South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-06

I maintain that it is a matter Of
record. not opinion. that the dem
ocratic party has done exactly what
you in 1911 wanted done. The quo
tations from Gov Hughes sound
Wilsonian i'm their wisdom and mod
Grafton. short cuts says Gov
Hughes. lead TO disaster. The line
of progress should not be arbitrary
but through publicity and supervis-
ion. ours must be the rule of rea-
son"
The sherman law is still on the
books and ! am not aware that any
body but yourself now advocates its
repeal. I have before me several Of
your pamphlets OF recent date. in
which you vigorously push for its
repeal. II the party YOU represent
wants the Sherman law repealed
why did they not say so in their
platform? Why does not Mr.. Hughes
advocate il? The fact of the matter
is that through the decisions of the
courts. through the federal trade
commission and the Clayton act the
Sherman law has been clarified and
maui III az AANtA ~ NA+N ~
son. by combining its restrictions TO
bad practices which are contrary to
the public welfare by separating
bad trust from good trust; by sub
shutting cooperation for competi-
tion-the very thing you advocated
in 1911.
If the federal trade commission
did nothing else, il would have jusri-
fed its existence. IL has stood as an
expert business agent of the govern
ment, dealing with business situa-
tons and disputes i'm a practical and
prompt manner, after the fashion OF
business men. IL has cleared the
obstacles from the path of develop
ment for all legitimate trade enter
prises. large and small, protecting
the little fellow from unfair aggres-
sion on the part of his larger and
more powerful competitor
Commission is Serviceable.
The active business world has ac-
copied this commission as a highly
serVceable utility. It's personnel is
composed Of men of sound judg-
ment and large experience During
the existence of this commission
some two hundred and fifty COM
plants. charging unfair methods of
competition, have been filed with it.
Each complaint has been investi-
gated and most Of them settled
through the practical work of the
commission in directing fair prac-
tees The commission has done
constructive work i'm aScertaining
that only 10 per cent of our man
ufacturers and merchants know
what is meant by costs. Chairman
Hurley of this commission has form
ulated "A practical cost plan. which
is much appreciated by business
men. He has encouraged cO-Opera-
ton. and 1 know of several concerns
which during the administrations of
Roosevelt and Taft scarcely dared
speak to their competitors who are
now cooperating with them on a
basis Of uniform costs and in gen
eral business practices which do not
conflict with the Sherman law.
The clear line of distinction be-
tween the old practice and the new
is that prices We're formerly fixed by
agreement These prices had no re-
lation to cost. but generally repre-
scented what the members of the as
ISOLATION thought that the business
would stand. Prices were put up
by force and every effort was made
10 maintain them by force.
\ New Order of Things
Look now on that picture and on
this
Today we have cooperative work
which appeals TO the intelligence of
the associated competitors. 10 their
education as 10 the cost of manufac-
turing their products, including
overhead. and 10 the proper division
of it among the various classes of
such products, a study of sales eX-
penses, standardization, selling meth
DDS. etc Today through corpora
ton if a man understands exactly
what il costs him TO do business he
will realize that if he does not re-
ceive that cost in exchange for the
goods he Will be fOOling. not his
competitor, but himself.
1t is "a fact beyond dispute. that
business now runs on smooth waters
Nobody is concerned any more about
the question whether the govern
ment through its attorney general,
is going 10 make an attack on them
or not, and whatever other infiuen-
ces may have brought about this
wholesome result, THE ONE CON
TROLLING FACTOR Is THE
SPIRIT AND PRACTICAL WORK
OF THE WILSON ADMINISTRA-
TON IN THE ENCOURAGEMENT
lOF c 90 RATION AN d
THROUGH THE INEFFICIENT IN
1 FLUENCE OF THE FEDERAL
TRADE COMMISSION.
Your letter, my dear Mr.. Perkins,
( confirms what some of your friends
I have recently expressed. that you
have been for so long tickling the
( trunk Of the elephant and lassoing
, the bull moose that you are not now
/ in touch with live, modern business
/ practice.
IL is my purpose TO take up the
other points in your letter 70 Mr..
Tumulty. in a subsequent statement
and in this whole matter / shall be
glad 10 have continued, open dis
cussion with you.
nu-iro IN the GREAT increase in