The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-04
BRYAN ON TRUSTS.

IN a signed article in the New York
! Journal Nh Bryan reviews the somewhat
famous statement of Henry o. Havemeyer.
the president of the sugar trust namely
the tariff is the mother of all trusts"
I Mr. Bryan doesn't fully agree with Mr.
! Havemeyer He thinks that the tariff
is. in a measure, responsible for trusts,
| but that IL would be possible for trusts to
! exist il the country were on a free trade
basis. He says: Tariff reform there
fore, or even free trade. would be only
a partial remedy" for the trust evil. TO
advance this as the only remedy, or as
a complete remedy, would not only prove
a disappointment to the opponents Of
monopoly. but It would probably rally the
protectionists TO The support of trusts"
Mr. Bryan doesn't agree with Mr. Have
meyer that it would be a mistake for Con-
gress 10 attempt to crush trusts. He ad-
mits that states can deal with trusts TO
a limited extent, but points out that it
is practically impossible to get them to
act together in fighting trusts. Some of
them. for the sake Of gain or for other
reasons, are certain to be breeding places
for trusts. On this point ne SAYS: 80
long as the injury done by a trust Is con
fined 10 the state 10 which 1t exists the
remedy can safely be left to the state,
but when states advertise themselves as
breeding places for trusts, and vie with
each other in the passage of laws favor
able 10 the organization ana protection
of trusts, II becomes necessary for the
people 10 resort 10 an authority which
reaches every nook and corner of the
country. The state authorities can do
something, but their efforts will not be
completely successful. The fear of driv-
ing capital from the state, and the desire
to attract capital TO the state operate
to paralyze the arm OF the state in deal
ing with trusts. The federal govern
ment alone can supply a remedy common
surate with the evil"
1t is true that two or three of the states
have shown a determination to profit by
| legislation In favor of trusts, but 1t is
not certain that they VIII continue to
approve such legislation when the people
of those states fully understand the bad
effect of trusts. As the situation now
presents itself, however, it does seem as
IL trusts could be dealt with successfully
only by an authority greater than that of
any state But is Mr.. Bryan sure that
the federal government has authority 10
deal with all kinds of trusts? Some very
eminent authorities take the position that
it hasn't Wouldn't it be well to settle
that point before taking the position that
trusts must be dealt with by the federal
government? In framing the present
antitrust law care was taken not to en-
croach upon the rights of the states.
The people are looking TO Mr.. Bryan
as their leader in this movement against
trusts. To justify his right to leader
ship he must make it clear that there
is no constitutional objection to the
method he proposes for Kidding the coun-
try of trusts. His position will be very
much stronger, and he viii greatly in
crease his influence and following it he
shows that Congress has authority to
| enact a law against trusts by which all
kinds of trusts, in every part of the coun-
try, can be reached and destroyed. While
we hope that the position taken by Mr.
Bryan is right, 1t must be apparent to
every one that the first thing to be done
is to show beyond question that what he
proposes to do can be done.