The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-26

the timber on the market at the low
est rates, regardless of waste. is it
possible to handle the material so as
to meet market conditions without
loss. This is the lamentable situa-
ton created by law in regard to a re-
source which will last at the present
rate of exploitation for scarcely more
than fifty years.
Under the enforced competitive sys-
tenn, we are recklessly Swimming the
cream Of the natural Of a
virgin continent with no concern for
the rights Of our children or u chill
dren'S children. They will have a
heavy score against us if we continue
to ignore the future and compel the
extreme competitive system in total
disregard of their rights.
Corrective Measures
In the time that remains to me +
shall proceed to the constructive side
of the question before us and make
positive proposals concerning the
things which should be done in order
that we may obtain the advantages OF
concentration of business and t the
same time protect the public. My
proposal, gentlemen, is neither regu-
lated competition nor regulated mono
poly "a favorite a~utitheical statement
of many; but retention Of competi-
ton, prohibition of monopoly, permis-
sion for cooperation, and regulation
Of the latter.
1t has been proposed that combin-
atoms should be so divided that no
one corporation shall have more than
fifty per cent of any business. This
is Mr.. Bryan's suggestion. In the Stan
ley bill, the presumption Of the 3iola-
ton of the Sherman law Is against a
corporation having more than thirty
per cent.
Now, it makes no difference, gentle
men, whether the great combinations
are so divided that no one has more
than fifty per n OF thirty per cent
Of a line of business, Or so that there
are ten with ten per cent or twenty
with five per cent. The demonstration
OF this lies in the fact already men
toned that thousands of farmers may
and do cooperate in marketing their
various products just as perfectly as
do the five great manufacturers of
STEEL. Since it is unquestionable that
the sense of justice of the citizens of
the United States will support the
courts in prohibiting class legisla-
ton, we shall. I believe, ultimately
permit cooperation in all lines Of bust
ness.
If we, however, retain freedom OF
competition, permit concentration suf-
ficient to give efficiency, allow reason-
able cooperation, and prevent mono
poly, this will require regulation just
as it has been necessary to regulate
man law will be forgotten. Has
there been any prosecution Of the rail-
roads for violation of the Sherman
law because of collision in fixing
rates? And yet everyone of us here
knows that they are just as fragrant
~violators of the Sherman Act as any
other class of corporations in the
United States. Are the freight rates
the same for different roads between
any two points? Are the passenger
rates between New York and Chicago
identical on all roads? Can you dc
better in price by travelling over the
road? The rate la the same. provid-
ing the speed is the same.
How does it happen that the rail-
roads all got together? Just by Provi-
dence, I suppose. It was doubtless
by a Divine act that these rates were
fixed identically upon every road
under the same conditions, all oveI
the country.
Why is it that nobody proposes tc
lnd1ct the railroads for collision
Simply for the reason that the rates
which they can charge are controlled
by commissions, national and state
Nobody any longer wishes to make
them further trouble, because the
public is protected by it's commissions
That is the sum of the whole matter
The railroads are just as much amen.
able to attack under the Sherman act
as any other combination in the Unit
ed States; but when the railroads are
giving reasonable rates ana are corm.
peting in giving reasonable service
even IL the law is on the statute
books,--the sense OF official Justice
is such that they are not attacked Ii
the courts. Will the ATTORNEY General
of the United tSates or the Attorne,
General of any state bring suit against
the railroads for conspiracy In fixfnp
Identical rates, when the public Ii
properly protected? I have not heart
the proposal made anywhere.
However, 1t Is a wrong condition
when we have on the statute books !
law Of a kind requires the oficiall
of justice to close one eye whenever
they pass by the men In control q,
one great group OF industries. ana al
the same moment see other men not
one whit more guilty. We ought Il
remedy this condition SO that bust.
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