The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-10

no doubt. All former antitrust Legisla-
ton mas been the result of its labors and il
VIII md way to protect the wages of the
American workman against the encroach-
ments OF organized capital in the so-called
trusts.
1T is easier to show the necessity for
remedial legislation than to suggest on
what lines it should be drawn At the risk,
however. of being considered presumptuouS
IN one who, as citizen of a manufacture
Ing district, and an observer only of the
workings of the trusts, and not interested
either in the capital invested the labor
employed, l offer some suggestions on the
subject. Corporations are the creatures of
law. They derive their power wholly and
solely from legislative enactment, either
rived from the people, through the medium
OF legislation The doctrine of personal
and hence the people, through their leg
islatures, both national and state, have the
right to curtail or abolish the privileges
and franchises granted, saving, of course,
vested rights. The Legislature of our State
has the right to say on what terms a cor
poration, formed under the laws of another
state, may do business within it's borders
and may enact such laws as will exclude il
entirely from its territory. With the I'M
doubted right so to do, is it not proper that
laws should be passed governing the for
nation of these great corporations and
limiting their capital their action and their
territory? Let a limit be placed on the cap
Ita1 invested in any one enterprise. Let 1t
be made unlawful for any one corporation
10 own and operate or hold stock in fac
tories in other States than the one granting
It's charter. and let a limit be placed on the
profits of the enterprise and all above such
limit go to the State in which it is located
Laws framed under such ideas should be
liberal and just to capital such as to allow
fair returns on moneys invested and at the
same time provide liberal American wa~eS
for our workingmen. 1t may also be sug-
geSted that these great corporations, Or
ganized for the purpose of defeating the
antitrust laws and therefore for an
unlawful purpose, are themselves unlawful
should standing a w
IN the courts of the country, either to en-
force contracts or invoke the extraordinary
powers by injunction or mandate. It is de-
batable legal question whether, under pres
ent laws, remedy is not at hand to cure
or avoid the evil complained Of These
crude suggestions need elaboration and ad-
dition. They may be insufficient and made
quate in themselves, but they are in line
of action to meet the important questions.
In the campaign in which we are now en-
gagged the Democrats are endeavoring to
make political capital out of the so-called
trusts or great corporations, and they insist
that they are of Republican origin; that
they are the natural Outgrowth of our pro-
tect1ve policy, and are urging the working
men to unite with them in overthroWing
the wise and beneficent laws under which
we as Nation have grown rich, and our
workingmen have been prosperous and
happy in order to kill off the trusts Be
cause these organizations have been made
possible under present laws is no reason
why the laws should be condemned. De-
signing and INSCRIPTIONS parties may and
WilI take advantage of all conditions that
will enable them to enrich themselves.
1.-THE remedy is not in the overthrow of
our tariff, but in legislation directed
against the trusts. The workingmen can
trust the Republican party in this instance.
1t has always been and always will be the
friend Of labor. 1t will right the wrongs
now being done them by the trusts as
speedily as possible. There is no hope for
the workngman from Democratic ascen-
dency. The Democratic party was the
champion Of slave labor. 1t is the advocate
G fhxr
Of the confidence Of the wage earners Of
this Nation"