The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-01-11


day tr@ Iple all law into the dust.
1T ievident that state legislatures
have BIT little power to reach the
sources OF this disease. II one state
we've to deal heroically with the SUBJ
ject. its industries might be driven to
otae. states which neglected this work.
but IL would seem that the power Of
state might require all it's citizens to
be treated alike and compel foreign
corporations TO furnish necessities at
the same price TO all its inhabitants.
except as to difference in cost of trans
portation and in amount purchased.
This would prohibit the Standard OIL
and biscuit trusts from putting up the
price in one locality to crush out COM
petition In another. as is now done
whenever any one dares compete with
these combines. IL the remedy must
be applied at Washington and must
cover all states alike. this does not
relieve US of all responsibility in
the matter Michigan is represented
in the national congress by twelve rep
resentatives and two senator's 1t Is
your duty to choose the latter. Is this
state today represented by senators
who are prepared to introduce and sup
adequate to deal with this subject?
You will soon have an opportunity TO
send one such vote there. 1t is your
duty 10 do IT. 1t is the duty OF all
citizens. whether in the legislature or
In private life. to use all the influence
they have to the end that none shall
be sent TO congress who are not fully
determined to go to the very bottom OF
this matter
Within Their Proper sphere.
This may not be the place or time
for the discussion of remedies in de-
tail. 1t may be suggested, however.
that a practical step might be taken In
the desired direction If national law
were enacted which would confine cor
porations to lines of business which
might be regarded as strictly within
their proper sphere. Why should any
| corporations be organized for the con-
| duct of mere mercantile or manufact-
uring business? Such enterprises should
be left TO individuals. Legislation which
sought TO directly compass this result
| would doubtless meet with the con-
| demnation of the courts. But there
may be avenues by which the purpose
| could be attained without that danger.
| The federal congress found no legal
| obstacle in the way when IL wished to
| prevent the issue of circulating notes
| by state banks Under it's revenue
| raising power 1T levied a tax of 10 per
cent. upon all such circulation. and the
| notes disappeared at once and have not
| since been seen. A tax, equally prohib-
tive, might be levied upon all corpora
| tons in the United States organized
| for other purposes than the conduct Of
| railroads.. steamboat lines. telegraphs.
| telephones. canals, and possibly one
| or two other great enterprises too
| heavy for the hands of individuals or
ordinary partnerships. Such measure
would do away, once for all, with the
syndicate, the trusts and the combines
that are sapping the life-blood of this
people.
I'm former days the legislatures of
| great states regarded 1t as their priv
| ilege and duty to memorabilia congress
on matters of concern TO the nation.
| They requested the representatives
and instructed and directed the SEN
ators to take action in conformity with
their wishes. This ancient and valua-
| BILE privilege should be revived. 1t is
true that the senators at Washington
no longer regard themselves as amena-
BILE to the directions of their creators.
Indeed. it is often said, and with too
| much truth, that the senators sent to
| Washington own the legislatures which
send them there. But this should be
corrected. and might be If legislatures
were honest and courageous. Every
| federal senator chosen should be com
| PEELED to take oath I'm the presence OF
| the legislature which chooses him, TO
| follow it's instructions in his congress
| sional action when those instructions
are embodied in formal resolutions and
conveyed to him by the governor. or
transmit his resignation, Some might
perjure themselves in spite of this. but
! all would not.
should Memorabilia Congress.
THE present legislature of this state
should not only see to IL that the sena-
tor they select to represent this state
at Washington is fully impressed with
the necessity of immediate and vigor-
Gus action on the subject Of trusts and
combines. but ii should also memorial
iZe congress in the interest Of such leg
| islation. Ii would be a proper rebuke
to this Republican administration
which, so far as l have been able to
| observe, has never yet taken the first
step to correct this monstrous abuse.
The Administered ton is full of solicitude
for the sufferings Of the subjects Of the
Spanish monarchy, whether they live
near our coasts or at the other side OF
the earth. 1t has much to say Of 'hu-
| mainly. and its rights; but the hu-
manity which seems to command its
greatest sympathy Is that which is
farthest away and with whose affairs
IL has properly nothing or little to do
under the constitution. 1t is the hu-
mainly which occupies these states and
erritories-American humanity-which
most interests me, and which should
| most interest the administration and
the congress OF the United States. Our
own native humanity has much more 10
complain OF than that Of the Philip
pines or of Cuba. No Spanish official
from the time OF Columbus to that OF
Weyler ever saddled them with such
monstrous wrongs as our own people
are threatened with today from the
trusts and combines and monopolies
upon which most Of the great men OF
the Republican party OF this day look