Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-24
Also the Election Of Senators BY
Popular Vote
They Squeeze the Small Dealer Qua
OF business, Eliminate the Mfdate
Man, and stiHe Comprehensive.
gree With the Secretary.

CHICAGO. June 2S--GeneraI Russell Al
Alger, Secretary of War, announced hera
to-day that he is in the Michigan sanau.
toriai night, with ANTITRUST and ''oec.
ton OF senator's by direct vote of the neo.
pie on his banner. The General ia Al
present at the home OF his daughter. Mrs.
Charles Pike, after his trip through
Northern Michigan, Wisconsin. and Min.
hesota. He gave his platform on ths
heels or its announcement BY Governor
Pingree, who" commented the Scores
tary Of War, always gets In ahead"
1t Is perhaps little early to say thas
trusts and trust legislation are to be-
great factors in coming elections" saia
General Alger. "Other issues OF greater
Importance may arise, but, however that
may be- it is certain that the Widespread
spirit Of consolidation OF great financial
interests is an evil which must be con-
tended against legislatively. / am a foo
to these great amalgamations, and be-
ieve In the election OF senators by direct
vote Of the people. as Governor Pfnsres
states, and on these planks 1 will stand.
THE EVIL OF TRUSTS
1.-THE concentration OF wealth in trusts
is detrimental TO the interests OF the peo-
pie 1t squeezes the small dealer out OF
business, and greatest OF all, eliminates
the middle man and stiles competition.
with certain commodity controlled by
one man. or a coterie of men, they arc
not compelled TO seek customers The
dealer must come to the trust, take what
he can get and pay without a murmur
the price asked.
Everywhere manufacturers are meet
ing TO agree on Increases in their prices
for articles manufactured from raw ma
terial and monOpoized by trusts. This Is
particularly noticeable az to articles in
which iron and steel are used. The re-
suits of monopoly are so apparent, ana
have been so widely discussed, that fur
Their comment Is not necessary. / am not
an extremist. but the growing tendency
10 absorb a certain part Of the industries
of the country into one big company,
that others may be frozen out and a mo-
nopoly secured, is "a matter for consider
alton by legislators, on BEHALF of the pso-
pie. who are vitality Interested.
ELECTION OF SENATORS.
"The present system of electing sena-
tors through the agency OF the legisla.
lures is one which has always had its
critics, and l believe the criticism IS Just.
/ think the direct vote IS the better me-
thod. and while the attainment of this
end will doubtless take years. 1t Is worth
laboring for. A senatorial fight in a State
legislature generally sends To Congress-
man who is more the representative OF
machine than Of the people.
"The contest i'm Michigan for the nomi-
nation will be a fair. stand-up fight. Ma
Mcmillan, aided, / believe, by burrows,
will try for denomination. Governor Pin
gree has shown himself very friendly Ia
me. and especially since the beginning OF
the war. 1t Is too early 10 make calcu-
lations on the strength of the forces
which will contend, but there will not be
two Republican candidates IN the field
nothing to disrupt the party"