The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-22
SHERMAN ACT TO
/ STAND UNAMENDED
NY HENRY u. JOY.

again TeOpcneu Tor iHucHnlte, DrOlong-
ed litigation under our methods OF
legal procedure the situation will con-
tnue TO be vcXed again for another
quarter Of Il century or longer.
''But we have the astonishing condi-
tons of the sherman act on the stat
ute books for twenty-five years, and
to day 1t is not known whether. under
finally. Il manufacturer of an article
has the right To fix the retail price at
which his product IL to he sold to the
consumer.
Most manufacturers believe as do
that the highest form Of business con-
duct is for the manufactured to main
tain a liked price to all his patrons. so
that all may be treated with equality
and exact fairness.
Railroads, at first free to make
money as private enterprises. have
grown into corporations Of such great
public interest and affecting so uni
vcrsally tho public welfare that they
arc practically directed by the national
government, but operated and owned
privately, and as constructed wealth
ner today in the most serious jeopardy
by reason Of burdens put upon them
| by government control.
we eliminated the evils OF private
ownership of railroads without adopt
| ing the equally or more Objectionable
plan of government ownership.
we have come to know that mere
bigness is no crime. We have come to
know that stable prices. even though
made by socailed trusts, are vast
benefit compared to the feverish vari-
ations and uncertainties Of the cut
throat competition days.
Private rebates. cut prices. special
concessions have been much mitigatcd.
The conditions to-day are better to an
almost infinite extent than before the
consultations of the trust era.
Prices are more stable. An cnor-
nous amount OF vliainous unfair cut
throat competition has been eliminated
and condition of live and let live ex-
lists.
The absolute necessity for fair COM
petition or price maintenance is part
OF the reason why cooperation in bust
rcss should not only he permitted hut
encouraged, whether two companies
consolidate or whether two companies
cooperate to prevent ruthless price
cutting and destructive competition.
The attitude of the government, &C
cording to pending litigation. is that
the control OF retail prices by the manu-
facturer must cease If his goods are
sold through the natural channels of
trade. the wholesalers and retailers,
and not through his own established
agencies.
Price maintenance ny railroads mas
come to be enforced by law, yet mtnu-
facturers of 81 patented or copyrighted
article under the law, II is inter
preted to-day. are prevented from car
rying on their business In this logical
and high minded manner by recent in
terprctations OF the law.
The right of manufacturer To nix
| the retail price OF his article has been
the custom from the beginning Of time
| Take the condition OF publisher
who manufactures copyrighted ar
ticle. How could you possibly conduct
n successful publication If you could
not print its price on the face OF it?
Can you tell what price you should pay
for n book by looking at II on ii news
stand or in book store. except by the
fact that the price is printed thereon
fixed by the manufacturer?
Should a publisher be permitted to
maintain a fixed schedule OF advertis-
Ing rates as sold through advertising
agencies NIL over this broad country?
rs 1t not clear that fair competition
is promoted by permitting the manu-
facturcr 10 fix and maintain his retail
price, whether his article is patented
or copyrighted or branded with his
personal stamp of quality?
"Aiy friend. Mr.. Henry Ford occu-
pies the centre-stage limelight posi-
ton to-day! Why? Because lie is at
the head of an enormously successful
manufacturing industry, which he has
built up by his genius and the aid Of
those he has associated with him
his co-operators. Henry Ford owns
~ per cent of the stock OF what is. L
believe, the most successful industrial
corporation in America. Its capital
stock il $2.000.000 Last year it paid
believe. Sio,oOoo0o in dividends and
added as much again and more to it's
I hue
creasing by leaps and bounds.
Has Henry Ford done wrong in up-
building such an industry? Is IL wrong
for him TO run his business so as to
make such large amount of money?
Ought he. in the enlightened present
day. sell his product so as to yield him
return of per cent or per cent?
Is IL n crime to make money-to con
struct an industry? Is it wrong to nut
out an article that the public wants
to such an extent that Il is willing and
anxious to pay for 1t such prices as
the manufacturers may fix, which. In n
few short years. make that company
one of the greatest collectors of wealth
in America?
rs Mr.. Ford doing wrong in that re-
spect? He can fix the retail price at
which the consumer shall buy his pro-
duct, because he sells through agents
direct to user and is within the law
-
His company has large means and
establishes branches for assembling at
many central distributing points all
over the country, even the world over;
also used for wholesaling or distribut-
ing to his retail agents, to be resold to
users at retail prices fixed by Mr.. Ford,
which, by any Interpretation ~ the
Sherman act or any other law, heshaa
u full legal right to do.
rs ii not. indeed, right proper.
laudable and beneficial that our people
and those the world over should have
these wonderful Ford motor vehicles Mt
prices which they are not only will
ing, but DESTROYS and anxious to pay?
II use Mr.. Ford's wonderful com
pany as an illustration because / must
use some illustration for comparison.
which it is necessary to make to Pfc
ture the truth of the price maintenance
cause pointedlg
IT believe Henry Ford Is n great
benefactor OF mankind. The ability
which he possesses to make those va.
hicles and sell them to the public Is
entitled TO any reward he can get the
public to pay him for his genius.
+ In my opinion, If Mr.. Ford could not