VOL. XXIII. MY PLATFORM JOHN F. HOGAN, Founder, Detroit, Mich. To combat Socialism. To uphold our Representative Form of Government. To promote respect for Constituted Authority. To assist in a better mutual understanding between Capital and To sustain workmen in their demand for Just Compensation. To make clear that the interests of both sides are mutual, and To advocate Individual Initiative as the basis for all Social, In- To Defend Integrity of Family, Love of Country, Reverence for YOUR PLATFORM TOO -- ? THEN JOIN THE GATEWAY MOVEMENT. Issued Monthly-SEPTEMBER, 1914 No. 2 A "GOOD TRUST." CKNOWLEDGING the International Harvester Company to be a "good trust;" that "its treatment of smaller competitors in general has been fair and just; that it was not oppressive or destructive, nevertheless, being a "trust," it was ordered dissolved by two of the three judges of the United States District Court. Judge Sanborn, dissenting, says that he finds himself forced to disagree with them in his opinion: ¶ First, because it seems to me to give insufficient consideration to the trade conduct of the defendants at the time this suit was commenced in April 1912, and for seven years before that date. ¶ "Second, because the crucial issue in this case is not whether or not in 1902 or 1903 the defendants or their predecessors made a combination or an attempted monopoly in restraint of trade, but it is whether or not 10 years afterward, in 1912, when the complaint in this suit was filed, the International company and the other defendants were then unduly or unreasonably restraining or monopolizing interests or foreign trade, or threatening to do, and, ¶ "Third, because the evidence in this case has forced on my mind the deep and abiding conviction that for at least seven years before the commencement of this suit the defendants had not been and then were not either so doing or threatening so to do. The International Harvester Company was organized in 1902, but the suit for its dissolution filed by the United States government was not begun until 1912, ten years afterwards. The sole issue by the government was whether the I. H. C. was restraining or monopolizing trade in 1912 at the time suit was filed. The adverse opinion of Judge Smith, concurred in by Judge Hook, does not ¶ No more panics in the United States! The Currency Law is now in effect. sustain the government's charges of monopolization and coercion of local dealers; or local price cutting to destroy competition; or excessive prices; or oppressive trade methods; or destruction of freedom of competition in the manufacture or sale of harvesting machines. On the contrary, Judge Hook, in concurring, says: "It is but just, however, to say and to make it plain that in the main, the business conduct of the company towards its competitors and the public has been honorable, clean and fair." The majority opinion acquits the company of charges of overcapitalization and unfair and oppressive practices. The opinion is based on the elimination of competition more than 10 years ago and not upon actual wrongs committed by this company since that time. The organization of the company is condemned as being a violation of the Sherman Law, but the company is acquitted of having violated this law at the time the suit was begun or for at least seven years before. The International Harvester Company is a "good trust," but since all 'trusts" are illegal, then the I. H. C. must go to the scrap heap along with the others. -if the majority opinion is upheld? One man's vote has temporarily settled a momentous question-apparently a "good trust" is no better in the eyes of the law than a "bad trust." * * * The small brooks and rivers on the mountain side, taken singly, have insufficient energy within themselves to be of practical benefit to mankind. They lack power to do more than child's work. They are too feeble. When, however, several of these streams flowing down the hills join one with the other, like the five fingers of the hand, into one mighty arm, then the combination is so strong that it may be harnessed by man to drive the wheels of commerce. It is a natural combination of small, feeble unavailable streams into one powerful natural force that may be and has been utilized for the comfort and pleasure of mankind. Combinations like the International Harvester Company, may, without much stretch of imagination, be fairly compared to this natural, powerful, useful force. Several of the companies composing the International could take good care of business within the United States, still none of them, singly, could do business in the foreign countries of the world. The field was too large for any single concern while the necessary capital to be invested in the export field would have swamped any agricultural implement institution in the country. The individual harvesting machine. companies may, in a way, be compared to the little streams-alone, little could be done; united, they were unbeatable. What is the United States but a combination of small commonwealths? ¶ Many Americans will henceforth become acquainted with their own country What Fools We Mortals, Be! Some plain facts, without sugar coating, about the by JOHN F. HOGAN. ANY honest citizens are continually damning our street car corporations. Some of these citizens are intelligent; others think they are. Most of them, howover, when called upon for an intelligent, sane reason for their resentment are unable to clearly define or rationally explain WHY. This antagonism again public utilities is especially noticeable in large centers of population. To a great extent, it was justified in the past because of the selfish and damnable interference of public utility promoters and managers in the political affairs of our communities. Common councils were bought, legislatures bribed and public officials corrupted for the benefit of these public service corporations. As a natural result of such debauchery of public servants, laws of all kinds favoring these corporations were passed and franchises of enormous value were gladly and freely handed to them. These corporations in a sense, were our masters. But all this is a story of the past. Today, in the whole United States, very few public service corporations use corrupt means to gain their ends, a fact that partly explains why the loud mouthed political fakir is after them today. Let us be understood so that no doubt will arise as to what we mean and where we stand. The Gateway stands for Fair Play and Honesty to all, capital, labor, street car corporation or people. The Gateway denounces Unfair Play and Dishonesty on the part of any one of them. We are against the political fakir, the labor agitator, the bucanneering captain of industry, the unscrupulous yellow press or any other factor