The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-12-25
A HOPEFUL SIGN

The Kinsley contingent sojou-ning Ill
Kansas City, recently had the pleasure
of listening to an address on Trusts,
by Judge Scarritt, who is at the head
of the bar in Kansas City. The ad-
dress was given on Sunday evening at
the Fisrt Congregational church. DIR.
Hopkins, the progressive pastor Of the
church, is an advanced Socialist and a
great worker along all lines of reform.
For the past few weeks he has been
giving up his pulpit Oh Sunday eve
nings to the leading lawyers Of the
city for the discussion Of the great liv-
ing issues of the day.
Judge Scarritt handled his subject
in a perfectly fearless way, showing
that he is really just Judge as well
as a fair minded man. Looking back
to the different instances of corruption
and bribery in our judiciary in the
past few years, it makes refOrmers
feel that the world moves along the
lines of progress, toward the bright
new day we are looking forward to so
eagerly. In his address, Judge Scar
ritt pointed out the difference between
a corporation organized for the purpose
Of sransacting "a legitimate line of bus
mess. and a trust which strives for q
monopoly of some special product OF
Industry. Not content with this, they
pursue, like Nemesis, any competitor
who refuses to join them until he is
ruined. Tie challenge is, said Judge
Scarritt. Join us Or die" Then. SAID
he, they not only control prices, but
regulate the output and control and
6x the price of labor.
He then pointed out the far-reach-
ing extent of the trust evil, for they
control nearly all commodities of value
and the suffering falls heaviest upon
the poor, for the things necessary tor
daily life; we might say existence, for
many of them have no life" in its
fullest meaning.
Coming to things nearer home, the
speaker attacked the new coal trust
formed by the owners of Kansas coal
without the slightest reference to sup
ply ard demand. Their fiat has gone
forth that the price of coal is to be
advanced on the first of January.
Then he paid his respects to the gas
that have crushed out AL opposition.
He then denounced the plan Of CIV
currency. And then he said Twill our
Republican readers plea.e bear this IN
mird) The protective tariff operates
in favor of trusts" Indeed lie might
have gone farther and SAID. as did one
illustrious Republican senator from
Kansas, TRUSTS were made possible
by the protective (?) tariff Then
the Judge, after pronouncing the ini-
quituous trust system the problem of
the age, said he could see no remedy
for the evil except making partlcipa-
tion in the organization OF 4 trust pun
ishable by term in the penitentiary.
This is certainly drastic language, hut
the evil demands it, and all honor to
the moral bravery of a man who dares
to fling it in the faces Of the plutocra-
tic robbers, who plunder more openly
than ever did a band of Italian band
its. The remedy will soon be found
in public sentiment and public opinion
moulded by such fearless lawyers
as Judge Scarrltt. So let us take
courage and look toward the coming
of the new time, remembering this for
our consolation: that as comes each
day. so will come the new one. First
a quickening of the sleeping pulse of
public opinion, then the SOFT grey dawn
of questioning; lis it rIght?" Am
l my brothers keeper?'' The answers
come from those on the mountain tops
who can already see the coming light;
let us heed them. Then over the hills
comes the daybreak, the light of tea
son, followed by bright shafts of light
il.umining the dark skies that have
overshadOwed humanity. And then
will come the full glare aud shine OF
the new day, when the rays of Truth
shall SO light the world, that there are
no dark places where sin and evil aud
injustice may lurk.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
is still involved in hopeless and what