Arizona silver belt., 1899-06-01
THE ISSUES OUTLINED.

The meeting of democratic leaders at St. Louis last week was e notable gathering and its importance is recog- nised in the wide attention it has re- ceived from the press of the country. While the conference of the members of the national committee was infor-
 nal and Its acton is not to be regarded as in any sense official, yet the indi- vidual views expressed by inen promi- nent in the counsels of the party. iu committee as we'll as in the larger gathering at the banquet, are regarded as outlining the issues which will enter into the campaign of 1900.
 Foremost will be the question of
 trusts which during the administration
 of President Mckinley have multiplied
 with such startling rapidity until at the
 present time they control more than
 three-fourths of the industries of the
 United States, with capitalization ex-
 ceedipg 5000. .U00, 900, more than
 one half of which represents purely
 speculative values over and above
 actual assets. NIT. Bryan, in his
 speech at St. Louis, very clearly de
 scr,bed the evils born of these cor
 morants of trade. He said in part:
 '"rhe principle of monopoly is in
 compatible with our institutions Man's
 necessities compel him to become q
 purchaser. and where there is but one
 seller the purchaser is completely at
 the mercy of the seller. Where there
 is competition between the producers the purchaser is sure to obtain what he wants at q reasonable price. When competition is eliminated the price is controlled, not by reason, but bv the greed of the one who possesses the monopoly.
 "It has been said that the power to tax is & power to destroy, A monopoly possesses the power to tax; it can levy such assessments as it will upon the purchaser, and we can DO more afford to permit such power to be exercised by private individuals than we could afford to authorize a private individual to use the machinery of taxation in order to enrich himself at the expense of his fellows"
 Certainly, the whitening efftct of the great combinations of capital to con- trul the manufactures and commerce of the country should be apparent to every reasonable and intelligent mind, but there are those who from self in ,erest or party expediency, uphold the principle of the trust as right and jus titled by the great industrial expansion in the United States. The spologists for and supporters of the trusts are found in the republican party. While the republican leaders disclaim re- sponsibility for the trust, yet it is fact that this octopus has de vsloped and fourishes under repub- licsn rule, and the protective tariff is the foundation upon which the monop- ply of trade is erected. The trust or ganizers in recognition of this fact are he warm supporters of the republican policy, and in the coming campaign their enormous wealth and influence will be used in support of the repnh. icaR cause.
 The only hope of restoring the equilibrium of commerce, governed by Iree competitor, is in the success of iemocratic party and remains with the masses to say whether or not existing evils shall be remedied by the over- hr1w of monopoly.
 The concensus of opinion at tho St. Louis meeting was unmistakably in favor of reaffirming the principles in the Chicago platform, put before the national convention meets a year hence important changes nay occur in the political situation, which may create new issues or ma ,erially affect the relative importance ,f those now before the country. The money question will remain prominent, put that does not mean that silver 'oinage will necessarily be foremost in he discussion of monetary affairs. It : more probable that the fight of the democracy will he directed chiefly ,gainst the national bank monopoly which would usurp the functions of the government to issue money.
 Then there is the question of terri orial expansion that will enter into he presidential campaign, which will rystalize slowly with the progress of he war in the Philippines, and which Till without doubt resolve itself into he question of the conduct of the war nd the policy to he pursued not only D the Philippines but in Cuba, Porto Rico and Hawaii. Certainly there will 'e DO lack of issues in the campaign of 300, and aside from the monied in- lusnce the democrats will have the test of it. The democratic national committee will hold formal meeting D Chicago in July. when tho issues of he coming campaign will be more Ilesrfv outlined.