Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-27

st, Louis Republic: If the people once get
action the power requisite to the crushing
of the trusts will be generated in short
order.
Chicago Times Herald: With the execu-
tive and legislative branches of the federal
government in it's control, the republican
party will be justly censured II 1t does not
remove duties that breed oppressive mo-
nopolies and trusts.
Atlanta Constitution: That some of the
trusts recently formed will fail may be re-
garded as a matter of course. for some of
them have been formed in haste, but with
out consideration; hut the majority will
stand, for the international banking firms
which have taken them in hand have not
done so without consideration and prepara-
tion. Their reputation as successful tinan-
ciers is involved in the matter, in the first
place, and finally, they are able to command
and control unlimited capital.
Chicago Tribune: Supposing all the states
pass antitrust laws and endeavor to enforce
them against the print paper trust, for in
stance. SO long as national legislation Is
such as to guarantee excessive profits to a
print paper combine so long will those in
terested in such combine fight hard to
retain their profitable monopoly. They will
resort to every conceivable device to evade
and battle prosecutions If one form of mo-
nopoly is declared illegal they will get up
another. But when the tariff legislation
which makes excessive profits possible is re-
pealed the competition of Europeans will be
called into play to check the greed of the
American manufacturers, and the main
spring of the print paper trust will be
broken.
Chicago Record: These organizations
when formed in natural conditions, without
the factitious aid created by exorbitant
tariff or other forms of protection" are
product of modern business tendencies
which are ever directed toward securing a
maximum of production with a minimum
of expense. The natural operation of known
economic laws stands as the peoples safe
guard against undue aggressions from Or
CARNATIONS of this kind. 1t is the trust
which is fostered by special legislation and
high tariffs which is the offender, and ths
nest effective way to proceed against such
trusts is by the destruction of the artificial
agencies which enable them to exist in con-
travention CT natural and healthy laws of
trade. Repeal the protecting tariffs
and these institutions will be forced to sus-
pend their aggressions. the natural workings
Of competitive trade forcing them to more
equitable methods of dealing.
st. Paul Pioneer Press: There is not much
comfort in the statement of Attorney Gen
eral Griggs that the manufacturing monopo-
lies which are organizing all over the coun-
try are amenable only to the laws of the
respective states. For the individual state
is powerless to restrain trusts organized and
operating under the laws of other states
But whatever the state can do in this matter
the republican state of Minnesota is prepar-
ing to do. Under the auspices of the repub-
lican leaders bill was introduced in the
legislature yesterday in restraint of trust
organizations or monopolistic combinations
in this state, which goes as far as state leg
islation can go-and perhaps farther than
is warranted by the federal constitution. 1t
provides for the forfeiture of its franchise
by any corporation in this state which by
any union or combination seeks to limit or
control the production or fix the price of any
article, or OF the material entering into such
production. So far, so good. There is no
doubt of the power of the state to do this.