The times., 1899-12-20
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 20. 1899.
Republican Trust Hypocrisy.

Republican Trust Hypocrisy.
When. not long ago. the Supreme Court
of the Uaited States decided the Addyston
Pipe Company case, and held that trust 10
be an unlawful combination in restraint
of interstate commerce, under the DrOvi-
sions Of the Sherman Antitrust act. a
great many good people at once jumped to
the conclusion that a way at last had been
found TO spear the octopus of oppressive
monopoly. and that in the light of the
Addyston decision the trusts would now
begin TO drop and disappear like a felon
through the trap OF gallows.
To be entirely frank with our readers,
il must be said that the Administration
was first TO acknowledge that the Supreme
Court had solved the whole difficulty Of
5he trust situation as il affected practical
politics Only a few days after it was
promulg gated its vocal organ on the floor
of the House declared that. after such an
evidence Of the complete suhciency Of the
Sherman act to control and TO destroy the
trusts. ii was evident that further inter
ference in their affairs. by the enactment
OF fresh legislation against them. would
word seems to have gone forth from the
Hanna eve OF destiny that the subject
As to be ignored and lodged if possible,
and. il not, that IL is TO be shut cut II ct
armls from consideration by the House OF
Representative no matter what the less
ccntrolIabIe Senate may do in the matter.
Perhaps it may be Interesting 10 the
average citizen TO learn thar when The Ad-
ministrslion was expressing It's pious graft
itude TO the supreme Court for enectuaIy
LAYING an uncomfortable political ghost.
and declaring with junction that the ju-
dicial action referred 10 had rendered all
legislative movement in the connection
unnecessary, il was well known that the
Addyston pipe trust had found an effective
way 10 eTade the law in anticipation of the
decision Being satisfied that the Hlegality
of IFS existence and operations would be
exposed and denounced judicially. this com
binatlon in restraint OF trade took out
New Jersey charter. and under it 50ught
our or leased all the corporations which
had formed the Addystou trust. II is now
operating the whole business under q single
board 0I directors and is engaged iu killing
competition and ia maintaining monopoly.
exactly as it was when proceedings were
first Instituted against il in the name Of
The Government
u his speech in the Senate on Monday on
she joint resolution prohibiting the illegit-
innate coutr0l OF interstate commerce by
corporations Senator Morgan pointed ont
the outrage upon the public and upon the
.l-g-
tions in the pipe trust, involved in this
evasion OF the law. He demonstrated the
nullity Of its New Jersey pseudo organiza-
ton, but showed also, that in the absence
of punitive legislation the guilty parties
cannot be reached and punished. The Nor
gan resolution is a direct challenge TO the
Administration TO show its hand on the
trust issue. and before the session is half
ever il VIII have 10 do 50. Its hypocritical
preteusion that the Sherman act furnishes
all the protection needed by the people
against the robber trusts falls fat before
5ncoutrovertible evidence that whenever
1hey are knocked on the head by the courts
they have only TO reorganize in New Jersey
and resume their vicious courses with
none 10 molest or make afraid" That. OF
course. is what the Administration and the
Republican leaders most desire; but they
dare not admit il openly. They are in the
same position regarding the trusts this year
that they were In relation to the issue Of
bimetallism in 1896. They realize the DO
ifGcaI danger OF being positively identified
with the monopolies upon which they rely
for financial support and whose willing
slaves they are. So it is prudent that they
should pose as opponents OF trusts. But
should the test come fl VIII be found that
wild horses could not drag them into doing
anything that would actually tie the hands
Of or even injure the feelings Of their mas
ters. Because this is the basic truth lt
would be wise II a number Of alleged Dem
ocrsts in Congress. whom we could name.
would give over additional attempts 10
wreck the national organization by flying
in the face Of universal sentiment and ire
voc2bly accomplished facts, and follow the
spotIess Democratic banner Of Senator
Morgan in an assault on the most noto-
Tiously vulnerable point in the Republican
IoTlldcations.