The Massachusetts State Grange v. Benton case in 1926 revolved around the constitutionality of a state law that regulated the prices and profits of middlemen involved in food distribution. The Massachusetts State Grange, an agricultural organization, argued against Arthur A. Benton, Attorney General at that time, asserting that this law was unconstitutional as it violated their rights under the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause by interfering with their freedom to contract and conduct business freely. However, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of this legislation stating it fell within states' police power to regulate businesses affecting public welfare - here being food supply chain management during a period marked by high inflation rates post World War I. The court ruled that such regulation did not violate any constitutional provisions since ensuring fair pricing for consumers was deemed necessary for maintaining societal order and preventing exploitative practices.

In the dissenting opinion for Massachusetts State Grange v. Benton, it was argued that the law in question did not violate any constitutional rights of farmers or other individuals involved in agriculture. The dissenting justices believed that the state had a legitimate interest in regulating agricultural practices and ensuring fair competition among farmers. They also disagreed with the majority's interpretation of what constitutes an "unreasonable" restraint on trade, arguing that this should be determined by considering whether a particular practice harms public welfare rather than simply looking at its impact on individual competitors. Furthermore, they contended that if every regulation potentially affecting commerce were subject to strict scrutiny under antitrust laws, many necessary and beneficial regulations would be struck down as unconstitutional. Therefore, they concluded that while some aspects of the law might need revision to better serve its intended purpose without unduly burdenishing businesses or consumers, it should not have been invalidated entirely.