Show Till VICE OF TiE TKUSK UNDCU this heading the New York Tribune ha the f article arti-cle in illustration of the evils of a dangerous and powerful sort of coat bination which is oppressing the peoplo In many different Status The owners of property in trusts feel intensely indignantwhen their combinations are assailed by the curs They reason that JU lht every individual has a natural right to buy as many works of a particular sort at bo can and t manage them in perfect harmony s as t miko tho most pos citno lumrey out 01 Salem That natural natu-ral right these owners reason belong I equally to them as part owners in cor porationi nnd the Government has no bnino whatever to restrain their in dividual liberty In owning and con trolling as many works as they plca andean This reasoning overlooks tho Tact that tho corporation is a cent tnro of law I has not the na torah rights of tha rght individual composing com-posing i They are free to do business busi-ness each man for himself but when theyask bo I State to giro them larger powers perpetuity antI immensely I Increased facilities for combination through a corporate charter or legal l I organization of any kind they volun tartly become subject to one re tric lion namely that their powers hall I bo used in harmony with and not in hostility to the public interests Thoy have a right 8 individuals doing 1 business each for himself to consider first their private advantage lint they have not a right as a rghl corporation crprton endowed by the people with ppl wih enor mously increased powers to use those powers against the interest and wel Car of the peopleS The to Iple Te presumption of the law is tint 1 corporations Crntons which combine to control the rntl te manufacture 0 00 n funicular prouuct Uo so 10 I for the purpose of getting for it a higher price than could otherwise b obtained Hot it ia for the public in terest that the price of prc every Ir duct should L regulated by free competition between Iho American I producers It Is I contrary to the pub lie welfare that men In ono branch of production or another should ba sboll1 enabled en-abled to Iz unnatural nnd exorbitant returns for their capital and their skill or to tax the public Inblic unreasonably for the services they render When ant individual doe that thing In the exercise exer-cise of his natural right C5 naunl Government docs not Interfere becaiiss the hall which can be done lyons personwitti his limited powers and pfnwib capital Is presumed to be less PlulI t b than the harm which might resnlt from individual freedom restricting trOIL lint when a cor portion or combination of inlividtiil employing the < to law asa weapon against mpn aglnt society uses its legal powers against the welfare of the public tho pUblc Government Govern-ment has reason to interfere It Is I constantly are the this or that combination deserves consideration because it has not unduly enhanced prices or has even reduced them Hut be decision of the Michigan ruc Supreme Iut Jonrt in rpcnn tn thn Tnmnni Uf t Company i Is pertinent here for it held u ho corporation as an unlawful conspiracy cn spiracy for the reasons her slated In 1 the parties were ictire participant n 1CTfccUnE me te combination known u he HuDH nd > Mitch unlnd te Camping and the went dispute Is the traitor ibis fceme te j nblcb a competition in the manafc lor of ranches TU t bo ttlCeJand nnora the entire business of the country In tlus lao ngrosted ly that company Such a rail combination D this I a menace to the mbhr It I no answer to say that this tal monopoly has In fact reduced th mnply the fct rdaee1e price of matches tn that policy maT bare been bn neccseary crush neer3 tb competition The fact < lrl that II rrpl in the discretion of fct the cjmpany at any time to raise prices to an eoborbitint figure a This is precisely in harmony with he New York wib e decision regarding tho sugar just and with the recent do Ision in Illinois regarding the Ilnois rgm1ng Chicago gas trust The latter it is argued bag given the people better and cheaper s But tho lawas laid down by the court holds that the public should not bo at the b mercy of such eambina lons should not tolerate combinations which obtain under tho laws the power to tax and wrong the public If they please The combination to con I trot the manufacture or sale U treated by the courts la in Its cur very nature and oC necessity conspiracy against the publIc welfare localise the public I nterest can only L adequately de ended by free competition |