Daily inter mountain., 1899-09-18
BRYAN AND the TRUSTS.

! Colonel Bryan's address before the
trust conference is a disappointment, in
asmuch as it affords about as much COM
fort to the opponents of such combina-
tons of capital as Colonel Ingersoll's
lectures do to those who reject the pre-
cepts of Christanity-substi moth
ing substantial for a dismantled target.
Bryan is of the opinion that constitu-
tional amendments change in the or
ganic law of the republc-is necessary
! in order to place the trusts under the
control of the people.
| AS this would involve a great deal of
time, during which the trusts would be
accumulating power in all the political
organizations of the country, it will not
be looked upon as practical check to
an immediate evil. What the people de-
mand is a process under which the affairs
ests of the public, without the intermin-
able delays which may insure their per-
manency as commercial and industrial
institutions in the land. If public senti-
ment is sufficiently awakened to make
change in the constitution a possibility,
! it is certainly strong enough to insure
the adoption Of uniform laws in the va
rous states for the suppression of the
evil features of the trust.
1t unquestionably lies within the pur-
view Of each state to so regulate it's laws
as to minimize the public wrongs which
great combinations of capital may have
the power to inf1ict If state can en-
large and broaden the powers of a
monopoly it can likewise reduce its linn
itations. The power that was exercised
by the democratic legislature of Montana
last winter in extending the scope of
trusts, monopolies and combines, through
laws passed in their interest, could have
been exercised in the other direction had
the members of that body so desired
If the representatives of the people in
a Legislative body cannot be depended
upon to pass laws in the interest of the
them to elect United States senators who
will, in turn. use their influence in behalf
of constitutional amendment that will
restrict or demolish the trusts? If the
legislature who will oppose the trusts
how does he expect them to exercise
greater judgment in the selection oil
members of that larger legislative body
which convenes in Washington?
Bryans suggestion as to constitu
tional amendment is not only long wa,
to reach remedy, but it is likewise al
uncertain way. Moreover, a consttu
tional amendment destructive of trusts
, could make no discrimination between
enterprises of that type. While combi
. nations of capital avowedly inimical t.
the interests of the public could be de
; stroyed no more effectively than by legis
| lative enactment, gigantic financial en-
, terprises in mining and similar lines af
fording greater opportunities for labo
!. and robbing no one of his rights and priv
? leges in life, would be crushed out.
, -
r If Colonel Bryan's plan is incorporate
t in the national platform of his party mex
year, the many prominent democrats VIII
! are identified with trusts and combina
tions of capital win find themselves in
most embarrassing position. This will b
true especially Of those who are inter
, ested in combinations that are not pre-
sumed to be in restriction of trade. Th
= democratic party in Montana, for ir
stance, would find itself in most pecu
liar attitude, supporting Bryan and
policy that would eliminate all trusts an
combinations, irrespective of their origi
:. or results, while the very life an
strength of that political organiza tic
!, and the campaign funds furnished, b
" one of the largest and most powerf,
;. trusts that have ever blossomed into az
n tivity in the west. Evidently that arder
champion of Bryan, the Anaconda Stand
ard, foresees the possibility of embar
referred to. for in commenting on tn
colonel's attitude this morning it saws: