Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-08-31

former Administration. This Is the hovksn'
tecnth annual sesalon OF a great o.. Sant-.a
ton, representing a great Interest o.
splendid nation. Holding a commAssio'
from your governor, as you do; repressnt<
ing the tremendous aggregated wealth OF.
our country, produced by you, you should
be q delibsrative body, In the fullest sense.
Our object Is to formulate such legislation
as our vast interests require; to let the
congress OF the United States know our
needs, and to force hem upon their atten-
ton.
When we consider that in so short a
time we have stepped TO the front as tne
wealthiest nation on the earth, that our
increaee OF wealth under normal condi-
tIons is at the rate OF 8 1880, 900 per day;
when we consider the rapid mechanical
and scientific development OF the last
quarter OF a century, 1t is not strange tnat
we should see the combination OF capitai
and the formation Of trusts. They are
the logical outgrowth Of q most wonder
full progress. During the last twenty-h ve
years, we have been engaged In setting
the great questions involving the right 70
control these vast corporations. As far as
law Is concerned we have the right to
check the rapacious greed OF aggregated
On initial. Through ias,si~ts~s sssee"enee
auu through the courts, the contest has
been long and bitter, but the principle has
been established aud Is now recognized by
the Two great contending forces. While
we have upon our statutes the Interstate
commerce laws and the antitrust enact
ments, yet those evils are still In existence
II is exhibited in the sugar trust; we SCI
it in the national miilers' association
where they largely control the price o
grain from the farmer and the price OF tn
grain product to the consumer; and WI
fed it is the "Big Four Beef Co.." tina
absolutely controls both ends Of the mar
ket. II the inter state com
mission has not the authority under exist
ing laws to check the rapacIous greed o
y these organizations, it has failed In It
, mission, and should be superseded b.
more effective measures.
I am not an alarmist; | take no pride II
making war on any organization or insti
tuition, that has for its object the creates
good to the greatest number of people.
bid them Godspeed and q magnificent sue
cess in all legitimate enterprises: but
hope and believe there will never come a.
hour when the congress Il the Unite
States will purposely give their consent :
the building up Of trusts and combination
for the control of the prices for the neces
saries of human existence.
President Clayton concluded hi
lengthy address by enumerating va
rious questions to which the Farmers
congress should now devote its ener
, gies. These inelnded the enlargement
} Of the agricultural department, givin
it power and means TO open up avenue
of trade for American farm product
and giving the farmers the same pre-
lection accorded other interests
amendment OF interstate commerce la
aud antitrust measures, giving tn
proper off ,ers power to compel til
attendance of witne Sses, or to plac
: them behind prison bars regardless 9
the millions they may pos9ess-exten
LIN Of mail delivery to rural districts
: enlargement OF the weatnvr -
: moro systematic crop statistics--e
r clama.ion of ARID and serni-arid land
3 RESTRICTIONS of boards OF trade to
: point where fraud and dealing wit
: options will be prevented-wiping OF
of bucket shops-increased a~ppropria
lions to prevent the importation OF ia
. fected live, stock, aad to stamp GU
existing diseases.