The labor world., 1917-11-10
Jail For Those Deserving Il,
(From the Superior Telegram.)

1
(From the Superior Telegram.)
When nation is at war its people
expect to make sacrifices. They ex-
pect to economize in food. have less
new clothing and give up many COM
forts that are regarded as necessaries
of life. They also willingly yield to
the argument that war time is not the
time to stir the nation with strife
over certain economic problems that
In times of peace cry justly for solu-
ton.
But this patriotic sentiment ON the
part Of the people should in no sense
be used as camouflage for unpat-
riotic and piraticai profiteers that
seem eager to fatten on the misfor-
tunes of others, no matter at what
cost to the nation.
There are lot of trusts that would
be nightly we'll pleased if they could
convince the government that it should
not agitate any civil questions during
the period of the war. The day was
when they thought the Sherman law
too rigid and would like to have
amended it themselves But they
have found a way to beat that game
and now are, perfectly we'll satisfied
to let well enough alone.
The fact is that the Sherman law
is an antiquated instrument. If the
people Of the country are to be pro-
tected against pirates in business
there must be some machinery for
S~s~
to have the penitentiary for its bus
mess end
Take the egg trust, the butter trust,
the plumbing, or "bath-tub,'' trust
| for instance. Every now and then
some statesman takes vacation by
| hurting defiance at such. At times
| the statesmen even stir to action.
| Trumpets are blown and dire things
| are threatened Chances are that le-
Ultimate business is injured as much
as, or more than, the real pirate, but
| the cure never seems to get at the
disease. Sometimes it seems as if
! the net result of the whole game is
| only to make the slickers more slick
| while soaring the ones who are will
| ing to be good and live up to the
! law if they can find out how.
Butsyou never need worry about the
| real pirates knowing how to live up
| to the law. They know every crook
| and turn of it (know just how many
| chances to take and know just what
| trump card to reserve for the final
coup. The boldness of some of them
| is almost unbelievable.
A short time ago the department Of
| Justice had one of these outfits on
the carpet. If it had stopped at the
| business of merely being an octopus.
swallowing up the little, fellows,
maybe even giving them a share Of
the swag taken from the public, per-
haps that monopoly would have been
smashed by this time. But this bunch
! had been specially ingenious, had
| showed boldness that seems to have
! created admiration-almost respect.
It was shown that after gathering
practically all its competitors into the
| combine this octopus had reached out
| after the smaller fry that appeared
| to have a disposition to live within the
law. The screws were applied and
the little fellows compelled to join
| the bandits whether or no they had
stomach for that kind Of business.
Maybe the experience of some of
these fellows in certain federal courts
encouraged this. The bathroom trust
in the Iowa court, for example. 1t
was shown that this combination had
so completely organized the country
that the country did not have even a
sporting chance with it's money. The
bank robber puts this bunch to shame
| in comparison. He takes some
chances. Not so the bath-tub trust.
It took no chances and allowed no
one else to do so if he wanted to buy
goods made in the u S. A. The trust
would brook no interference. Even
the plumber doing the little job in the
| little far-off city had to be satisfact-
clear to the top.
| When the department of justice got
this bunch in court the public began
| to laugh. The laugh grew louder
when the Judge said guilty." But
the trust hadn't played its trump card.
| It seems that the court had a. tender
heart. He heard that the culprits
also had wives, some of them quite
conveniently had children. It was
too much for the court. How cruel
that these eminent men should be
thrust into jail when they and their
| families had been allowed to believe
this impossible. Too cruel.
So the court slaps them on the
wrist. But jail2 Goodness, no.
The war shouldn't be any excuse
for not setting up the machinery to
get those fellows. No greater war
measure can be adopted than the one
that will give the people a square deal
and q fair chance to get their share Of
the necessaries of life which will be
none too plentiful.
There won't be any less patriots in
the country and there won't be any
less disposition to stand by the gov
ernment If it sees fit to hand to these
business pirates something that feels
like a. big stick.