Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-10-31


excess. like wheat. would be put 20 a
more profitable use The $4,000, 600
each year would swell our domestic COM
merce by at least four times that
amount. If we had produced our own
sugar instead of gold having been ex-
ported during the past three years-an
export that has widely hurt our indus
tries and business-gold would have been
imported. for the more than one hundred
million dollars of gold or its equivalent
sent abroad each year for sugar would
have been kept at home.
Home or Foreign Wool, which,
All these advantages-the use of land.
the employment of labor, the increase of
domestic commerce and of our clrculat-
ing medium, the retention of gold
would follow also from production of
the 250,000,000 pounds of wool that we
annually import under the Wilson law:
a production that would follow from the
steady and continued aid of such protec-
ton as was given by the Mckinley law.
Surely so far as tariff legislation is con-
cerned. the farmer, whether he regards
only his own interests or looks beyond
them to the interest of his country, win
have no difficulty in deciding which par
ty should have his vote. His decision
will be all the easier and surer because
of the record of the candidates for Presi-
dent. Mr.. Bryan declared in Congress,
January 10. 1894, 1T is immaterial in
my judgment whether the sheep-grower
receives any benefit from the tariff or
not | am for free wool" He
voted for free wool, for the repeal of the
sugar bonntles and for the abrogation of
the reciprocity arrangements. Mr.. Nc
kinney, it is needless to say, has been
and is, in favor of reciprocity. just pro-
lection to wool and other farm products.
and such reasonable encouragement of
out beet-sugar industry as other conn
tries have found profitable. In cons
trast with what Mr.. Bryan said about
tariff on wool is what Mr. Mckinley said
when introducing his tariff bill into the
House:
If there is any one industry which appeals
with more force than another for defensive
duties it is this, and to no class of citizens
should this House more cheerfully lend legiS-
lative assistance, where it can properly be
done, than to the million farmers who own
sheep In the United States. We cannot af-
ford as a nation 10 permit This industry to
be longer crippled.
This shows Mr.. McKinley's regard for
the welfare of agricultural industries;
and Mr.. Bryan, also, may be judged by
his utterances On the same subject.
Republicans and Trusts.
FE.Ears haze been consistently and
Esrsistently opposed to trusts This hos
tiEty has been exaggerated in the voci-
ferrous and sweeping denunciations of
trusts by the Popuhsts. The farmers of
this country are well aware that there
are more trusts that. while nearly and
quite controlling the production and sale
OF certain articles 10 their sure and lib
eral profit. have nevertheless, by reason
of the economies of the aggregation of
capital. the employment of best talent in
directing, and of producing and hand
hing large quantities. made the prices of
hn apf1a 70, fl.f. IL
they were before and probably less than
they would be if the trusts were not in
existence. Nevertheless. the farmers of
this country believe that the principles
underlying trusts are wrong and that in
the aggregate trusts are a serious injury
to business and WELD Il power that will
present to human nature a temptation too
strong TO be resisted except in few
cases, to use that power with political
parties and legislative bodies, for i'm.
proper ends; in short, that the trust is an
enemy to the people and menace to the
nation, there being some exceptions TO
prove the rule. Representative agricuI-
tural bodies have very frequently CON
demned trusts and asked for legislation
that would end them. or at the least
would subject their affairs to such public
knowledge and control ms would remove
their power for evil A rpprescutativa
agricultural body has never pronounced
in favor Of trusts. The position Of the
farmer as regards trusts is that occupied
by our economists and by nearly an our
population, hence, it is sanctioned by
scientific research and reasoning and Nv
the common sense. In accord with the
wishes of farmers and in complionce
with their requests, the Fifty-6rst Com
gress, which was the first Congress re-
publican in both branches since trusts
had assumed prominence in this country
FASTENED at its first session to pass "a
Dill 10 protect trade and commerce
hes, which declares that:
Every contract combination in form ot
trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in re
straint OF trade or commerce among tho
s ,'t states, or with foreign nations. is
hereby declared 10 be Illegal Every nrrson
VINO shall make any such contract or eI,gnga
~ any such combination or conspiracy shnIl
nc deeIned guilty of misdemeanor, and. on
conviction thereof. shall be punished nv :,
line not exceeding 5000. or by imnrison
ment not exceeding one year or by 10th NJ
court VI tne
Every person who shall mononotizo
shall attempt TO monopolize. or combine or
cohsplre win any other person or persons
90 nnonopoi,ne any part of the trade or
or with foreign nations shall be gnilfy
OF 2 misdeneanor and on conviction thereof
snail snail be punished by fine not exceeding
year. or by both said pnuishuents in Tia
discretion OF the court
Ihat word person or persons. wher
ever used in this act shall be deemed 10 In
elude corporations and associations exisfina
under or authorized by the laws of eitber
the United States the laws of any az the
territories, the laws of any state or tho
laws of any foreign country
This act is so comprehensive in it's da6.
milton of trust. which it made Illegal
that 1t was clearly the purpose of those
who made II a law, that no trust should
escape.
Democracy and Trusts
Contrast with the action of the Fifty
first Congress the action of the Fifty
third Congrcss--the first one Democrat.
III both branches since trusts attained
Ia prominence in this country-wlich. Mt
It's regular session. put into the coffcr of
the Sugar trust, by means or the Wilson
law, Il bonus Of $4,000. 900 on the sugar
then i'll its hands; and by the same law
made a profit for the Whisky trust Of
about S1OO00.000 on the whisky with
drawn from bond after it became cor
tain that the tax on whisky would no
increased and before the law wont into
effect. and. in addition. the Wilson law
increased the allowance for wastorn
while in bond and heightened tho hondci
perior from three to eight years. The
Fifty-thlrd Congress lcgislafed against
trusts, but only those of which i,pport.
ers are members and which deal IN inn.
ported articles. Domestic trusts have 70
manned uDdisturbed by Democratic lco;s.
lation. No effort has been made by tho