Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-05-02
PUTTING NEW WINE INTO OLD BOTTLES

Students of commerce those engaged in trade in
all sections of the nation interested in any action
by leading business these are repre-
sente in their organization the United Chamber
of Commerce, in session ST. Louis of the
interesting problems nov being discussed before the or
ganation proposal make certain changes in the
existing antitrust laws These laws as is generally
known were framed many years ago and at time when
business conducted upon very different plan from
that today. Since the these laws many
changes have come about in the relations existing
between business and their patrons and between
business men and their employees.
Having served a useful purpose and had not little
share the development of the nations business interest
along proper lines is proposed to alter these
utes their provisions conform more nearly
to the present day standards integrity and progress
In this connection is interesting to note that in dis
cussing the attitude of the Department of to-
ward the proposed changes recently. Secretary William
C. Redfeld said although the department has no part
in the enforcing of the antitrust laws any share in
the police the regulatory the investgatona powers
the government looks with keen interest upon any
a
mercial ethics the laws which affect commerce Of
course since in theory least the government
whole and not group of conflicting services the Depart
ment of Commerce say no word or perform no act
contrary to the spirit and purpose of existing laws
which would in any degree weaken their enforcement
are the law of the land and such it is duty to
1T them. If changes to be made it is not by neg
big disobeyng existing laws that they can come
fht through the orderly process of discussion by
forming public opinion Yet, since the Department
Commerce has laid it by organic law the def
mite duty to foster develop and promote the
of the United States, it follow with interest
merely the extension of but its develop
ment along ethical well as practical lines''
Nothing is certain than that there has been a
change for the better in the ethics methods
OF trade since the antitrust laws came into being These
laws We're he expression of a moral judgment of the
country against certain business procedures deemed
furious the body polite considered to lack in sound
social sanctions
The moral purpose of the country being thus ex-
pressed and its will enforced against combinations in re-
strant OF trade standards of action developed
which far advance of the standards or lack of
standards that had thought of the business
world arrested and was made to fix itself on the
social obligations that underle all business This
ton Of business in its social relations as one of
factors directly affecting human lives greatly ad-
vaneed and its growth has established new business Gus
toms and higher business standards so that we would
longer tolerate cruder and coarser methods of
former days ..I,
More and more the business of the country as a
whole has become the advance in ethical
purpose in moral perception, in higher grade prac-
ce in the business world has separated it widely from
the actual conditions with which antitrust laws we're
originally enacted to DEAL that the form and substance
of these laws they literal form relate in no
small part to past which if dead at least dying
1t is so true as hardly need statement that the
principles and practices business are in state of con-
sa1t evolution Commerce consists in the mass of the
aggregate number of nnumerable transactions most OF
them small but all of them the expression of human
thought and human consent These acts which create
commerce are not enforced acts They arise null
ttude of various the needs of mankind ant
They express final croices of individuals AS human
commerce which created by the satisfying of human
demands changes AS moral horizons become broade
the moral standards alter In short is a lv