The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-29

advanced in support of the trusts, and
yet how impractical was almost every
remedy proposed for the evil. But,
throughout the discussion and even
because of 1t, one proposition and one
remedy stood out with greater and
greater clearness each time they were
advanced-the proposition becoming
almost an axiom, whose mere state
ment at once demanded the only logi-
cal step as a remedy:
Protection favors trusts
Then remove the favors.
other propositions were of doubtful
constitutionality; there was no such
question as this one. Some were un-
just this was justice itself. Some
proposed constitutional amendments,
involving doubt and delay for many
years this could be settled in one
congress. Legislation compelling pub
licity should be admirable in its way;
but publicity should serve rather as
means of discovering ultimate reme-
dies than as an effective remedy most
needed now.
A POPULAR DEMAND.
The demand for the removal of the
protective taxes wherever they grant
| privileges to trusts is not only logical
and just, but it has arisen spontane-
ously among members of all political
parties and in all sections of the
country. The American people abhor
privilege They will not knowingly con-
sent to 1t, and when they have support
ed legislation which granted special
privileges it has only been through
misunderstanding. The prominence of
the great combinations called trusts,
i hac q a1raadU much of r,,fo
un Serstanding under which protective
taxes have hitherto been supported and
the people are eager today to listen
to the evidence and ready to give the
case fair hearing.
The press can render no greater
service than by spreading -he facts
| and believing that the statement of
them will strengthen the popular con-
viction that "the tariff is the mother
of trusts" and render the popular de-
mand for their immediate remedy ir-
lresistable, venture to offer the servi-
ces of the New England Free Trade
| League in helping to secure for your
columns frequent articles from eminent
men well posted upon the subject, eX-
planning in detail the nature Of the
come 2tion between the protective
taxes and the trusts which they
support (such as those in tin plate,
window glass, lead, steel rails, paper,
etc. and showing the extent to which
they enable the trusts to extort from
the people. I am assured already of
information and opinions are of the
highest value.
| BOURKE COCHRAN ANSWERED.
One Of the most eloquent men in
the country, the Hon. Bourke Cochran,
enquired at the recent trust conference
whether a monopoly that oppresses ex-
lists, and where 1t is? VINO is hurt,
and where? Where has the octopus
got possession of somebody? On
whom is 1t acting? Where is it's lair?
The answer is easy and is based on
ievidence familiar to all. American
producers for years have proved their
liability, If freed from tariff restrictions,
to compete with foreigners. Wherever,
then a trust is producing a protected
larticle and is extorting from our people
more than the price at which it could
be imported free of the protective tax
there is the lair Of a monopoly or octo-
pus which has possession of the whole
American people and is acting upon
them, but is able to hurt them solely
because of the power which it derives
from the protective tariff.
OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED.
, All trusts are not supported by the
tariff; but that is no reason why those
which are so supported should be allowed
! to bleed the people while we are
: cropping for more complete remedies
| Removing the taxes which support
/ those trusts will not, it is true, reach
all the trust evils: neither will it re-
move all the tariff evils. But that is
! no argument against extending relief
where it is possible. We do not give
up courts because they cannot do full
5 justice to everyone, nor discard medi.
, cine and surgery because they cannot
cure every i'll.
{ If our people concentrate their ener'
) gies upon the demand for the remova
of the power for extortion which the
= protective taxes give to trusts, imme
diate relief will be sure: for the trusts
l will no longer be able to confront the
I people with the old complacent inquiry
3 what are you going to do about it?'
: and the party that succeeds in the elec
; tion will not dare to evade such 6
&. definite declaration from the people o.
= what they mean to do.
HENRY w. LAMB,
Pres. N. Eng. F. T. League