The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-11
AN ADDRESS TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Trust league ls 10 drive from puoilc
places the subservient tools of the
trusts, monopolies, combines and
corporations, and to establish the
equal rights OF American citizens in
the commerce and industries Of the
country.
Today in every legislative nall.
both state and national, omnipresent
stands the lobbyist and corrupsionist
of this great railroad, monopoly,
trust combination, which has formed
sn alliance offensive and defensive,
by which they expect to control leg
islatiop and to plunder the producers
aud consumers of America
And, what is still worse, there ALEC
stand the representatives. elected by
the people, vino have become de.
bauched and who are the secret ser
wants and instruments of this great
corporate power and are ever ready
to do their bidding, while proclaim
ing the devotion to the rights Of the
people We fnd them everywhere
III: the Legislature, in congress, in
the senate, and on the bench. The
political life. of this kind of repre-
sentatives is made easy Their re-
nominations are arranged for them
by the political bosses, who are out
the servants of this power Cam.
paign funds are furnished That part
of the public press that can be man
aged is used to eulogize and lionize
these subservient tools Their elec
tions are managed for them.
There also stands the representa-
tive. elected by the people, who is
true to the principles of manhood
and is governed by the promptings of
public welfare. He stands bul.
wark against the legislative schemes
by which this great railroad, monop.
oily, trust combination expect to
plupder the people. He is obnoxi-
Gus to this dominating and controll-
ing power, and their emissaries are
seat into bis district to undermine
and destroy MIN politically. Some
popular man is encouraged to become
candidate for nomination to his
place, and the power and influence
and money Of this corporate conspl.
racy are put behind this candidate.
and the true servant of the people
finds himself defeated for renomina
ton, and he is retired from public
life-retired because he was true
representative of the people and
dared to defy this corporate monster.
This process has been worked SO
silently and secretly that the people
have not recognized the handiwork
by which majority in their legisla
tive bodies has been controlled.
In many of our great cities the
street railway traction companies
have created political depotism.
That man who is ambitious political
ly, before he can hope to be nomi
mated to any position of public trust
must first kneel at the throne Yes,
land in many, many ceses before a
laborer can hope to earn bread for
his family be has first to show that
be wears the brand and collar of their
ward boss They have created q
despotism so damnable that man
must become a serf to this corrupt
corporate power before he can Oh
tain an opportunity 10 work. j have
talked with these men who mourn
the loss of their liberty as American
freemen This great railroad, monop.
oily, trust, traction combination is
"corrup,ing our public affairs and
debauching oW public men" and
destroying the foundations of the
republic by the corrupt use of money
in our political life.
The purpose of the American Anti
Trust League is to arouse the only
power on earth that is stronger
than the power of money in our pub.
lie life. Tfet power is the patriotic
impulses the people The little
foge. At power, when awakened
is stronger ten thousand times than
the influence of ali the billions OF the
trusts and combines of the land. The
memories of the many sacrifices of
the fathers call US to action. If these
trust combinations are allowed to go
on they can p'under each of US into
poverty. No man knows how soon
the fear of hunger for his wife and
family will make him a coward. 1t
behooves us to strike while the fire
of liberty yet burns.
The American Anti Trust League
is non partisan We call all Amerl-
can freemen to council If Demo
crat, or Populist. or Republican,
public man has shown himself to be
eubservient tool of this great cor
ooroto oouor thcn oil tho unlfe6 |