Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-26
ANTITRUST BANQUET.
Mr., Bryan at St Louis on the
Evil Of Monopoly
THE DANGER OF TRUSTS,
They Are Incompatible With Principles
Of Our Institutions.
THE CRUSADE AGAINST SILVER.
The Trust Attempted to Be Formed
BY the National Bankers-Eforts
to Control Monopoly Must he Cock
tensive with the Country.
THE CRUSADE AGAINST SILVER
tensive with the Country.

GAS this evening the caterers direction
bell rang, the band struck up 1.-THE Stars
and Stripes Forever" an army OF wait
ers laden with viands appeared, and
the mammoth Democratic antitrust BAN
ouet was on, while the 1,4i5 banqueters
seated at the table broke into a tremen-
dous cheer. rising in body, and waving
the small handbags that had been pro-
vided at each cover. The table Oh
honor was placed on q raised platform
at the north side of the arena, and at
it were seated Hon. W. j. Bryan, ex-
Governor John p. Altgeld, .. ii. z. Bel
mont. NJ. c. Wetmore, Harry b. Halves.
president of the Jefferson Club. under
whose auspices the dinner was given;
Hon. Champ Clark, Hon. David A. De-
Almond, and a number of other promi-
nent Democrats.
The Coliseum was decorated through
out with flags and in the centre of these
was fixed a large silver shield.
The dinner was concluded at 8 o'clock.
1t was strictly a love-feast. BY the
time the tables were cleared the 5000
seats OF the amphitheatre were filled with
spectators, representing the society of
st. Louis, and the speaking began. The
first speaker of the evening was Harry
b. HAYES, president of the Jefferson
Club. who delivered the address of well
come. Mr.. Halves said, in part.
MIR. HAWEs'S WELCOME.
ct was not intended that this banquet
should be merely the means OF affording
entertainment, but it was believed by its
promoters that the serious discussions
IN he held tonight were to be the means
NJ crystallizing public sentiment against
the cncroachment upon the liberties Of
the people OF the giant monopolies and
trusts. 1T is not sought or desired TO
push TO the background the vital issues
Of 1896. nor to lessen in any particular
the fight to be made upon the greatest
of all trusts--the money trust-Whlch,
greater than all, is more dangerous than
all. and by it's existence renders possible
many combinations OF wealth, that, WIN
out ii. could not survive.
1.-THE battle-line must be drawn sharp
and clear. with Democracy on one hand
and the trusts and the monopoies Oh the
other"
President Halves was followed by Hon.
Champ Clark, of Missouri who presented
the State and district banners in the
name of the State Committee. Mr..
Clark was greeted with tremendous
ovation. and spoke at length on the is
sues of the day.
COLONEL w. c. WETMORE.
TRUSTS and Democracy" occupied Colo
mel NJ. G. WetmOre, of st. Louis, but a
few minutes. His remarks were greeted
with cheers.
He was followed by Hon. David De-
Almond, of Missouri, who spoke upon
TRUSTS and It's Parents"
The applause which met Mr. Bryan was
of the most flattering description. The
cheers drowned the music, which struck
up, Hold the Fort" as he advanced TO
the front of tho room rostrum MI
Bryan spoke as follows:
MIR. BRYAN'S SPEECH.
An actor who visited Nebraska recently,
upon learning from Republican thdt
confidence had been restored, remarked
that he had examined Websters dlctlon-
airy TO learn what "cOnndence Ihedh.;
and found confidence defined as trust,
and then he understood that confidence
had been really restored. -
More trusts have been formed during
the last two years than existed at the
beginning Of the present administrators
and the nominal capitalization OF the
trusts now i'll existence approaches II
IL does not equal in amount, the worlds
total supply of gold and silver.
The lnnuence of these trusts has become
so enormous that the people, without re-
spect to party, are asking themselves
how the evil can be remedied.
The purpose of the trust is TO control
the product of some article OF mer-
chandise. and the methods employed are
First the union of all individual factO-
ries under one management or IN one cor
pOration; and. second, the crushing out oI
new rivals. \ monopoly, when once COM
plete. not only dictates terms 10 those
who buy the product, but ii also dictates
terms to those who sell the raw material
ana TO those VINO furnish the labor. III
the trusts are permitted to continue, we
snail mud an industrial aristocracy grow
ing up ia the United States which will
pfOVe as destructive OF our Ideals as
landed aristocracy would.
The principle VI monopoly is incOmpati-
Bile with our institutions. Mans neces-
sites compel him 10 become a purchaser,
ana where there Is but one seller the
purchaser Is completely at the mercy OF
the seller. Where there Is competition be-
tween producers, the purchaser Is sure TO
obtain what he wants al a reasonable
price When competition Is eliminated,
the price is controlled, not by reason,
pN lne SIcSu VI llS OllS VIII pOoStSScS
the monopoly.
IL has been said that the power 10 tax
Il a power to destroy A monopoly pos
sesses the power To tax; II can levy
such assessments as ii will upon the pur-
chaser and we can 10 more AFFORD TO per-
nit such a power 10 be exercised by
private individuals than We could AFFORD
TO authorize a private individual 10 use
the machinery OF taxation In order 70
enrich himself at the expense OF MS lei
lows. M.
gross neglect If It permitted an individual
tossecure Il monopoly, even without leSis-
lative assistance. but 1t Is stu more cul-
nanle ~ by legislative act, II furnishes
Inc means by which Il monopoly Is Sc
cured.
THE CORPORATION.
The corporation is the means now en-
rloved by those who seek 10 secure
p,oonopoIv.. Since the corporation Is
fictitious person, created by law. the
nower that created can regulate, re-
Strain or annihilate. To say that the
covernment IS impotent 10 prevent the
organlzation of trusts Is TO say that II
Nc called into existence a fictitious per-
Son and that the fictitious person Gre
ated has become greater than the creator.
one of the difficulties which has been
encountered in opposing trusts Is that
The trust hides behind the Federal Con-
titution when attacked by state legisla-
ton. and shields itself behind Its state
xrtop attacked rho Ee0prll