are concerned with the present rather than the past."
"I am glad you realize that," Gorham responded, "for it has a
considerable bearing upon the situation. In the past, the public has
been opposed to the organization of industry, and properly so, since it
has meant the secret rebates, the limiting of output, the 'fake'
independent companies, and the stealing of competitors' secrets; but
to-day there is a changed public sentiment, and perhaps I may be
pardoned if I say that I believe the Consolidated Companies has played
its part in bringing this about. The magazines have turned from
muckraking to articles instructing their readers in finance; the
anti-trust orator is speaking to empty seats; and intelligent lawmakers,
who once considered 'corporation' as a synonym for 'crime,' now
carefully distinguish between the honest and the dishonest organization.
The Administration is elected by the people to exercise the will of the
people, and it is the will of the people to-day that honest combinations
be permitted, in order to reduce the cost of the necessities of life."
"It is a conflict between a literal interpretation of the law and
industrial progress," added Senator Kenmore, "and the law as it stands
does not appeal to justice nor does it express American public
sentiment. Bigness, in commerce and industry, has now come to be
associated with progress. Production on a large scale is justified by
its economy and efficiency when brought about through the free play of
economic forces. It would be just as ridiculous to oppose the
ever-increasing demand for machinery."
"To what point is all this leading us?" asked Senator Hunt, impatiently.
"These one-sided arguments may be interesting to those who agree with
them, but my question still remains unanswered: why does not the
Government enforce the law equally against one offender as against
another, since by that law both are offenders?"
"Senator Kenmore, the Attorney-General, and I have endeavored to answer
your question to the best of our ability," Gorham replied, "and I, for
one, regret to have failed in my endeavor. We all agree, I am sure, that
the Government has a plain duty to perform, but we do not understand
that duty to be the prevention of honest and beneficial combination. The
Consolidated Companies has led the way in seeking publicity and
preserving equality, and in insuring public participation in the
benefits accruing from the combinations which it effects
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