Anti-Trust Acts - Evil or Just Business?

The trusts were a major problem in both politics and business. By working together, companies gained great money and power at the expense of the consumer and smaller companies. Something had to be done.

An attempt was made in 1890 with the Sherman Anti-trust Act, which flatly forbade any form of trusts, good or bad. The act was full of loopholes and lawyers were clever, making it virtually ineffective. In fact, it was used at the time to curb labor unions.

The Sherman Act finally grew some "teeth" of its own when Congress passed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act of 1914, which lengthened the list of objectionable business practices. Furthermore, it conferred benefits on labor and legalized strikes and peaceful picketing.