The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-06
vKsrAI. VIRTUE

The amendment to Senator Sherman's
antitrust bill. proposed by senator Vest.
OF Missouri. is thoroughly characteristics OF
the political party OF which the latter is
recognized Is q bright and shining light.
Under the pretense of friendship for the
measure. and OF disposition 20 extend its
provisions and add strength to it. his
amendment, II accepted. would most
certainly array against the bill an irresisti-
bic opposition.
This Is s-time-honoresi'f Democratic tao
tics. An effort being made to accomplish
wholesome legislation within conservative
lines. and TO effect reform which is de-
msnded by healthy public opinion without
reference to party differences. Democratic
dsmagogism flies to radical extremes and
damns the measure by advocating more
than is reasonable or just II Is as though
movement. 10 correct some petty but
generally and hursfully prevalent vice were
defeated by proposition to subject to
capital punishment ali who might be found
guilty Of its practice.
Something very similar 10 this is found
in Senator Vests wild and impracticabIe
proposed amendment 70 senator Sherman's
meritorious bill The latter is simed ct the
prevention or punishment of combinations
10 limit production, enhance the price
or destroy competition in re-
spect To the necessaries OF life and
articles of general consumption. Such leg
islation all rightmindcd citizens approve
and demand. s,uch legislation will be OPP
posed only By the greedy and selfish people
who are engaged in the nefarious practices
which II aims to stop. With the opposi-
ton confined to this class OF people there
would be no possibility of defeating the
proposed legislation.
But in this dire strait OF the combina-
tons TO compel the masses to pay extor-
tomato prices for the necessaries of life,
Senator Vest has come calamity to the res
cue OF the extortionists. BY making the
bill cover Ill manner of combinations, in
Guiding transportation companies of all
kinds and descriptions, he would array
against the measure an opposing aggregs-
ton which would make its passage utterly
hopslsss.
This is an old and familiar, but none the
less cunning device. A Senator who
should venture to suggest that the inclu-
sion OF transportation companies be
stricken out. would at once by many I'M
rejecting people be denounced as wearing
corporation collar" which would ct least
endanger the loss Of his political head. and
II would with many of these be OF no use
to show that such practices by these CON-
panies are covered by q far-reaching
special Law. which Is open to any needed
amendment as a separate and distinct
proposition.
IL is not conceivable that Senator Vests
amendment was innocentiy introduced or
designed 70 further any purpose friendly
TO the original bill. He is as shrewd as the
shrewdest OF his brother Senators. None
know better than he that every additional
combination that the bill can be made to
attack adds In proportion to its formidable
ness TO the opposition the bill viii meet
with and to the probabilities OF its defeat.
None know better than he that il is easier
to legislats against these combinations in
detail than en- rnasse. and that the diff
Guilty OF iegisiating against them is multi
piled in proportion 10 the number sought
to be included in one act of legislation.
Hence IL Is clear that his amendment was
neither friendly nor intended for any good
purpose. IL was trescherous ard insin-
eere. intended to defeat the bill under n
pretense OF excessive zeal for the principles
1t was intended to advance. Pretending TO
re In favor OF destroying all combinations.
he takes the snrest means for preventing
thu deStrusrinr, OF any