The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-20
GAVE TRUST PLAN
SOME HARD RAPS

Washington. February l2.-Atten-
ton Of the Chamber Of Commerce
OF the United States. In annual con-
vention here With delegates present
from virtually every important COM
mercial organization in III country,
vas held today ny animated dis
cussion and criticism Of the admin
istration antitrust legislation pro-
gram. Victor Morawetz Of New York
declared unequivocally against the
proposed trust measures now under
consideration by congress, asserting
that they impose add ionsl pro-
hibltions which would give rise TO
additional unce -iainty and litiga-
ton" He advocated, however, the
establishment OF a federal interstate
trade commission under an act
carefully defining rs functions. pow
ers and duties"
Referring 10 tie proposed meas
ures, Mr.. Morawetz said some OF
the bills instead .! furnishing safe
guards to indus:.y against the forces
which have disturbed II. would place
shackles upon legitimate business
and enterprise. None @! the bills,
he declared. would tend to make the
present law more definite or GER
tain"
Repeal the Trust Law.
President Charles r. Van Fise Of
the University OF Wisconsin pro-
posed before the Chamber OF Com
merce that ne Sherman antitrust
law should Ne supplemented by an
act which would forbid only combina.
tons and contracts In restraint OF
tradr mat are detrimental TO the wei.
FIRE OF the people. lie charged that for
political reasons laws against mon.
og.Ohes and restraints OF trade are
enforced only against big business"
the small dealer. the farmer and the
ldborer being permitted to combine
and mOnOpOliZe ut will
Under the enforced competitive
system." President Van Hise said.
we are reckless v Swimming the
cream Of the natural re 'nurcss of q
virgin continent. with no concern
for the future"
Limit to Coal Output.
To support this coEtencion, the
speaker said that the coal mines
could produce 100000. 600 tons more
al per year than the market de
handed, but that the operators.
-ouula'ed by the Sherman act. were
compelled to handle their mines.
without cooperation In limiting the
output. dividing territory. or regulat.
ing prices. Such prac ices result.
he said, in mining in a wasteful
fashion. working thick veins and
neglecting the thin veins in order
TO get oCal TO the market at the
lowest possible Get.
IL the operator could agree upon
limitation of output, S. as 10 re-
duce freight" continued the speak
e.. and could arrange for reason.
able prices, which would give them
lao more than their present prof
lis they would exploit coal con.
servatirely, and they would be the
gamers in prOlonGing the life OF the
mines for future generations.
Fewer Through Trains.
so far as The public is concerned
In the separation OF the Union
Pacific and Southern Pacific rail.
ways. the only effect is that there
will be fewsr through trains. great
er expense II fc?cunti ;g, and less
close cooperation between the two
systems, in handling The freight
aud passenger business.
II am willing 20 stand for en-.
fGrCement OF the law when II isl
enforced alike Ic5 ali. but when
some one is Dicl;sd CIT because Il
is good politics TO attack him. and
tho others are allowed TO escape,
say. it is p:ffourciy immcral
situation. To have a statute which
requires the officials c. Justice TO
close one eye whenever they pass
by the men In control OF some
industries AMI, at he ssme moment
see other men MT one whit more
guilty is not justice. And that Is
Exactly the existing situation In
this country.
Only Violators are Combinations.
The speaker said II had been
generally assumed that the only
v'olators of the Sherman act were
combinations such as the Steel and
Tobacco trusts, and that the small
business men and small producers
we're net dealt WITH under tile law
although they COOPERATE in exactly
the same way as the mole powerful
organizations.
Congress vel. understands this
situation he continued, "aua at a
recent session p.ragaph contain.
Ing an appropriation of 500, coo for
the enforcement of the antitrust
laws was attached with a proviso
that none OF the money should be
spent in prosecuting combinations
or agreements of labor. or fer the
prosecution of producers OF farm
products and associations of farm
ers.
Some state legislatures. inelui.
ing Texas, Louisiana. illinois and
South Dakota. ann ,eciateI that tha