Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-09

MT. bryan 5 recent ullSTduCSS Ol INC
subject of trusts have been read with
much Interest by his friends here as in
dicating the development in his mind
of definite policy regarding the con-
troll of those corporate monsters. In
the campaign of 1896 Mr.. Bryan fire.
quently reverted to the trust question
i'm his speeches, but at that time he ap-
parently inclined toward the view held
by such men as Gov. Savers of Texas,
that trusts SHOULD be compelled to go
out of business and that their forma-
ton should be prohibited This rather
extreme view Mr.. Bryan appears to
have abandoned for the idea of federal
control by means of licenses permit
ting corporations to do business out
side the boundaries of the state from
which they derive their charters. I'm
der this system certain restrictions
could be placed upon corporate meth
ods of doing business, but there would
be no inhibition of their organization
along the lines prescribed by federal
law. In proposing the license system,
Mr. Bryan undoubtedly had in mind
the two main difficulties now in the way
of federal legislation dealing with cor
porations-the lack of constitutional
power, and the rights of the states to
grant charters. Both these difficulties
are apparently avoided in the license
system, constitutional warrant for
which could probably be found in the
interstate commerce clause of the con-
stitution; and of course federal license
would not interfere with the right of
the states to charter corporations.
Whether Mr. Bryan's plan or some
other be finally adopted as solution
of the trust problem, there can be no
question that, as Mr.. Bryan now clearly
sees, the solution must be found in some
sort of federal control, even if the con-
stitution has to be amended to author
ize it.
THE TREASURY BUREAU
of statistics is publishing a series of
statements showing that the merchants
and importers Of other countries are
thinking and saying about American
trade While the growth of our export
trade has been very large, the feature
which has naturally attracted most at
tention is the growth in expectation of
manufactures to markets formerly held
by other nations. The exports of man
ufactures from the United States are
now averaging a million dollars day.
In the PIP days from January l to July
l, the exports of manufactures were
$211, 975 904, while in the corresponding
period Of 1895 the exports Of manufac-
lures were $110,3S9,940, or practically
half a million dollars a day. Thus our
exports Of manufactures have about
doubled in four years, and the gain is
mainly in exports to the regions inhab-
tied by white races-a fact which
strongly initiates against the theory
that the conquest of Malays and other
inferior peoples is necessary to properly
develop our foreign trade. We are in
creasing our exports of machinery and
other manufactures to England, Russia,
Canada, South Africa and Australia, as
well as TO China and Japan. We do not
keep warships in the ports of these
countries, we have no coaling stations
in their territory or in their neighbor-
hood, and yet our trade with them
grows in spite Of our naval shortcom-
ings. Evidently there IS something
wrong with the naval theory that trade
follows the course OF warships Just
the opposite of this is usually true.
SECRETARY ROOT IS A HUSTLER,
but it would be difficult to point to any
reform in War Department methods
effected since his accession to Office.
The same heads of bureaus are in their
Did positions, the shelving of General
Miles continues, and politics dictates
The making of every military appoint
ment. Perhaps it is too early to expect
much Of shake-up in the department
but Mr.. Root took to the political sys-
tenn of military appointments as if
he had been drilled in it all his life
Certainly he made no attempt to cor
rect this great abuse Lieutenancies,
,aptaincies and maiorities are parcell-
fe out among politicians and divided
mp between Democrats and Republicans
lust as in the ralmiest days of the late
Mr.. Alger. However, Mr.. Root is too
busy just now in arranging, at the cost
Of some tens of millions Of dollars. to
crush the Filipinos. Necessarily re-
FORM a. home must await the compile
ton Of this noble task-the early finish
Of which is regarded as a political
necessity. No matter what is costs.
the administration must look out for
itself.
ROOT MUST BE 4 JOY
10 the military party at the War De-
partment, for he seems to take to mill