The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-25

Just as certainly as the great COM
binations are violating the Sherman
act, as I have no doubt many OF them
are. so are the small manufacturers
and tradesmen violating state anu
trust statutes. This general Vlolat1on
Of the trust laws, national and SH|e'
Is the problem before us.
The Effects Of the Sherman Act
While the above is a true descrlp-
ton Of the existing situation the Sner~
man Act has clearly conferred some
benefits. Thus the invocation OF tn1s
act prevented the advance OF frelghI
rates by the railroads until the 1alr--
ness of the proposal could be passeo
upon by the Interstate commerce
Commission. In a number OF cases OF
corporations which have INDUCED in
unfair practices, these practices nave
been forbidden, the companies f1ned'
and in some cases the principals con-
victed under the criminal clause or
the statute.
But undoubtedly the most import
ant influence of the Sherman Act TO
the present time has been the acceler-
alton Of the process Of concentration
of industry,-the very opposite or
what was intended. When the pool
was found to be under the ban OF the
law, the trust was formed; when the
trust was declared to be Illegal, this
holding company is now attacked, and
this has rapidly accelerated complete
merger. In other countries where CO.
operation of corporations is permitted
and arrangements between them en-
forced. If they are not contrary to
public policy, there has been nc such
rapid concentration of industry as in
this country. A man who builds up a
business Is reluctant to surrender his
autonomy. He has a pride in the
house. If the situation becomes such
that it is necessary Or advantageous
to cooperate with his neighbors, this
he will do; but he will not surrender
his independence. In consequence of
this. principle, the great combinations
called cartels in Germany are much
looser aggregations than the holding
corporations Of this country. They
consist of a large number of cooper
atfng organizations each largely in
dependent rather than a great organ
ization such as the United States Steel
Corporation.
Dissolution of Corporations
Much satisfaction has been ex-
pressed by many in the dissolution Of
the Standard Oil Company, the
Al1ISA AShI SOdSS NOh1pdhyr lAlS
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company, the Union Pacific Southern
Pacific merger, and other organiza-
tons. But what advantage has the
public derived from the disintegra-
ton Of these corporations?
It. ma be that other companies
engaged in the manufacture of oil,
tobacco, etc, have been benefited by
the change. In regard to this / do
not know; but has the general public
derived any advantage from the de-
struction Of these corporations? The
chief interest of the public. in wheth-
err kerosene or gasoline is manufactured
by one company OF by ten companies
is thep rice paid for the product. Is
the retail price of kerosene, tobacco,
beef. or paper lower because there
nave been dissolutions of great organ
izations engaged in the manufacture
Of these articles? 1t is not possible
In an address to discuss in detail the
fuctuation OF prices Of the various
articles concerned; but those of most
Importance to the people are meat and
oil. For these the prices nave risen
instead Of fallen since the disintegra-
ton Of the Standard Oil COMPANY
and the beef trust. Indeed the price
of meat has risen more rapidly than
Ile average price OF all mmod1t1e
and for the products of petroleum, II
one combines kerosene, gasoline, and
machinery oil, the prices have risen
more rapidly than the average for
manufactured articles.
Is the average price of the different
brands of tobacco lower because OF
the disintegration of the American
Tobacco Company? Do any of Won
get your favorite brand of cigars at.
a reduced rate? If not a stockholder