The Washington times., 1931-04-23
BIG BUSINESS
To DEMAND
CHANGE
Regulation of Corporations
Likely to Become an Issue
In 1882 Presidential Fight

In 1882 Presidential Fight
With the regulation of huge
corporation combines likely to be-
come an issue in 1882 presidential
campaign, the progressive group
on Capitol Hill today laid plans to
fight all efforts to modify anti
trust laws in the next congress.
big business" will seek a modi.
fication of the Sherman and
Clayton Acts, which govern cor
porations engaged in interstate
commerce, according to report.
The plea probably will be that the
economies effected by co-ordinated
business organizations are neces-
sary to overcome existing eco
nomic depression.
Regardless of the reasons as
signed, the progressive group
will battle every effort to lessen
federal regulation of COrpO-
ratiOnS.
RaSkOb Asks Change
The issue has far-reaching
political significance. Only
recently, John j. Raskob, Dem
ocratic National Chairman, sug-
gested the legalization of huge
cooperative combinations if they
had the approval of the Federal
Trade Commission. He was
roundly attacked by liberal.
minded Democrats as well as
Republicans for sponsoring this
proposal.
On the other hand, President
Hoover apparently has discarded
the Coolidge administrations plan
of looking over" cooperative
mergers in advance and helping
corporations to combine in &C
cordance with existing law. This
work was handled by former AS
siStant Attorney General William
J. Donovan but on his retirement
to private life, the policy was
abandoned.
PrOgressives to Fight
In recent speeches, Attorney
General William D. Mitchell
pleaded for strict enforcement of
the antitrust laws. These de-
velopmentS have indicated the
President will oppose liberaliZa-
tion of the Sherman and Clayton
acts.
The Progressives meanwhile will
fight all change in the antitrust
laws, except those strengthening
the arm of the Government. Said
Senator Borah:
'T do not know whether there
will be an effort made to repeal
or modify the antitrust laws,
but 1 feel quite certain such
an effort will not be successful.
There really isn't much need
for modification of the anti.
trust laws. All the corporations
have to do is to get the head
of some department to lead
them along the way they want
to go and they are exempt
from the law"
Fuel Interests Seek Change
There have been suggestions
from time to time that antitrust
laws be modified to permit far
reaching mergers of oil and coal
companies. They were prompted
by the depressed conditions of
the two industries but never ma
terialized. Indeed, the only ex-
emption granted since the laws
were originally enacted was to
favor farmers cooperative market
ing associations.
Senator Couzens (R.) of Michi-
gan, observed there was a posi-
bility giant mergers might have
to be tolerated to stabilize indus
tiy. saying:
'Big business is going to ask
a revision of the antitrust laws.
/ shouldn't wonder if this issue
would be discussed in the next
campaign. / like to deal with
specific propositions and 1 am
not aware yet what changes
will be suggested.
Cooperation May Be Need
"There is a possibility we
may come to a period of CO
operation in business in order
to stabilize industry. We may
have to take our choice between
cooperation on a huge scale
and maintenance of the laws
of the jungle-the policy of
dog eat dog. Perhaps we shall
find that cooperation is a step
in the right direction to Stabi-
ize our industrial life"