The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-03-30

government. as we'll as siderations
OF abstract justice, demands that they
be not permitted thus to destroy or
TO injure. |!
Monopoly Repugnant.
TO disgresS for a moment, the idea |
OF monopoly is 10 all ideals
or democracy. Wherever there is q
s~eif-governing nation you wi find ii
~legislating against monopoly. Such
legislation and such activities are noS
confined to the United States. On the
other hand, generally
where governments are dominated by
Ideals o t absolute power. then
monopoly is foStered and encourage
ed. Absolutism in government and
monopoly in trade are inseperable
They have a comElO foundation. for
monopoly is but another name for
commercial absolutism. MONOPOLY is
industrial monarchy.
As between absolutism in govern
ment and absolutisnl in business, I
think n average citizen would pre-
Ter abSolutlSm in government. Those
who possess hereditary absolute pow
ers III government are prone tC lie
animated by the spirit Of nOblesse
o5Ilge. But those who possess abso-
Lutte powers in business are ar to
have no such finer instincts. Theirs
too often is the spirit of the
richie, brutal, domineering
selfish. OF course, this is not an in
dictment Of a class. but a generaliza-
ten, and our great captains Of in
dustry tire becoming daily more ami
matto by a social purpose.
: In this country we have two dis
tinct schools of thought in regard 10
methods of avoiding the evils Of mo-
nCpOly. The progressive platform is
iased on the idea Of regulating mo-
: nopoly; the Democratic and Repub-
8 lean platforms propose to regulate
, competition. The progressive plan
is to retain the economic advantages
that may be possessed by combine
tons but TO make them serve tbs
IuIlic. Such q plan, worked out I,
' lis logical conclusion. means inevlta
= bly, state socialism, the checking ,
: individual initiative, the curtailing .
opportunity. The Bismarck theor,
of state socialism may work out yer
y we'll in a monarchical country, but
is not adapted to the spirit or tn
institutions Of a free people.
e Regulate Competition.
s. "HenCe this trade commission law
IF and its c~ompanion, the Clayton anti
n trust law, are based on the idea 9
regulating competition and are i
l. harmony with the declarations {
l. both the Republican and Democrat
platforms.
l. Some fear has been expresse
that the activities OF the trade con
d mission will hurt business. Such
= fear is wholly unjustifiable. 1t WI
disappear as the ends and purpos
re and methods Of operation Of the con
mission ecOme better know,
American business men. as a Who'll
in prefer to deal fairly, TO be just al
m honest with their competitors. AS
,e have pointed out. the great MAORI
,r Of tho ornnYo9inr, .In:nr intarSta
h. business in the United States a
lis small corporations. is it not fair
. assume hat they desire. to be pr
lie tecfed in their rights Of trade al
If. he shielded from the possible asgre
sicr Of their bulkier opponents?
I'd "Do not assume that mere hicic
he is always synonymous with unfa
lie practices, n that We are Eighth
is only bigness. A corporation with
ne limits is entitled to all the benel
to that may accrue to it through e
lid possession Of large capital, al
.al through the economies in products
in thai may result from operation On
les large scale. All the government i
quires is that it shall not use it's 81
and far reaching power in an unfs
he effort to injure or destroy it's small
e. competitor.
,er Hold Read Open To All.
ia "In other woros, the trade comm
sion is TO hold the road open TO q
It'll If. by superior business ability a
&c, management you can produce and s
II cheaper than some one else, YOU fa
nd such advantage in the market
that may give you. but You must /
he endeavor to block the road. to int
pose artificial barriers betWeen 70
competitor and the market.
lay THE Clayton antitrust law defi1
some things which constitute unf
m competition, but broad powers (
OF given to the commission to investig:
the all complaints OF these and other |
fair practices; also to make invests
|. tons on It's own motion. Its tindil
gu of facts III coutroverted matters
final ana conclusive.
lis "Ir other words, the cO1nUiSo
ion is not merely a gateway between co
dea plants and the courts final decisi
city IT is a body Of power, and aims to
Yer pedite and not delay determination