The Washington times., 1922-10-21

F~SN ~ AiAAAi az VIC ASHhSoc
OF the United States.
The Attorney, General approves
tne plan originated by Secretary oil
commerce Hoover looking toward
the enactment of legislation to this
END. Mr.. Daugherty expressed the
oeiief that the number Of violations
OF law by business men can be re-
ouced to a minimum II the Govern
ment will provide a means Of assist-
lng them to keep within the law.
The statement says: &C.
j :, Business has a conscience; busi-
ness as q whole Is inherently honest,
and so, long as am Attorney Gen
eral am not going unnecessarily to
harass men who Iunwittingly run
counter with the statutes" >.; .'
Have Little to Fear.
Men who take an active interest In
the extension of the activities and
usefulness Of trade associations.
therefore. according to the Attorney
General, have little to fear from the,
government, so long as they make
an honest effort to do the right
thing. On the other hand, Mr..
Daugherty stated, the man who
starts out with the deliberate inten-
uon Of finding a safe way Of dong
what the law says he shall not do,
viii receive little sympathy from the
department OF Justice
Deflnlng the Governments. atti-
tude toward violations OF the Sher.
man antitrust law, Mr.. Daugherty
Saiui
III can be said that 1t has been
the policy of the Department of
Justice since became Attorney
General to try to settle and clear
up the law in regard to violations
OF the Sherman antitrust law, in
order that American business may
Know as accurately as possible what
they can and what they cannot do
that might not be considered a
violation Of the law.
The most desirable thing in the
world for business is a settled con-
dition.,
The Government does not wa ut
to be a r1uckraker, nor does II
desire to interfere with legitimate
business. On the contrary. 1t desires
to help legitimate business in every
legitimate way.
The Government should not be
used, nor is II being used, to favor
one or another, All should under
stand what the law is. and all should
hdNC thC ptolCCttOIl IHS law dttOtuS
and all should feel the responsibility
Of complying with the law.
THE Government could institute
many more cases against business
concerns and associations inaorder
to- test the question as to whether
or not they are strictly complying
with the Sherman antitrust law.
but It would require such a force Of
men and take SO much of the time
of the courts that II would be inl-
possible. The desirable thing to do
Is to bring such cases as cannot
In good conscience be avoided and
dispose Of them as promptly as the
clogged condition of the courts will
permit, 80 that the'law can be made
plain and those who violate the law.
thus made as plain as possible, viii
be compelled to take the conse-
. Suences Of their acts.
Professional Organizers Scored.
Ninety per cent Of the business
men of the country are men Of
good conscience and desire to OBJ.
serve the law. The trouble is
that many professional organizers
conceive schemes and plans that
cut corners quickly. Their business
Is to get around the law. II they
can, and they frequently advise
business to take chances and to
do things that the law does not
permit.
"The Government. exactly as an
Individual v-S has judgment, wants
TO keep out of litigation. wants TO
70 along in a straightforward way.
which Is better for the citizen. bet
ter for the Government, better for
business. think a way viii be
worked out. and sincerely hope 50,
and I shall be glad to help work II
out, whereby there will be stability.
the minimum Of misunderstanding
and some assurance that certain
things are not a violation Of the
law and certain things being done
improperly are In violation Of law'
and litigation will be reduced to