The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-01
SHOULD DROP Is TO |
Judge Mcconnell Thinks the Ratio
Is a Superstition.
WAR AGAINST TRUSTS
THIS SHOULD BE THE ISSUE
IN 1900.
AGAINST TRUSTS
And This Would Also Mean War
Against the Gold Standard-Ques-
ton of Ratio Should Be Dropped
Antitrust Campaign, Led By
Bryan, Would Win.

Chicago, Dec. 31.~-Ex-Judge S. P. Nc
Cornell, one of the Illinois delegates-at-
large to the national Democratic con-
vention in 1896. delivered an address be-
fore the Monticello club today. which
caused a good deal of talk among local
Democrats, particularly in view of the
fact hat he has been a close political
associate of Ex-Governor John p. Alt
geld. The speaker began by quoting
these declarations of the club:
we oppose all trusts and monopolies,
in order that wealth may not gain un-
due advantage, and that competition
shall be free and unreStrained among
the people.
We oppose the single gold standard,
n favor the restoration Of bimetal-
lism, regardless of the action or desire
Of any other nation"
He said, in part:
These declarations, in my judgment.
are expressive of the great mission of
the Democratic party. l am inclined,
however, to believe that the first in
Guides the second, and that the war
against monoDolies and trusts means
war against the single gold standard.
if the contest is to be Waged intelligent
ly and effectively. 1 am certain. too.
that the first declaration requires and
means hostility to protective tariff
laws. In fact, under the encourage
ment and aid of these laws. the first
trusts and combinations. en~croaching
upon free competition, were called into
existence. Even after all that has been
said against the combinations. trusts
and monoDolies. 1 am far from con-
WINGED that the body of the people
equally appreciate the great peril 10
their worldly welfare springing from
these vast -aggregations of capital.
which are gradually absorbing and con-
trolling the Industrial activities of the
country.
Thousands who voted for Mr.. Nc
kinley in 1896 are ready to join is in Il
campaign to be Waged against trusts,
combinations Il monoDolies. They
only need evidence that we will fight
effectively.
There is but one plank in the plat
form of 1886 which prevents these thou
sands being openly and aggressively
with us. They do not believe in the re-
monetization of silver 1t the ratio Of
10 20 l Of gold. They regard it as even
less defensi5le now than two years ago.
The. question for us to consider is
whether we are showing an apDrecia-
ton of the relative Importance of issues
when we seem to be willing to run the
peril Of repeating the experience of 1896.
rather thar to modify u PROPOSITION
regarding Inc TdIiO SIN6eu SILVER dllQ
gold. To my mind, the 16 to 1 PROPOSE
ton has always savored something Of
superstition. and I have come to be-
lieve hat the best friends of bimetal-
lisnn are not those who refuse to have
il except On this condition. I should
begin 10 be skepticaI of the value cf
opponents OF monopoly if they persist
hat it must be fought only in cnnec
ton with those radical demands for
the restoration OF silver a. the value 1t
had more than a quarter Of a century
ago.
with aggressive declarations iii the
platform OF 1890 against trusts and TIC
.nopolies, and against their greet allies
and supDorters-the gold standard and
protective tarin-wiUhout insisting Oh
a particular schedule for a revenue a.
iff, and with the same great leader
Bryan) for it's candidate. the Damo-
cratic party viii be assured Of success
and the people, through its victory, viii
be assured OF the blessings Of healthy
competition. freedom in trade and hon
est money!"