The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-01
ISSUE OF TRUSTS.
Dividing Line Between the Two
Great Political Parties Today.

Great Political Parties Today.
To the Editor of the Globe:
MT. A. L. .Ankeny, said to be one of
the leading Democrats of Minneapolis,
advises his party to turn Republican in
order to be Democratic. Far better
would 1t have been for him and his party
to have patterned after a former mem
Der OF congress from this state and ad-
mitted that he was no longer in SYM
pathy with his party on the leading issues
of the day.
Mr.. Hanna is not only an expansionist,
but an imperialist, and Ankeny seems
to agree with him. Shall we ignore the
Declaration of Independence that de-
clares that 'all governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the
governed and that other declaration
coming from President Mckinley when
he says, Il speak not of forcible annex
alton for that cannot be thought Of.
That by our code of morality would be
criminal aggression" and adopt the poll
icy or the English lords and govern our
newly acquired possessions by force in
stead of consent? On this question we
can we'll afford to exchange the views
of our former Democrat for those of
ex-senator Edmunds, Senator Hoar,
THOMAS b. Reed, ex-senator Sherman.
GOV. Scoheld of Wisconsin, and scores
OF other noted Republicans, that have
entered their protest against the policy
marked out by the present administration
Mr.. Hanna says trusts are a good
thing, necessary for the development of
business interests, are an evolution
brought about by business necessities"
and Ankeny says, trusts, good or bad.
have come to stay" Then for q mo-
ment Mr.. Ankeny poses as a Democrat
and says protection is worse than
trusts" The parent is more to be
feared than the offspring. If protec-
ton is the parent of trusts, as most
Democrats believe, why is it necessary
to concede that trusts have come to
stay? With the very first congress COM
posed of majority of Democrats, with
a president in sympathy with them, the
Dtngley bill must go, and a tariff strictly
for revenue only will be passed. Then
the trusts must go with it or be satisfied
with the pr ont they may make in compe-
tition with the world, the same the farm
er is obliged to take for his wheat and
compete with the lowest priced labor
there is. The price of wheat last week
was the same as it was twelve months
ago. The price of nails at the mills
one year ago was $1,27. Today they are
worth 1885 Tin plate one year ago was
selling for $3.50 per box of 100 pounds and
net profit of 20 per cent was made on
1t then. Now the price per box is $465,
or so per cent profit when based on the
actual cost of their plants. Lumber
since the Dingley bill was passed has adj
vanced from So to 81 a thousand, and we
might enumerate item after item, but
the above is enough to show the great
advance that has taken place on the
necessaries of life, when fathered by pro-
lection and controlled by trusts, while
the products of the farm remain station
airy.
This is the result of Republican legis-
lation. The: Republican party is the
father Of protection, and protection is
the father of trusts. And Hanna thinks
it is safer to depend on the money Sc
cured from these favored classes to keep
his party in power than adhering to the
time-honored doctrine of doing the great
est good to the greatest number. o.
The Republican party has built up the
moneyed power in this country until it
is simply a question between moneyed
aristocracy and the people. Who shall
rule? If money in the hands of corrupt
politicians is stronger than self-interest,
then agree with Mr.. Ankeny that trusts
have come to stay, with all their at
tendant eYils,7 But I protest against
any man styling himself a Democrat, ad-
hitting that these, with others, are not
live issues between the two great parties
today, and I have yet confidence that the
people will win, wrong be put down and
right prevail. Jay La Due.