Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-09-29
gratifying and all thoughtful colored
men should rejoice.
VIOLATING THEIR OWN LAWS.

Mr.. Ryley Grannon writes an arti-
clio to the Washington, ID. c., Post of
the 22nd inst, which may prove to be
interesting reading. He says:
The war has caused head-on col
lision Of t'".- vital governmental poll
cics. One or the other, must give way.
Either business men must quit enter
ing into combination to help govern
ment or the Sherman antitrust act
must be killed. D.
Heinous crimes Of the NAHUM pro-
hibitum kind have been committed by
big and little business since the war
began, with the knowledge and com.
plicity Of the government.
Government officials have not only
compelled business to violate the
Sherman law, but they have joined
in the procedure Of cracking tho law
into thousand pieces.
\ Tho essence Of the Sherman law Ia
a requirement that business shall not
combine, but shall always compete
in q dogeat-dog fashion. Any combi
nation Is on its face a restraint OF
trade and crime.
The essence Of the new policy of
winning the war lis combination and
cooperation. The wheat men, tho DO.
tato men, the railroad men, the cop.
per men, the steel men, and all the
other tribes lining up, throwing their
tomahawkS in a common pile and
holding war councils with tho govern
ment's big chiefs.
When Herbert Hoover called the
millcrs into conference and prevailed
upon them to form combine he frac
tured tho Sherman law. Before he had
done tits the railroad men at the gov
ernmcnt's invitation, formed com.
bine including every mile of railroad
In the country IN uat violation of
law. The railroads are now directed
by five men from Washington-a
situation that would have resulted in
bombing raids by mucR-rakers five
years ago. These five men really do
not much directing; they leave 1t
all to Dan Willard, tn skipper, mate,
cook, and bos'n of the pirate crew
that are wrecking the Sherman law.
The COUNCIL Of National Defense
has n set Of committees that are moth
ing but list Of yiolators OF the Sher
man law. The committee on coal pro
duction IS composed OF nothing but
coal barons, with that jolly old buc-
cancer Francis Peabody steering tho
low, rakish craft toward Treasure Is.
land. The committee OH shipping Ia
made up Of merchant marine magnat
es. The munitions standards board Is
nothing but a combine in restraint of
scrapping among men who are re.
CURED by law to engage in cutthroat
competition. And so OH all down the
line
Why doesn't\Congress put n stop to
this carnival OF crime? Where Is the
Department OF Justice and its brazen
mace that knocks malefactors cold
where Is that grand old Supreme
Court, from which there Is no appeal
except to the great white throne?
Not working. Congress talks loud
~ and shuffles Its feet to drown Its en-
Darrassment. Tho Department. of
Justice talks German spies" and
rolls The whites Of It's, sSye., whom tn,
sherman law is mentioned Tho Su-
preme Court-wise old owl-saw what
was coming and punched all the anti
trust cases into a bundle and post
poned them until a year from next
You will not sec any prosecution
Tor violation of the Sherman Act while
the war Is on. But IL business does
not get busy and violate the Sher-
man Act you will see the hammer fall.
1t makes difference whether there
Is war with Germany or not. The
Sherman Act does not harmonic with
war. 1t cannot coalesco with any al
lance: 1t Is solely for domestic con-
sumption. Mon like Alba Johnson saw
the Sherman Act has about it a flaw
or OF decay, and they hint OF epitahs
But Johnson is not in Congress, and
his audience consists of mere bust
ness men down at Atlantic City. So
his remarks may be set down as "ir.
responsible.
Further comment Is unnecessary.
How can the Department of Justice
consistently prosecute persons for
the laws Of this country?
no