Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-03-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
iFroI1 our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March q, 1899

whewi such a rumpus has not taken place
during the present administration as Is now
raging around the head of Attorney General
Giiggs. It's ali about letter that Griggs wrote
about trusts containing opinions that the re-
mainder OF the administration are afraid to
stand for. Some of mis- fellow members of the
Cabinet have said few things to Griggs. but it
is understood that their remarks viii be entirely
forgotten when Nr. Mckinley returns and
empties the vials of his wrath on him Some of
the administration hangers-on say that Grggs
was buncoed into writing the letter by his cor
respondent, who asked for the information.
stating that he was Republican; and that he
would not have written it had he supposed it
would be published. OF course, every body
knew that the administration was not unfriensly
to the trusts. with which Boss Hanna has such
close business relations. but in Difference to
voters who do not share in the profits of the
trusts, it has been understood by those who are
close to the throne that an antitrust plank was
to be inserted IL the next Republican platform.
meaning less of course. to head off the Demo
cratic claim that the Republicans are RESPONSE
BILE for all the trusts. Mr.. Griggs must have
known this Yet. ne wrote as follows, TO a
correspondent unknown to him personally
concerning trusts. As matter Of fact, all of
the companies which you refer to as now organ
izing for the purpose of securing complete or
partial monopoly Of di ffsrent branches of manu-
facture, are similar to the sugar combination,
and are not within the Jurisdiction of the Federal
Courts. If amenable to any law they are
amenable TO the laws of the respective states'
But the following was the gem Of the letter
" With reference to these large combinations of
capital, which are now forming, my own judg-
ment Is that the danger is not 50 much to the
community at large as 1t lie to the people who
are induced to put their money into the purchase
of the stock There is nothing in this situation
TO make Democrats mad, but prominent Re
publican, after number Of unprintable things
said; The Attorney General has gratnitously
made the announcement that the government is
powerless to prevent or regulate the formation
of combinations Of capital to control the manu-
facturer of the necessaries of life, and he winds
up this remarkable statement with a fiippant
remark about the danger of investing in
trust stocks. Mr.. GrIggs is in fair way to
become second Burchsrd to the Republican
party"
Senator Stewart, Of Nevada, who never minces
words when he expresses an opinion. said Of
Jefferson banquet: Bryan made the hit Of his
career when he refused to attend the Belmont
$40 Inner Not one of the crowd woulo ever
vote the Democratic ticket anyhow. Bryan's
position brings him closer to the people Con-
sorting with renegades would estrsnge them
from him. He will certainly be re-nominated in
1890. The Chicago platform will be re-afirmed,
and the Democracy will VIM
mt 4.
paid for our new victories over the Filipinos in
the heavy fighting Of the last three days. In
consequence Of the movement of Gen Otis
against AguinaIdo, adds interest to this plain
talk from Senator Mason. who is now in Wash
ington. Il find" said Senator Mason, a
pronounced change of sentiment among men
with whom talk. Substantial business men
who three months ago were red-hot for expan-
sion. now say they have had enough of it, /
ask them how about the prestige of their country
and they say they care little about prestige
derived from conquering such men, but that the
taxes resulting are what they fear. The idea of
calling those Filipinos rebels as some of our
newspapers persist in doing is unjust They
have never taken the oath of allegiance to the
u. S. They wanted Independence from the
start. and they said 80. They will always hate
US and nothing Is to be gained by conquering
them. Even If we do overcome them, they viii
turn around and poison our people. have just
learned from the Surgeon-General's office tina t
81 per cent. Of our men out there are afflicted
with loathsome disease This is q bad begin
ming for our army. / am not high mora list,
and not so much opposed to stealing In itself
but do question the judgment of q man who
steals red-hot stove that he Is In no position to
carry off. Such thief is a fool The attempt
Of the .. S. to tteal the liberty Of the FiIipinos