The San Francisco call., 1899-06-10
a CAMPAIGN THUNDER MILL

= OVERNOR. SAVERS OF Texas has issued a
| I call for convention OF Governors and At
- torneys General of all States and Territories to
meet at St Louis September 20 to consider the sub
ject OF trusts and to devise legislation calculated to
prevent their organization il possible, least to
check such evils may result from them
The call may have been the result OF a sincere be
LEI that trusts are the public welfare but
the chances are it is but another effort to manufacture
campaign thunder for the Democratic party in 1000.
The Bryantes, who have ful control OF the party,
are we'll assured that another free silver campaign
would result in a defeat even more overwhelming
than that OF three years ago. They will uphold the
old issue, therefore, only Jar it will serve them
as means OF controlling the national convention and
bringing about the denomination OF Bryan. That end
having been attained, Bryan will make, his fight on
some other issue, and just at this time antitrust
fight seems to him to be the most promising he can
undertake.
That widespread distrust OF great combinations OF
capital exists in all parts OF the United States is true
but it is by so intense it a few years
ago. when the and objects OF trusts were not so
well understood as they now. short time ago
ii was generally believed that trusts organized
in restraint OF trade and for the purpose of monopoz-
ing certain lines OF industry and raising prices to
s1mers. It Is now known that the effects OF trusts
They have not restricted trade but extended it that
our manufacturers are now sending American
products to all parts OF the world 1t has not checked
industry, but stimulated it. and has not raised but
lowered prices for all classes OF consumers.
The original opposition trusts was not one of
party politics, is it such to-day. Republican
Congress enacted the antitrust law now on the Fed
eral statute books and Republican Legislatures, as
we'll as Democratic Legislatures, have attempted to
prevent or restrict the operation of trusts within State
lines In fact Senator Depew has recently stated that
all political parties will in 1900 make antitrust panks
prominent in their political platforms. Such planks
will mean that OF all parties are in favor OF
checking any abuses that may arise from the opera
ton OF great combinations of capital and Bryan's ef-
fort to make party advantage out of public sentiment
the subject will fail The issue will not be par
tisan next year any than it was four years
ago, is it likely the people will be much excited
it, despite the aborious efforts of Democratic
leaders to work it up for campaign purposes
1t is worth noting that the stringent antitrust law
enacted by Arkansas has been recently declared bv
the to be fatally detective but not until it had
done great injury to the State. 1t had the effect OF
driving the great insurance companies of the com
monweath, and for several months millions Of dol
lars worth of property went uninsured The new
Texas law on the subject treats all transactions in
which trust is concerned very much as if it were
gambling, and is about stringent as any law that
be devised The effect there very apt to be what
it was in Arkansas. Modern economic development
has made large combinations necessary to meet the
intense competition of trade and States that do not
permit them to suffer heavy losses in more
ways than