The age-herald., 1899-05-26
AT THE BANQUET IN ST, LOUIS Principle OfMonopoIy Incompat- ibIe With Our ConStitution.I THE STATE CHAR TER IS THE SHIELD No Relief By State Legislation So Long As All Do Not Act Together
 Silver Not Lain
 Aside.

St. Louis, May 25.-Promptly at 6:30 this evening the caterers dinner bell rang, the band struck up "The Stars and Stripes For ever," an army of walters ladened with viands appeared, and the mammoth demo- cratic antitrust banquet was on, while the ], ,445 banqueters seated at the tables broke into tremendous cheer, rising in body and waiving the small hand flags that had been provided at each cover.
 The vast arena of the coliseum was filled with long tables tastefully decorated with roses, lilies of the valley and carnations. The table of honor was placed on a raised platform at the north side of the arena, and at 1t were seated Hon. ". J. Bryan, Ex-Governor John P. Altgeld, o. H. P. Bel mont, M c. Wetmore, Harry B. Hawes, president of the Jefferson Club, under whose auspices the dinner was given; Hon. Champ Clark, Hon. David A. Dearmond and a number of other prominent demo- crats.
 The coliseum was decorated throughout with flags, and in the center of these was fixed large silver shield.
 The dinner was concluded at o'clock No speeches were made during the ban quet. It was strictly love feast. By the time the tables were cleared the 5,OOO seats of the amphitheater were filled with spec tators representing the society of St. Louis and the speaking began. The first speaker of the evening was Harry B. Hawes, presi- dent of the Jefferson club, who delivered the address of welcome. MT. Hawes said in part:
 The Money Trust
 MT. Hawes said, In part:
 It was not intended that this dinner should be merely the means of affording entertainment; but it was believed by its promoters that the serious discussions to be held tonight will be the means of crys- tallizing public sentiment against the en- croachments upon the liberties of the peo- ple of the giant monopo[ieS and trusts. It is not sought or desired to push into the background the vitei issues of 1896 nor to lessen in any particular the fight to De made upon the greatest Of all trusts, the money trust which, greater than all, is more dangerous than all, and by its ex- dStence renders possible many combinations of wealth that without 1t could not sur viye.
 The battlelne must be drawn sharp and clear with democracy on one hand and the monopolaes on the other. If the dis cussions here tonight will add to the en- thusiasm and determination of the demo- cratIc party to wipe out of existence these Gorunidable allies of repubicanism, then the object of this meeting will have been accomplished
 MT. Hawes gave but a few words to im- perialism, declaring that 1t and the acqul- sitions of foreign territory are foreign to the policy of the democratic party.
 Trusts and Democracy" occupied Colo mel M. c. Wetmore of St. Louis, but few minutes. He was followed by Hon. David Dearmond, of Missouri, who spoke upon Trusts and Its Parents" The parents of the trusts, according to the speaker, are the protective tariff followed by the repub- licans
 Cheers Drowned the Band
 When MT. Hawes arose to introduce MT. Bryan he was greeted with applause and the applause which met MT. Bryan was of the most fiattering description. The cheers drowned the music of the band which struck up Hold the Fort" and they ad- vanced to the front of the rostrum. MT. Bryan spoke follows:
 "An actor who visited Nebraska recently, upon learning from a republican that con- fidence had been restored, remarked that he had examined Webster's dictionary to learn what confidence meant, and found confi- dence defined as trust, and then he under stood that confidence had been really re- stored. More trusts have been formed with in the last two years than existed at the beginning of the present administration,
 
 now in existence approached, if It does not equal, in amount the worlds total supply of gold and silver.
 ''The influence of these trusts has become so enormous that the people without re- spect to party. are asking themselves how the evil can he remedied. The purpose of the trusts is to control the product of some article of merchandise, and the methods employed are, first the union of all indi- vidual factories under one management. or in one corporation; and,~ second the crush ing out of new rivals. A monopoly when once complete, not only dictates to those who buy the product, but 1t also dictates to those who sell the raw material and to those who furnish the labor.
 An Industrial Aristocracy
 "If trusts be permitted to continue we shall find an industrial arlstocracy growing up In the United States. which will prove as destructive of our ideals as a landed aristocracy would.
 s'The principle of the monopoly is Incom- patible with our constitution. Mans ne- cessities compel him to become a purchaser chaser is completely at the mercy of the seller Where there Is competition between producers the purchaser is sure to obtain what he wants at reasonable prices. "The government would be guilty of gross neglect if 1t permitted an individual to secure a monopoly even without legisla- if by legislative act 1t furnishes the means p6ration means now employed by those