The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-04
FIGHT AGAINST TRUSTS
Will Be One of the Main Planks
of the Platform.
RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE
Silver VIII Not Be Neglected by the
Next Democratic Convention.
Judge McHatton's View of
the Situation.

eastern newspapers, both democratic
and republican, are much concerned as
TO what the democratic platform is to
be for the coming presidential cam
paign, and are gathering the opinions
OF prominent members of the party on
that subject John ]. Mediation, ma
tional committeeman for Montana, has
had several requests for his opinion on
the important question. In reply to one
of these requests, from the Chicago
Times-H Herald, a Mckinley administra-
ton paper, Judge Mediation has written
the following:
Butte Mont, June 2, 1899
Chicago Times Herald:
Replying to your inquiry, asking my
tional democratic campaign will have
for it's prominent feature declara-
ton against trusts, or declaration
against trusts combined with declara-
ton in favor of silver, / beg to state
that | do not consider it to be within
the power of the national committee, or
it's members, to decide the course which
the party shall pursue on any question
of national government or to frame
political issues or to declare political
principles for it which shall be sub
mitted to the people for their support.
Such matters rest entirely with the ma
tional convention of the party.
The Chicago platform announces the
present principles of the party and I'M
til such platform is changed or sup
planted by the declarations of another
national convention it will stand as the
embodiment of democratic faith and
will receive the loyal support of all
true democrats.
That platform declares in favor of sill
yer and against trusts. Strong reasons
existed for those declarations at the
time they were made, and, in my judg
ment, stronger reasons will exist and
present themselves to the next national
convention calling for emphatic decla-
rations from the convention on the
same questions and I am convinced
that the wisdom of that convention will
adopt a declaration in favor of silver,
and at the same time make more eX-
plicit and vigorous declaration against
trusts and monopolies than Is contained
in the present platform; and that the
convention and the democratic party
will suggest and use means for effect
lively resisting the formation of trusts
in the future and for bringing existing
ones into subsection to the law.
BY the time the convention shall meet
the baneful and destructive results of
trusts to the rights of the people will
have so manifested themselves as to
make it apparent to the people that the
great danger to the country lies in the
existence and formation of trusts. A
declaration against trusts will be one
of the main planks if not the main
plank, in the next democratic platform.
Distinguished members of the demo-
cratic party have recently given their
views at the city of st. Louis on mat
ters political. William j. Bryan spoke
at that time. and the democrats of the
nation will coincide with what he said
regarding trusts.
The fight for silver is a fight against
trusts, and vigorous opposition to
trusts is necessary to protect the rights
of our people. IA
While believing that 1t is not the
right of the national committee, or OF
any of its members, to announce the
battle cry of the party, and that that
right belongs absolutely to. the national
convention, l believe it is the duty and
right of that committee and it's men,
bers, as ii is also the duty and right of
every democrat, to publicly call atten-
ton to existing and threatened condi-
tiors. and to proclaim their views as to
what the policy of the party should be.
The greatest danger to the rights of
the citizen and to the country at pres
ent lies in the existence of trusts and
the desire on the part of capitalists to
continue their formation. These trusts
have entered every avenue of trade,
business and commerce and are seeking
absolute control of the business and af-
fairs of the nation. They are with
eVer-watchful vigilance seeking to over
come the rights of the people and to di-
rect the affairs of the state and ma
ton altogether in their own interests;
to control the legislative, executive
and judicial departments of state and
nation.
The question now is, shall the corpo-
rations and trusts be allowed to control
or will the people assert their rights?
1t may be possible for the people of
this nation to get along and enjoy
degree of prosperity and independence
without the reconciliation of silver,
but it will not be possible for them to
do so unless the formation of trusts is
prevented and the existing ones over
thrown.
Montana is a fair young common
wealth. IT has suffered much by the
decline of silver and yet with all it
has offered great opportunity for happy
homes and the enjoyment of the rights
Recently the trust octopus has stalked
in and these are now threatened.
The people of Montana have been,
and are yet. loyal and enthusiastic in
support of silver coinage. Their sup
port of the principles of free coinage
declared in the Chicago platform was
of a very striking character at the last
election. The democrats of Montana will
at the next national election be more
J, n their
to trusts than they We're in their sup
port of free coinage at the last election
l believe the next national conven-
ton of the democratic party should
and will pronounce emphatically in ia
vor of silver and against the trusts.
The battle cry of democracy will be
Free silver and down with the trusts"
JOHN j. IMITATION.
Dr.. lA,, TT a Il 10 in