Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1914-01-29
A MESSAGE OF GOOD CHEER

could be uttered regarding the last
message of President Wilson, deliv.
cred to Congress last week than
those contained in an editorial ap-
pearing in the Portland Oregonian.
AS this paper is considered one of the
most influential republican papers of
the Northwest. we are sure no one
can accuse the Times of partisanship
in giving space to the editorial, as
aside from any political reference 1t
bespeaks peace, freedom and pros
perity for the country:
president Wilson's message on |
the trusts is message OF good cheer |
to business. 1t expresses JOY over the |
calm which has succeeded the hot
contention OF the last few years be-
tween big business and the law. 1t |
welcomes the readiness of big bus
mess to submit to the decree OF pub
lie opinion that monopoly must not
exist. 1t declares the terms to which
big business must submit. but it does
so not In the tone OF the conqueror.
but In that of the kind but firm pa
rent. Though the Appomattox OF
the trusts has come. the conqueror
is as considerate as was Grant when
he handed back Lees sword
This Is as II should be- for the
whole nation. the trusts included. is
eager to complete the work OF bust
ness reconstruction which Mr. Wilson
has begun. All perceive facts to
which they were blind when heated TO
passion-that when business men are
in conflict with the law. their activi-
ties are restricted. II not paralyzed.
and that. until the way is cleared for
them TO comply with the law. the
people will suffer with them. for the
paralysis which strikes the mightiest
financially and industrially. will ex-
tend downward to the humblvst
with the leaders OF big business
ready TO submit and asking for terms
Mr.. Wilson lays down conditions
which do not abate one jot OF thai
which the people have demanded
with greater insistence as each year
has passed. The interests in finance
industry and transportation which
have unhealthfully grown together
are TO be separated completely. but
they are not to be roughly and has
tily rent apart. with skill and care
and without haste they are to be sev
cred by ne legal and administrative
surgeons knife. until each is dis
tinct. healthy body. unmarried b,
sears inflicted in the process We
the severance Is to be thorough
Bankers are no longer TO form link
which bind together in one interes
finance. manufacture and transpol
tation OF n given industry Not onl
are interlocking directorates
cease, but interlocking ownership
not to control management OF two {
more corporations
This done. business Is TO be set
it's way with full knowledge OF wh'
the law forbids and what it permit
The decisions rendered under III
Sherman law afford the basis OF IN
definition. The supreme courts rea'
ing of the word unreasonable IN
the laws prohibition OF restraints
trade is not to be repealed specihca
ly, but certain practices are to
declared reasonable and certain OF
ers unreasonable. A commission Is
be created which shall at the outs
inform a man or a corporation Whe'
er his plans are legal and which sh'
be accessible for information as
may be needed This body is to I'M
ate prosecutions and is to carry O
DEGREES OF the court dissolving |
trusts. This latter work is to be 40
as It should be, by business DO
deciding business questions not
q court deciding between two gro'
of wrangling lawyers.
Having laid out the path IN wh
business shall walk, Mr.. WIS
would increase the certainty that
penalties of departure therefrom
be imposed and will fall on the
offender. We are to have no HI
fines of corporations to be coiiec
finally from their unwilling OF
conscious customers. Guilt Is 10
personal. If a corporation omen
the official who committed OF III
gated the act is to be hned OF
prisoned. individuals injured by
lawful acts of combinations
make conviction in govern"
suit the basis for personal suits
damages. Thus while guilt Is "
personal. financial responsibility
its consequences is to be corpo''
Corporations are thus to nav
powerful incentive for keeping u
officials in the path of legality
not for tempting them TO ie"''