The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10

trusts, the democratic party stands as the
enemy and destroyer OF trusts. IL reiief
! Is to come II must come from democratic
success In 1900. will not assume to pre-
l scribe a formula by which the problem
| ia TO be successfully solved. any attempt
10 so treat the subject by me would be
| egotistical and recklessly empirical. But
II have some convictions oil the suh!cel
which I do not hesitate TO state. be-
Ilieve that to the Chicago pistto.; sh"tld
be added heait OF oak plank pledging
the democratic party TO use all OF the
| constitutional powers of the government,
Ileg.sla. I've, iud oial and executive 10 de-
stroy all monopolies ana consequences
against trade. commonly tailed tTcets.
shall briefly mention what conceive 70
be these CONSTITUTIONAL lowers, without NJ
this time. attemp-ing dlscuRstpn OF them
(a) The revision OF the t,riT ann 'ho
whole system OF Federal taxation. includ-
Ing the imposition ~ an income tax
(b). Effective legislation under the In
terstate commerce clause OF the constitu-
ltion prohibiting interstate commerce by
trusts or in the products OF trusts--this
power OF prohibition was put in sue
cess.ul operation under the postofhce
clause against lotteries, and exclusion OF
the trust from the mails might be ELL
cacious In this case.
(c). Legislation providing for the can
. CeiihtlOu anu vi pdNchtS 49,
copyrights used or owned by trusts.
(d). II the constitutional power Of the
government be found TO be inadequat=
call on the States TO grant the neces-
ssry power by amendment.
OF course you will understand that the
State is not to remain an idle spectator
OF the conflict between the general govern
nneut and the trusts. Every power OF
every State should be put in full and ef-
fective motion and harmonious co-op2rd-
ton should prevail
am no new convert TO the ioctria9
OF opposition to trusts. l can poIut with
pride and satisfaction to the fac. that
as early as 1898, when a member OF tpe
legislature from this county, long before
the general alarm had been sounded
against trusts I was alive 20 its !mpor-
lance and 10 the duty of the STATE to be
on guard against the Entertainments of cor
porate power. On two notable occasions /
was an active participant in Legislative ac-
ton on this subject. The first was when
an amendment was proposed to the gener-
al corporation law OF the State permit
ting the incorporation OF retail mer-
camille establishments. ] fought the prop
osition TO the utmost OF my ability ana
warned the house OF the danger OF In
wiling BY means of corporations, tho
organization OF monopoles which woud
destroy competition and the opportunity
for individual success in business. Upon
the passage OF the bill caused ny reasons
for voting against il 70 be spread on the
journal and l went at once 80 James s.
Hogg, governor OF the State, and stated
the reasons OF my opposition to the till
and urged him to veto IL. He did veto
II and adopted my reasons as the basis
OF his veto But the principle CT non1po-
ly is untiring and difficult to foil and at
subsequent legislature the amendment
to the law was renewed, passed and be-
came and is now the law. My worst FEARS
as 20 the result of such a law have not
yet been realized, but the leaven Is Al
,, work and you can scarcely visit a 'o"n
in Texas in which you do not find one OF
more retail mercantile establishments car
ried on by corporations, they are grad
, ually superseding individual establish
. :, ments and no individual can safely do
!, business in competition with them, and sc
little leaven is leavening the whole
: lump and my prophecy is that II that Law
, remains on your statute books Ave year:
q longer, the retail business of this State
will pass first into the hands of cor
porations and then under the process o
: consolidation as department stores VII
g blossom out as trusts of the true jersey
!, type So while watching our neigh5ol
= door. We have let the wolf in at orl
{ own. but 1t is only just a little bit of 1
s wolf-yet 1t has teeth and x you CONF
close 10 it you will lind that 1t CT
bite.
-, The second incident referred to by me
v was tne 'iouGut,on W d M ~ ~
y more effective and remedying GONE OF
" the defects in the law which nave ben
y cured by subsequent legislation secured
S,,cod o th %n y n, 'uu wa
d reached for final action before the adjourn
= ment think ii was seed sown in good
+ sol, however. for 1t helped to keep the
= subject alive and in some degree con
" tributed to the passage of the present
e law.
II The democratic party is not the enem,
y OF capital and recognizes fully the valu,
1t OF INCORPORATION as a means whereby 5rea
= and important enterprises NAV be accom-
- pllshed and 1t VIII commit itself 10 n,
IA policy which WIN pnlts unsafe any legitl
l. tr1te investments of cauitsl or the pur
le suit OF any Isglifr,4e business
II by either n eorporatIon or indl
= viduals. But II IS the eto-naI a1t
&c implacablo foe AZ eyery consolidation q
&c business whereby con,petition Is destrove,
d ma monopoly created And ON MS Ger.
- laration she CHALLENGES the rennbtjcsn
N ,,,-+,, 4. = ,,4,.,,i .,.,ta. -, ..t.o.