Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-18
TRUST BUSTING NO CURE.
REGULATION is REMEDY
PREVENTING PRQFlTEERlNG
British Expert on Cost of Living Give.
His EAperlence In Prose
cutting Work.
BYt G. a. 5McCUNDY. X. e., VI. \

LONDON. Dec l7-whcn tho British
p Pro tini III ,,, Was recenI before
that in dealing with tho proGtccr the
creations OF the trusts aud combines
should' receive special attention.
taught that the result u competition
was TO secure for the consuming public
IN the long run fair price for all
attempted to charge more than "a rca-
Sonable profit, ne would be undcrsoId
by Others and lose his business.
II was. on the whole a true picture
OF british commerce at that time. II
would be quite an untrue picture Of
BRUSH commerce today
In many important industries com.
psit.lon as FACTOR in determining,
prices has disappeared. In most i'm
appearing. 1t is being replaced by
combination-a system q which pro-
aucers and manufacturers no longer
com binc to maintain or raise them.
rake such an article of CONNER rec
a a., IRON oedsteads There was time
britain was in the hands of twenty
OF thirty firms. each competing with
On inc e. res, TO secure business. But there
.oSether that all this competition be-
tween them should cease
rhey estimated the total outpu; Of
iron bsdsteads in the United Kingdom.
lhcy decided what would b- a fair
snare or that output for each mai
am Ta. sh ,,rm ana ana they agreed that no
az lower prices than should be spccitieI
DS Inc new association
Entire Industry Changing
Kind 1ha L, Is ,, only small example of the
anu by different degrees. ia in H..
,ast Yen years or 50 been chancin.
top TO bottom.
In iron and ...., 4, $50,
cement. in tobacco and soan ana o..
ION thread and in fact, in almost
so.S important industry carried on
IN Great Britain the field that once wa
,;Ssuistcd by Zee. and. some: times cut-
t-Hoa,, competition is now covered ~.
asso c alous OF trade organizations and
D .i aiike in one--tliat they have Tor
1870 man purpose. avowed OF un-
ana the contro! of prices
In many ways this ius.;ncs,,n :
ti.it% this elimination OF CONNIE
h" lnAt was often waStecul. has
Crgan;zat S ere benefit TO the publ:c
SSn!. ROYAL road 20 economy in MAN.,
n -etdure. TO efficiency In the means o
increase Of OUTPUT '''
-;%em OF me great rnono7oiies hay.
INC public excellent service
Another Side shown.
o., %, orese IS. another side OF the ope-
.t.oH OF tncSc great combines Nvba,,
they have achieved a certain mo w men
=, sncceSS they give TO their creators
- poWer' which u monopoly confers
"a &c pS"e" that is. il they arc so mind i:
ONT " eNPloitinG The consumer with
ouI regard TO what would he -,
e1n,I Lesa9Haoie profit upon the capi:aI
IN The United states. where ,hs
.Ius,s have th.i" birth. tho .ovcrnl
JILL mas been engaged for twenty
yes!s IN an unsuccessful attcnD, IN
utotcci the consumer by prcvnntins,
INC formation OF trusts. BY DESTROYING.
trusts as last az they appeared and
nam IA ming in every possible way frer
anu genuine competition among pro-
ouSers ana manutacturers.
!, N That attenpt the, Congress and
scSlsiatureSSof the United States have
ralied. and Inevitably failed. for in
commerce. as in All other things, there
Is strength and driving power in the
association OF men for a common Dur.
pose which cannot be restricted or
prevented oy any statute.
IL is 'impoSSib!e-and We must
frankly recognize ihai il is imposs!-
6le-to prevent great trades organic
themselves 90