The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-02-17
TRADE COMMISSION
ACT DISCUSSED
THE LAW DECLARES UNFAIR
METHODS OF COMPETITION
UNLAWFUL
Judge Grosscup Discusses the Signif-
icance Of the Act


and is deemed Of such moment that the
StarMirror will publish Judge Gross
cups discussion of the law and it's
probable effects for the information
of it's readers. The first installment
appeared February 3D.
The philosophical historian finds in
the laws of country a reliable basis
for a correct understanding of the
moral character of the people BY law
is meant the rule of conduct enforc-
ed by the state, requiring citizens to
do certain things and to refrain from
doing certain things. In the evolution
of civilization despotism and law have
been in constant conflict. Despotism
stands for absolute power of the state
of the state to govern, without fixed
and comprehensive rules within the
scope of which the individual is free
to act according to his Judgment and
conscience. Law protects the individ
ual against oppression by the state, so
long as his conduct does not interfere
with the rights of others, and pre-
scribes fixed rules, for his conduct in
society. When manhood outgrew self
dom, political princes were forced to
relinQuish control over the private ac-
tivities of the citizen. The right to be
governed by definite laws, to be tried
under fixed rules by a jury of his
peers, and to have life, liberty and
property subject to forfeiture only by
Judgment after due notice and trial,
was, more than three centuries ago,
insisted upon by the English people
to the point of revolution, and TO avoid
humiliation the crown surrendered
upon as Divine right Since that
great epoch in history, English people
have been governed by law and not
the caprice of men.
The American Colonies went step
farther and based their separation from
the mother country upon the ''self-evi- |
OSuL u I'LL ClcI 6OFOl nD1OnLS uCll I've
their just powers from the consent
of the governed" to the end that life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
may be preserved as "in-alienable
rights of mankind. The Federal !
Constitution, with it's amendments,
contains specific guarantees of this
fundamental truth
During the first century of our gov
ernment's life there was no attempt
to abridge the industrial activity of
the citizen. Criminal statutes were
activity of the citizen Criminal sta
tutes were confined to q protection
against trespass upon person. and
property. Civil law provided simple
rules by means Of which business in
tercourse might be conducted and the
fruits of industry secured. The coun-
try prospered; population multiplied; II
private wealth accumulated
The Civil War was a titanic struggle
for the supremacy of moral and po- /;
1itical principles. To repair the waste j
of battlefelds and maintain vast armies {
private life was attuned to the highest
pitch of energy Responsibility in So s
ciety was measured by industry. The c
1dler was despised. Honor was earn {
ed by work and measured by accom- {
plishment. Exhaustion of resources &
ended the carnage, but the vast human g
force of the nation, stirred to it's ut
most depths, survived, and directed t
it's energy to the development of the h
vast resources. The enthus- e
iasm enkindled to intensity by war {
activities wrought a profound change p
in the life of the people. A political a
union of states became nation and r
trade spread nation wide. Big ambi Il
tons became realities through con- c
eentration Of capital and the use Of Il
mechanical inventions. Handshops n
scattered everywhere we're closed and t;
heir work. transferred to the machine il
shop. These machine shops in their T
urn gave place to the more economic 81
II factory. The concentration OF Ia G.
,or into factories centralized trade Ct
The village declined; the city grew RI
rhe economical advantage of dol m
hings in big way gave birth to big az
business. In every line of industry W
,igness resulted in economy and the
consequent ability, by undertaking. to til
rive weak competitors from the field. is
At the beginning Of this ney era in ri
BUSINESS no one questioned the moral W
r legal right of free and unrcstrained Ell
Strong organizations I'M in
er the protection Of corporate law abb
orbed the weak. Limited monopoly
esulted through the operation Of the I'll
atural law of progress, based on eco pr
omic principles. Contemporaneous tn
18th trade and manufacturing develop tn