that tends to create danger to our social or economic life. We are for righteousness and the "better understanding" between man and man. The Gateway has at its command, the very best sources of information on any question discussed in this magazine. Actuated by the very highest of motives and uninfluenced by either fear or favor, we publish the results of our investigations for the benefit and guidance of our readers. In other words, we are carrying out the principles of MY PLATFORM as embodied in The Gateway Movement. Such is our position. Passing from the old to the newer order of things, a remarkable change has been noticed in methods and attitude of public service corporations. They have recognized and now clearly understand the aroused power of the people. Whether from matters of policy or better understanding matters ¶A workingman is no longer a workingman when he graduates. Have you passed. not the fact remains that their tactics are different. Today, a public service corporation appeals to the people. It throws its books open for public inspections and invites the people to take a look. Public service corporations now advertise their position and needs. in the columns of the daily press. Sometimes a portion of the press is so unfair to the corporation-and to the public that it refuses to publish as paid advertisement, the corporation's side of the story. This portion of the press we have described in the past as The Great American Leprosy. Under new and enlightened management, these corporations aim to satisfy and inform the public. Unlike the misled public, they are not blinded by passion or prejudice. They know their business and go about it in a businesslike way. Naturally, the public service manager, with his cool head and clear brain, and fully equipped with facts, has an advantage over the man of ignorance, wrath and passion. That is one great reason why he is successful. ¶ A large growing city is an impossibility without a street car system or other means of travel. So, too, a street car system could not exist without the city. Each is necessary to the other. Without one, the other is impossible. A city therefore offers the opportunity to establish a street car system and the system, in turn, helps the city to progress by affording means of intercourse and expansion. Each part is dependent on the other for life and development and therefore should in the natural course of things, be intimate and friendly. Nevertheless, despite the natural and necessary relationship, the reverse is usually true. Let us dig farther down and examine the situation for this unusual condition. The root of evil in large cities is bad government. The root of bad government lies in poor citizenship. It naturally follows, therefore, if corrupt aldermen and legislators are in office, that a large share of the blame rests upon the shoulders of those citizens who voted for them or else, as many usually do, failed to vote at all. Usually the man who cast his vote for a crooked alderman is the loudest shouter against the corporation. He tries to excuse his own shortcomings by placing the blame on the corporation! Of course, the voter's guilt did not excuse the corporation-it simTwo-Gateway-Charter ply divides the blame and puts it where it belongs-on the shoulders of the citizen, the public official and the corporation. The corporation, being wise, in the course of time changed its methods to conform to the changed conditions. The utility manager now endeavors to help the people because, he knows, that whatever benefits the public must necessarily be of profit to the corporation. The people, however, continue to be blind, ignorant and prejudiced in their attitude towards public service corporations. They are still blind to the mutual relations that naturally exist between the municipality and the corporation. They indifferently ignore the fact that, on account of this lack of knowledge concerning the public utility, they are at a disadvantage. They don't know the "other side" and therefore oppose, without reason, any proposition offered by the utility, even if it be of the greatest benefit to the public. They are prejudiced because of the corporation's overt acts in the past and fail to understand the changes brought about by wise modern managers of these utilities. And because of their blindness, ignorance and prejudice, in themselves and their elected representatives, the people always get the worst of it. ¶ Railroads get their 5 per cent; let them now play their part. To make the matter perfectly clear, ask the man on the corner why a street car rate should be 3 cents instead of 2 cents or 4 cents or any other rate. What is his answer? How does he figure it out? Ask him what constitutes a fair or a reasonable rate and listen to the an swer. The municipal ownership bug is probabily in his bonnet, yet when asked about it, his knowledge of this feature of municipal life taken from the old world where conditions are entirely different from our country, is usually one sided, prejudiced and incomplete. What about depreciation, obsolescence? No answer. Yet those loud mouthed shouters--especially at election times--will insist that 3 cent rate of fare or municipal ownership or some other absolutely cut and dried unswerving figure is the right, the only right and absolutely fair rate to carry passengers! And they never offer a single convincing proof of their contention! The people have not the time-they are too busy looking after their own affairs-and so leave matters affecting their pocketbook, their health and even their own lives in the care of any blathering fakir sailing under the banner: "THE PEOPLE'S FRIEND-VOTE FOR HIM." Being blind, ignorant and prejudiced, the people "fall" for the loud mouthed political fakir who promises to deliver them from the bcndage of the "octopus" and set them on the road to happiness and 1 cent fares. ¶ Thus fortified by the people's vote, the "man with the itching palm," having some little knowledge of human nature, blats his love for the "common people" and shriekingly denounces the street car monopoly for "rebbing" the people. He is a careful man, however, and never makes his charges specific. He is afraid of a libel suit. "If 3 cent fares are successful in Cleveland (which is not true) then 3 cent fares ought to be equally successful in Chicago, New York. Toledo, South Bend, Cincinnati or Hamilton, Ohio." It is just as sensible for them to say because butter and eggs are a certain price in Jackson, Michigan, that they ought to be sold at the same price in New York City, plus transportation. It is absurd, yet this argument is the usual one employed. That is the usual reasoning of our "friend" who never takes into consid ¶ Again we say: Wilson is a great man. The European war proves it. |