrust legis-
htlcn program Victor MorawetZ, Of
New York, declared unequivocally
'foihSt the proposed TRUST measures
"'" under consideration by congress,
asserting that they impose additional
prohibitions which would give rise to
.u"'lonal uncertainty ana litigation
we aivoeatcd. however the establish
h'ehi uf Federal Interstate Trade
commission under an act carefully de-
""'ns its functions. powers and du-
"e'erring To the proposed measures,