Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-08-18
SENATOR JONES AND THE
TPUSTS

pressed into system OF oppression,
its dangers are illimitable. Diffused
honestly among the masses laboring
for it according to their industry, it
is a general blessing. Centered by
any unfair means in the hands of an
intriguing few, it is an evil which
destroys virtue and supplants gov
ernments. It in turn creates happi-
ness and misery, but the misery
produced springs from the mean use
Il it, often backed by power.
When it grows so strong that it
san make seventy millions of people,
a supposed model federal fabric
like the United States, bow in semi
submission to the balance of a
seventy three million population, it
threatens to change great republic
into serfdom.
When Congress becomes SO power
full, as is ours, and its members per-
sonally become interested il large
trusts, that they by combining their
influence and theirs and others
capital, can fasten high prices upon
the voters who placed them in Office,
the example becomes dangerous and
the tendency is to lead in the oursec
of time to wonderfully revolu-
tionary spirit which will only down
when public affairs are Ieveled to
the rights Of the whole people.
When an income tax is thwarted
by the highest court Of the land and
the poor made bear the burdens of
government, and the rich escape
nine-tenths of their just share of
taxes, it is time Tor serious thought
and earnest action.
When considerations of capital,
forming trusts, combines and con-
spiracies against the wants, the
sheer necessities of man, are aided
by public laws in protective tariffs
and federal injunetions to make
mandatory their expressions, it
forbodes no promise for a fruitful
condition of our future.
When taxation rests upon the
best, but financially, the lowest
strata of society, it will necessarily
at an early period produce an IRE
ooncilable discomfort.
These propositions are automatic,
but many pampered with power,
fearlessly disregard them. Later
on they will see what they will see.
The Senate of the United States
now stands openly characterized by
the world as a nest, where a brood
of schemes are constantly Matched
out, fed upon public pap until able
to go out and feast upon the masses.
Until lately, Arkansas has kent
herself away from the espionage of
such a charge, even Of such a sus-
picion, but alas now James X.
Jones is mixed up with a cotton
packing combine.
No one industry in the South, or
anywhere else, needs to have
harpies kept off it more than does
cotton.
1t is a sensitive plant in its
growth, has to meet all the natural
diversities of weather, labor, mar
kets and Insects, and when it is
through with these contests, has
run the gauge of battle with the
money centers for its production,
marched through a marked era of
contention, to be met at the gin
house with baling trust, is piling
oppression upon yexation.
1t may be a blessing in disguise
for the cotton farmer, but trusts are
not often formed on that line of
benevolence.
There may be no wrong in it, but
we wish our Senator had kept out of
it. No anarchy of trusts are going
to control Arkansas general voters,
and while these voters have been
sold out by their Legislatures, 1t is
not likely to occur again soon.
The tendency now is to better
shape of public affairs. There will,
in our judgment, never be another
United States Senate SO brazcn and
bold as to refuse to investigate so
obnoxious charge as Senator's
connection with the odious sugar
trusts, and the fewer combines
Senators go INTO the better for
them.
Thera is one thing surely true,
Senator Jones may have helped his
pocket, but he has not by his con-
nection with this combine added
any new luster to his great reputa-
ton. We only fear he has dimmed it.
Doc MATHEWS has retired from
the management of the Stuttgart
Free Press, and the paper is now
edited and controlled by his son,