The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-04-04
4 CANDID coNFEssIoN

trouble ahead. according to the Omaha
World Herald. Although promoter
Of American enterprises" the Investor
is not wholly pleased with the mar
velous increase in the number of trusts
during the past twelve months, and il
sees in the rapid growth OF these com
bines source of dsnger-danger to
the business interests of the couBtry
as well as danger to the present ad-
ministration. The Investor says: The
situation,it it seems to us, has been made
a very complicated one by the trusts
a very dangerous one. we may add
The Democratic party, by boldly array
ing itself against trusts, and by calling
upon the people to support it In It's
fight, would possess an opportunity
such as has seldom come to It. We be-
lieve, as matters have now developed,
that 1t would have a rallyipg cry that
would insure it's success at the polls
it woald come into power pledged to
repeal all tariff schedules favorable TO
trusts, and this would mean the re-
scinding of very large part of the
existing law. All this complicates the
political situation, inRsmuch as the
Republican party has, as consequence
of the Spanish war, initiated new poll
icies of state, the working out OF
which should, If possible, be left to
their hands. Swapping horses in the
middle of the stream is always a dan
gerous performance. There is one
aspect Of the situation which is pecu-
liarly threatening. The Democratic
party may make Down with the
trusts its war cry and at the same
time declare itself in favor of free
silver. or at least hedge on the cur
rency question. Such a course would
probably ALLEVIATE many who would be
willing TO support the party 10 order
TO defeat the trusts but there is good
reason to fear that hatred Of the trade
combines would, in many instances,
prevail over fear of currency derange-
ment. We frankly confess that we do
AOt AAhO bhC AOOan VI hilN
There is u possible escape from the
dilemma in the fact that economic
conditions may demonstrate the utter
futillty of the trust movement before
the next presidential campaign opens,
but that is q slender reed on which TO
lean.
The Investor may as we'll understand
now that the Democratic party will
boldly array itself against trusts, just
as 1t has always done. II will not
hedge" OF the currency question.
In arraying itself against the trusts
the Democratic party will not except
the money trust" which Is by far
the most dangerous trust Of all 1t is
the money trust that enables all the
other trusts TO form. Despite its many
promises Of currency reform the Re.
publican administration has done moth
ing, and the country Is today, as it was
under Cleveland, wholly in the power
OF the kings of capital. The Republi-
can party may not again neglect to de-
nounee trusts in its national platform,
but 1t cannot deceive the people by an
antitrust plank in the year 1900, as il
deceived the people in 1896 by an "in.
ternational agreement" plank concern.
ing the coinage of silver. The Demo
cratic party win renew it's denuncia-
tions of trusts, and by re-euaetment
Of the Chicago platform will make the
money trust the chief object Of It's de-
nunciation.
II the Investor has nothing more to
hope for than the possibility that
economic conditions may demonstrate
the utter futility Of the trust move
ment before the next campaign opens, 4"
then it IL TO be pited.