Arizona republican., 1916-01-11
Anti Trust Legislation

We wonder how long congress will continue to patch up the Sherman antitrust law leave the construction of it to courts. worse, to the changing policies of the department of justice and the federal trade commission. We moved a. consideration of this matter by the statement of Attorney General Gregory printed by The Repuo- hcan yesterday morning
 The law made necessary in the first place by the growing encroachments of large and pow erful combinations upon the natural rights of the people, though at that time those rights had not been legally defined and established Nor there that time realization that there might be good trusts as well as ones. trust was bad in itself Nor was there understanding then of the changing conditions of which had been born, and still less could be that a time at hand when commercial, and indus trial activities would be throttled by such appli- cation of the law contemplated, for mat what constructions have since been placed upon it, there intention the part of congress that the law should be differently applied to diff fcrent combinations.
 Within the half years it been ire quently proposed either repeal the law and sub sttute another for it. or to amend it so as to present conditions and to recognize the existence and need Of great corporations and at the time
 
 people should be protected against aggression.
 American statemen too fearful of the popular animosty that still existed against tc take any minded, sensible action. and our present administration. we'll tie Taft admin istraton proceeded to the literal application of the law with the result that many who would benefit themselves and the public by combination have been left in doubt whether they could do so without becoming criminals.
 It is said that certain corporations employ skilled lawyers keep their members of the peniten- tary. Perhaps some corporations do so perhaps others employ lawyers tell them how near they may come the violation of the law without actually violating it. But the better porations, in confusion the law, employ great lawyers direct their movements that they may obey the law which has become most uncertain with it's patches and constructions.
 The Clayton bill passed by the last congress, supplementng all previous antitrust legislation, appears have further complicated matters with out aftording any relief except to farmers, fra ternal and labor organizations which never seriously considered be within the intent of the sherman or any other antitrust legislation.
 The statement of the attorney general can hardly have the effect he believes, of being regarded as reassdring to the public mind' or of "dspelling some of the uncertainty which has heretofore ex- isted" There might be some, but entire the policy of the department of jus ticc while MT Gregory is at the head of it, and the policy of the present administration The state ment might also dispel some the ncertainty such rulings and conclusions might be reached by the federal trade commission it is stituted But MT. Gregory. the administration and inc personnel of the trade commission ephemera court constructions are changeabe. cannot be given by MT. Gregory and is obainablc only from plain sensible law for the regulation of the trusts.