Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-14

1t Is admitted by sagacious politi-
clans that prominent issue in the
presidential campaign of next year will
be the trusts. Washington correspond.
cnts report Senator Chandler as saying
that this will he the greatest issue and
as expressing the opinion that If the
republican party does not align itself
on the side of the people against the
trusts and combinations it will be in
great danger Of defeat. 81 believe the
party will declare against these dan
gcrous combinations" the New Hamp
shire senator is quoted as saying, "br-
cause | am not willing to believe it has
passed entirely into the hands of the
trusts. AS to whether anything will
be done at the next session of congress
l cannot tell, but have no hesitation in
declaring that something should be
done" He thought the question
should be met boldly.
The democratic leaders are already
declaring war on the trusts and promise
to make this prominent feature in
next years campaign. But there is
small chance of the democratic party
making much capital out of this atti-
tudc, at least with those who are IA
miliar with what has been done for the
suppression of trusts. In the first
place the only comprehensive antitrust
legislation, the act of 1890, was enacted
by Il republican congress and approved
by republican president. The only
efforts to enforce that legislation were
made by republican administration,
that of President Harrison. The demo-
cratic administration that followed
did, indeed, continue the proceedings
that were commenced by it's predecessor
under this antitrust law, but they were
in the most perfunctory way
and the decision of the courts was
against the government. The first at
torney general in the second Cleveland
administration, Mr.. Olney, declared the
law inadequate and incapable of en-
forcement and his successor in that
took the same view of
it. There was, consequently, no serious
attempt to enforce it. Then a demo
cratic congress Incorporated in the
tariff act of 1894 an antitrust provision,
having special reference to the sugar
refining combination, but this also re-
mained a dead letter. Although in.
tended to meet the recommendations of
4 democratic attorney general and
remedy the defects of the antitrust act
Of 1890, no effort was made by the
administration to put it
in force. Thus when having ample op-
Dortunity to strike at the trusts The |
party did not improve it, al
though its administration was pledged |
to exercise all the authority which the |
aw gave 1T to protect the people |
against the mOnopoliStic combinat tons. |
The republican party has shown its |
hostility to trusts in the legislation ii |
enacted against such combinations and |
t is not the fault of that party that |
his legislation has not been effective |
II suppressing the trusts. The party
s still opposed to this form of monopoly |
md undoubtedly the next congress will |
AXE some action in respect to it, presi-
lent Mckinley is on record in ppposi-
ion to the trusts and he will be found
'eady to enforce any legislation that
congress may adopt The antitrust |
,ry of the democratic party may be sin
ere but there is nothing in the record
If the party to warrant belief that if
given the power it would make any
serious effort to suppress the trusts.