The times., 1899-08-18
FIERY ANTITRUST talk
Speakers Flay Monopolistie Inter-
ests With Strong language.
Judge Fleming, of Kentucky, Points
Ont How Great Combinations MAY
BE Crushed by Law-Judge Groot.
of Cleveland. Draws Gloomy
Picture of the Country's Affairs.

the American Anti Trust League. which
was held at the Union Veterans League
Hall, $40 PENNSYLVANIA Avenue northwest
The political methods employed in the up
building and protection of trusts were de-
nounced in the most vigorous terms.
The President was called a political
coward and was. charged with being in
the hands of WaIIvStreet. Both of the
political parties. however, were accused of
being inimical to the interests of the work
ingman, and the present condition of
affairs said to be no worse than during
other Administrations
The Attorney General was severely criti-
cised and the mayor of Cleveland referred
to as a plutocratic sucker. and the city
council soundly scored for its action in
the recent street railway strike.
The condition of the laboring classes all
over the country was pictured as being
most plriable, and as growing daily worse
Hanna was spoken OF as the leader of a
dirty gang and trusts blamed with be-
ing the cause of much of the trouble
among the laboring classes at the present
time
The meeting was called to order by
American Antitrust League, who, in a
short address presented Edward A. New
man as the presiding officer of the even
ing. Judge w. B. Fleming of Kentucky
was introduced as the first speaker of the
evening.
Judge Fleming began his speech In a
laudation of our country, the extent of its
domain, and the genius of its people, and
their enormous wealth-producing capacity
He then maid frfb
labor, and described how all wealth is
produced by 1t.
Our riches said the speaker, 'belong
not to the millions who produce them. but
to the millionaires who do not produce
them Labor produces everything, and has
comparatively nothing
The speaker insisted that in spite of
our boasted prosperity, labor was deprived
of its Just share of the fruits of industry
ana that our civilization is characterized
Dy the grossest injustice in the distribu-
ton OF wealth, monstrous opulence on the
one hand and monstrous poverty on the
otner, as evidenced by the fact that less
tnan 100000 wealthy families own and
control S65,000 00e, 900 of our SIS 900, ,OOo. 600
of wealth
The speaker argued that II 4here was
the VIII. there was way, under the present
constitution, to destroy the trusts; that
''S'C Lie VI OIL CORPORATIONS.
ana corporations were the creatures of
statute law, and that the business they
were engaged in was effected with the
public interest" and that under the prin
cipies decided in the Warren River Bridge
case, by the Supreme Court of the United
States, and the principles applied to rail-
roads and public elevators, and slaughter
house companies, it could not be contended
that these corporations could escape under
a0 nf fed ~ h.
amend. or repeal such charters having
been upheld by the highest court in the
world. III, however, any obstacles were
found lnsurmountable along this line then
there was nothing in the way OF a consti-
tutional amendment whereby all such com
binations might be made obnoxious to the
law and their annihilation secured
= The address was copcluded by an appeal
for organization on the part of those op-
posed to trusts under the auspices of the
American Anti Trust, League, a ready way
for the millions. to meet by organization
the organization OF the milIionaires.
Judge George A.. Groot, counsel for the
striking street railway men OF Cleveland
was the next speaker. He first pictured
the terrible condition existing in the United
States today, but said that the remedy is
with the people and that all abuses should
be corrected by the. proper use of the BAL
lot. The cry OF prosperity was denounced
as fake. Poverty is everywhere" said
the Speaker. but prosperity only exists
with those who have their hands in the
pockets and on the throats of the people.
All OF the trusts are prosperous but their
prosperity is gained at the expense of the
people Judge JGroot alleged that the
courts are run in the interests of the rich
although the people are taxed to sustain
them. The speaker then spoke at some
length on the Cleveland street railway
strike.
1T is healthy strike" he said. ''and
Is going to continue until somebody gets
hurt, and it viii not be the strikers either >,
He then referred to the term striker" ,"
and said that when capital oppresses and
grinds down the laboring man the fact is
always referred to in the most gentlemanly
terms. but when workingman asserts
his rights he is called a Striker" Judge
Groot said that the Cleveland Street Rail-
way Company struck against its 500 en-
ployes and not the men against it, He
then reviewed the case of the strikers in
turned TO work after the first trouble the
company failed to live up to its contract
and the men again went out.
The city council was roundly scored for
not forcing the company 20 live up to it's
obligations. The people of Cleveland, ac-
cording to the speaker, are with the strik-
ers and will stand by them to the last. They
are now using all kinds of vehicles in go
ing to and from their business or else walk
ing. The speaker then denounced the riot
reports published in the press of the coun-
try as false All of the disturbances were
caused by boys and people not interested in
the strike, he asserted He said that it
was generally believed in Cleveland that tins
blowing up of the, cars was done by the
Pinkerton men, employed by the company
to hold their jobs. Judge Groot next turned
his attention to Mayor Farley and for some
minutes criticised his action in the strike
in the most vehement terms. He said the
action of the militia while in Cleveland was
most disgraceful and that unoffending per.
sons were frequently subjected 10 the most
inhuman treatment.
THE whole strike could have been avert
ed said the speaker ''if the mayor had
had any sense
Judge Groot said that the same condi-
tion of affairs exists all over the country
as are now in Cleveland. He further al
legged that both political parties are con-
trolled by the trusts and in this connec-
tion referred to the President as polit-
ical coward and of being under the con
troll of Wall Street, Congress was then
made the subject of the severest criti
cism. 1t was charged that all legislation
is in favor OF the rich and against the
poor. A general arraignment of al cor
porations followed. In conclusion the
speaker urged the people to organize and
rot to cast Il ballot for any man for public
Office unless they had confidence in his
honesty and integrity. Judge Groots
speech was received with the greatest en-
thusiasm.
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