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

President Wilson right in saying that generation of
experience has prepared the country the corporations and the
people alike to receive in spirit of cooperation laws
the admitted evils of the past
The remedies Mr. Wilson proposes for the railroads
right Railroad willing eager to accept them
They feel that they need the protection the
they willing closer supervision
cling Even high fnanciers" longer resistant.
For the trusts Mr. Wilson has remedy He presents no
new idea He merely holds out the olive branch
only regulation he proposes bureau of information without
power to do anything
repeats the patude that all private monopoly
is ndefnsible and noerabe untrue because there
natural private monopoes like railroads telephones gas
electric lighting and anthracite coal Mr. Wilson has no
idea Of aboishing and does not find "ntolerable"
All these monopHes necessary, but they
only when their prices profits regulated by
as the prices of all except anthracite COAL present
Industrial monopoe should be regulated their prices
or profits in exactly the whenever monopoly
public necessity becomes strong that is longer regulated
by competition This is not revolutionary Experience has
shown that 1t is both practicable and necessary.
For the trusts and combinations which attained
monopoly but are active IN interstate Government
commission vested with power prevent every of
aint Of fraud overcaptazaon has become ndsputabe
In no other way 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 in all countries
neither possible desirable to abolish combination COOP
GRAFTON An organization Is not dangerous because it large
Size is not in itself an evil, If 1t is under control
criminal trust and often does kill rivals with no
other weapon than competition trust destroy
lure others by cooperation live and let live
policy
The Industrial Commission should be EXECUTIVE
not judicial body Control Of the trusts through the judicial
branch of the Government admitted by lawyers be
failure judicial tribunal when injurious practices
proved asks only Are such practices legal7 Business
Court would ask only Are such practices right7
Granted adequate power such commission would stop evil
practices promptly leaving offenders against the law pun
ished aerward by the courts like other criminals Just as
who commits perjury action the
District Attorney for criminal prosecution in another
The punishment of the guilty should felony not mis-
demeanor by imprisonment by fne and the chassement
should be directed against the responsible heads Of
on not against the stockholders Most of the stockholders
of the greatest railroads and women
Only common business experience independence and
incorupbe integrity would be needed in the composing
the Industrial Commission No administrative genius not even
a corporation lawyer would be necessary
man of great ability is required MANAGE very large
bank railroad but it is well known that men of ord
nary ability and do successfully SUPERVISE the banks and
railroads
But President Wilson's proposed Industrial Commission
clearing house. bureau of information media
ton between the great corporations and the and
the courtswould only increase official redtape and multiply
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