The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1899-03-22
Was the Key-NOte of SCOTS Speech
At Brandenburg.
HE WANTS TO Be STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
He Urges Democrats to Stand Together Against
MOnOpOlies.
SPEAKS TO A FAIR SIZED AUDIENCE.

within few days after it convened 8
bill was introduced 10 repeal the state
railroad commission, which was not then
a constitutional office
Being asked as to how | wonld vote
upon the bill, | replied that l would ex-
anime the auditors reports and the re-
ports OF the commission and would
vote as the best interests of the state
dictated.
made the examination and found
that the pu pose of the bill was to en- tble
the railroads to escape the payment of a
vast sum in taxes which they were then
paying, and accordingly voted and work
ed against its passage. In spite of all that
could be done, however, the bill pass ID
the house and went to the Senate, where
it was defeated, buG not until resou-
ton to investigate the lobby had been
passed.
l had the honor to oe made chairman
OF the house investigating committee
and l believe that the other gentlemen
composing the committee will unite in
saying that the defeat of the bill was
due, mainly, to my efforts.
After the session ended notice was
served on me that if l offered for re-elec-
ton enough money would be forth-com-
ing to cause my defeat. The fight be-
ing an unequal one, returned to my
practice, ane carried the warfare into the
courts, where the records will attest
whether have tho ability and industry
to take care of the peoples interest
against corporate greed and monopoly
But l want it distinctly understood that
L recognize the necessity of corporations
and their legitimate rights before the
courts and the legislature. l like to ride
in comfortable cars, to have the use of
the telegraph, and all modern conVen-
fences l want bank in which to de-
post any money may happen to have
for myself or clients and l want insur-
ance companies, so that may be i'm.
demnifi I'd, should fire destroy my home.
And Notwithstanding the cry of time
servers and damagogues against corpor.
atoms, L here and now declare that |
would willingly serve in a sheTiff's posse,
II necessary, TO protect the Just rights of
property OF any corporation which deals
fairly and respects the reciprocal rights
OF the state and individual, | am not
against corporations because they are
corporations but am against discrimin-
alton, extortion and combination against
anyone. l do not intend to be misun-
derstood, or that any banker or other
person interested in a corporation shall
go away from here Misunderstanding
my position, and, for illustration it is
this
The legal rate of interest is 6 per cent.
But the banks usually charge 8, and lit
tie grumbling is heard. But suppose
the presidents OF all the banks in your
county should meet together and agree
that unless all paper was renewed and
secured at 10, IL or Is per cent, by the
first day OF some month the loans would
bt called in. In order to prevent disaster
the farmers and merchants who had the
money borrowed would be compe led
for time at least to agree to such terms.
In extortiDg such terms l maintain that
such constituencies shy-locks would de-
serve to be entitl 10 no more respl G.
than the h ghw lyman who laws in wait
and drawn dagger for his victim.
To the credit OF our Kentucky bankers
It can with pride be said that they Lave
few such mn in their ranks But the
trusts and industrial combines are made
up of Just such men
Being employed as counsel BIZ the To-
bacco Growers League of Kentucky
which was formed for the purpose of
fighting in selfdefense, the great &c nti-
mental combine, had occasion to e. am
ine what is known as the Chicago stock
yards cases which went 10 the supreme
court and found that what was known
AZ the Cattle Feeders Association con-
trolled not only the price for the sale of |
every head OF stock in Chicago, but that |
by combination with the railroads in all |
OF the territory West of the Mississippi |
to the boundary line of Mexico and the |
Pacific Ocean the rates of freight were |
arbitrarily fixed and controlled by this |
and not only this but that it |
was within its absolute power to fix the
price per pound of all the stock shipped |
from that vast domain.
said wanted insurance, and / do,
at reasonable rate. While / do not
know how you ara affected by the in
8urance combination, known as the Ken
lucky and Tennessee board of under
writer's, do know that in the city of
Frankfort the rates have become so bur-
tensoine that In some cases they almost
amount to con6sication. They said that
4 we would put In an electric fire alarm
The rates would be reduced, and we put
In the alarm at great expense and the
rates were raised; they said that If we
would put In a modern water works
system the rates would be reduced. We
have the finest water works In the world
BY which we are enabled 10 confine a
IRE to the building where II breaks out,
and tue rates were again raised.
Finally as a protest against the irjns-
ice, our grand jury indicted and our
courts fined All the board Insurance
,ompanies; but they still deded the law
md the courts threatening again 10
false the rates.
1 haye never met but one defender Of
ihe trusts, Repuhliean ~ breckenridge
,ounty, who cited the Standard oil COM
Dany as aRIeat beneiactor 1t is we'll
knOwn that this country ia undeTlaid
With vast lakes Of oil which can be pro-
iuoed In the raw state for | cent per
Iallon and can be refned and put upon
he market for another cent leaving a
reasonable profit. Yet We have Mr..
R9ckeieller, making Eet average profit
a addition upon every gallon OF oil sold
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