The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-06-02
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.

and Congress, prepared in Boston and
relating to the unjust distribution of
wealth" The memorial represents:
That the great body Of the people can
only acquire capital by savings from in
dustry or just earnings.
That equal rights and opportunities
under law, demand that incorporated
persons should be limited to the same
method Of acquiring capital AMI income
thereon.
That varying and defective laws Of
the states, relating to capital and debt Of
certain classes of corporations, operate
with such gross inequality and injustice,
as to be destructive of equal rights.
That while some classes Of corpora
tions are under departmental supervi.
sion, state or national, and their shares
compelled to be fully paid, others are
without such supervision for control Of
their issues.
That capital shares and forms Of debt,
in vast sums, have been issued during
many years, regardless OF justice or pub
lie rights.
That railroad corporations have been
hereby burdened, oftentimes to enrich
the individuals charged under law with
their management.
That these public highways have been
thus Financed" to false and inordi-
nate cost, and their chances of profit
able success thereby impaired; while the
ever continued effort to earn income on
excessive issues, tends to unfair exac.
tions, and oppressive economies.
That Industrial combinations and cor.
porations have likewise avsiled of the
liberty OF false capitalization in immense
sums, and have been likewife enabled
by Wall Street or Stock Exchange
methods, to float their issues upon the
public.
That no corporate business or enter
prise should exist among free people,
except upon the same capital basis as
private undertakings; and be likewise
governed by demand and supply for the
same object, viz, income OF profit on
honest capital. Otherwise the incorpo'
rated individuals are permitted to prey
upon the people at large.
That by issue and use of false tokens
of ca apital, control of great public cor
porations has been usurped and main
tanned.
That by sale of such false tokens, pub
| lie confidence has been abused, private
savings absorbed, and wealth centraliz
ed; while resulting great incomes from
this and kindred abuses OF corporations
exact unceasing tribute.
That such financial Juggling and man
ipulation of corporations yet continues
That true capital is the friend and ally
OF labor of every class and grade; but
false capital fastened upon corporation:
Is it's oppressor. Two thousands o.
millions of such false capital, the con
fict between capital and labor is mainly
attributable, for it has unnaturally in
creased the body of capital requiring in
come, and thereby uDjustly taxes anc
oppresses labor and industry.
| That prodigal luxury on the one hand
and hardened conditions Of living anC
of progress in the world on the other
are alike promoted by the great "Corpo
ration confidence game" and its acces
sories.
That as governmental authority con
trolls the creation of forms OF money
like authority should control the crea
ton of forms of capital; to the end o
that capital, as we'll as money, ma!
only be obtained by just methods, anC
be of uniform significance for all th'
people.
Wherefore, we do hereby ask due con
sideration and action in the premises
that the great evil may cease, and tina
justice and equal rights may be restored
II this memorial ever reached the
president and Congress" we know not
1t ought to reach them and all citizens
for all true American citizens should en-
dorse these propositions. The rights o
the citizen have been greatly encoracheC
upon Of late years, Corporations, trusts
combines in various shapes have beer
monopolizing these unalienable rights
and the result is that the individual
citizen is much interfered with in his en-
deavor to make living One may ask
Where the right or need of all this
Why should combines be allowed to in
terfere with and oppress the citizens
Why should not stockholders be sub
jected to the same liabilities and restric
tions as individuals are who are not il
the combine? Why this favoritism?
| Corporations, in various shapes, large
ly control legislation, national ant
state. And the question arises, are cor
po,ations necessary at all? A higl
authority lately raid, in reference t.
the banks: "Don't you know they hav
the government by the leg2" As al
able author says better that the govern
ment should control these importan
matters in which the public are con
cerned, than have these corporation
control the government to the detrimen
of the people. These are problems il
which every citizen is interested, ant
ought to consider.
Remember that our postal matters ar
better and cheaper done by the govern
ment than could be by corporation
In many countries telegraphing is b.
the government also. And why not tn
express business? Our constitution
places money matters under direct con
troll Of the government, where it shoul,
be, These are public affairs and tn
agent of the people, namely, the govern
ment should see TO them and hence pro
tect the people, When companies rul
the government, it is time these com
panies were abolished.
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