The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-13
Silver Il Oyershadowed.

PHILADELPHIA, June I2.-The Press
prints the following interview with formel
United States Senator German:
ssEilver today attracts less attention
than imperialism In every campaign
there Is no one issue which towers In
importance above all others. Party
platforms Invariably touch upon many
subjects. but history has shown that
some one plank always rises SUI
preme."
To the question. How about the Issue
OF Is to 1 In the next campaign thu
Maryland man had given the above reply
He continued:
I'm the campaign OF 1854. when l was
chairman of the Democratic executive
committee, we talked about many aues-
lions in the platform, but the principal!
battle-cry was Turn the rascals out
and Open the books Of the treasury
On this issue we won a brilliant vic
tory. In 1855 the tariff was the issue.
taking q place Of Importance above
everything else In 1892 the force bill.
reduction OF tariff and civil service re-
form were the issues. Four years later
the money auestion-siiver or gold
attracted the greatest attention"
next contest will beY''
.-rhe questions OF militarism and OF
restricting organized capital from its
encroachments on the public" quickly
replied the senator MY deliberate
-~ament is that the hattie against
mat class of trusts which obtain by
legislation undue power to restrain
trade will be the overpowering issue.
The Democracy has always opposed
trusts. but heretofore this issue has
been of secondary Importance. During
the last few years. however. trusts
and combinations Of capital. organized
10 restrict trade and crush the small
dealer. have become so daring, seri-
ousiy menacing our form of govern
ment, that 1t Is highly important that
some decisive action should be taken
to restrain them.
ut will be "A difficult matter To form
a bill 70 throttle trusts and bring them
within the meaning of the law. Cor
paraticns organized TO transact fair
and legitimate business, with no aim
or intention Of destroying the small
dealer must be protected. But the
great, powerful. law-breaking monop-
olies who faunt their power and their
illegitimate transactions In the faces
of the public must be grappled with.
The business interests of the country
must be protected Many trusts are
formed 10 corner some article of mer-
chandise or manufacture which Is ne
essary TO the happiness and comfort Of
Consumers These monopolies fix their
own prices. squeezing millions of COL
lars annually out Of creduious pub
lie. Through their masssi capital
trusts often are able to dictate and
control legislation.
state legislation. designed 10 cope
with organized monopoly. cannot alone
be effective. The natIona. legislature
must deal with this great question II
the DEMOCRACY is again ushered into
power I have no doubt that some
sweeping legislation Will ~ enacted Ia
confne them - a proper and lcgiti-
mate sphere Of business"
.'Do you tbsnk the Democratic party
viii be united in the coming conteste"
Yes. / really do. In ny-gone years
there have been differences OF opinion
between men ~ the same political
faith ard at times there has been such
bitter feeling between partisans that
men who did net believe in the plat
forms enunciateo have left the party.
bat. Ike the precisal son. they invari-
ably have returned. tn my mind there
Is no reason why the Democratic par
Is should Il. spill, We cannot hope IN
wsn so soGg are nnahIe To pre-
s.sus a e.ifst frseaf