Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-04-07
ANSWER TO THE EDITORIAL ON
ANTI MONOPOLY.

YOUR editorial entitled amt Nonopo-
w." published in the Tribune Of the
23l, you say regarding the Anti Mo-
nopoly meeting at Cooper Institute
that '.steps in the last degree imprac-
ticable or unjust were advocated with
a reckless or violent spirit, a wanton
disregard of private rights and an
obstinate blindness az to the conse-
quences to the people as a whole,
which better benefits the Reds and
Communists of bygone day in Paris
than free citizens Of the self-governing
and prosperous United States
| respectfully submit that the writer
Of the above has totally misconceived
the spirit Of that meeting and of the
men who were most active in promot-
ing it, and whether this was done
ignorantlY or wilfully the fact is none
the less to be deplored The organi-
zation of the Anti Monopoly League
has been forced npon the people by
abuses in corporate management which
repeated legislative Investigations have
pronounced fully proven, and
which the Hepburn Committee termed
$50 glaring in their proportions as to
SAVIOR of fiction rather than actual
history" Another Legislative Com
mittee has stated of the railroad
management Of one of the reputed
owners of the Tribune Mr.. Jay
Gould), that sit exposes the reckless
and prodigal use of money wrung
from the people to purchase the
election of the peoples representa-
tives, and to bride them when in
office"
Now, if there is any truth in these
official reports, it is time that the
American people were stirring to pre-
serve the principles upon which our
system of Government is founded
If, on the other hand, there is no
truth in them, then, as stated by
Judge Black, the railroad managers
are much abused individuals, and the
men who are trying to hold them to
some responsibility to the public are
in the highest degree cuplabIe.
| respectfully submit, however,
that there can be but one reasonable
answer to this question, and to meet
the we'll founded complaints Of the
public with a comparison of the men
who make these complaints to the
reds and communists of a bygone
day in Paris is to force upon the
people Of the United States a disre-
gard for law and order which every
good citizen must deprecate. In a
recent article from the Graphic,
touching upon the objects and pur-
poses of the Anti Monopoly League,
We find the following:
"If we ever have a conflict between
capital and labor in this country it
will be because of the injustice done
the masses by corporate monopolies.
1t therefore behooves all classes of
citizens and particularly those who
have property, to sustain the efforts
now being made by reasonable and
intelligent citizens to limit the power
OF men who, to use the words of a
committee of the United States Sen
ate, recognize no principle of action
but personal and corporate aggra d
izement
The principles advocated by the
League are as follows:
"Our principles: Antrim onopoly.
We advocate and will support and
defend the rights of the many as
against privileges for the few
Corporations, the creation of the
State, shall be controlled by the
State.
Labor and capital, allies not enemies
Justice for BOTH
To put such . construction upon
them as you do in your editorial Of
the 23d ult. is in the highest degree
unjust believe it also to be uuwlss,
and only to be explained on the prin,
pies that whom the gods would
destroy they first make mad" Il
Messrs. Gould, Vanderbilt and theil
confreres 90 on watering stock cor
rupting our elections and legislature:
and discriminating in their manage
ment of public highways until tbs
people become desperate, they mus
expect desperate remedies. If they
only knew i, the men who are nov
seeking by legal and constitutions
means to limit their power and pre-
vent these abuses, and their bes
friends, and yet they repudiate tn,
idea that they should submit to an.
control, and though their journals de
aGo bo-