The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-08-12
NO ooNoRATuLATIoNs.

NO CON0RA FOLATt0tSSs
A couple of weeks ago "
took exceptions to an article pub
lished in the .Silpey Blade Rath
drum, Idaho, paper. The articl,
in substance said that Hon. Johr
E. Monnett, Attorney General Of
Ohio, was a Republican aud i
the Republicans were sincere
against trusts they should have
renominated him. We pointed
out that Mr.. Monnett was a Dem.
ocrat and could not very well b.
placed on the Republican ticket
at the same time asking the Blad,
why the Democrats did not take
him up. And this is how the
Blade comes back at us:
The CALDWELL TRIBUNE would
have its readers believe that the
Republican party is opposed to
trusts and points to the Sherman
antitrust law, Republican meas
nre, to Substantiate this claim. As
trusts which destroy competition
and arbitrarily raise prices have
multiplied galore since the enact
ment OF the Sherman bill and are
now f0urishinR, the act is made
quate 10 suppress or 1t Is not prop
erly enforced. If 1t is Inadequate
the Republican party, having done
nothing more than make a pretense
OF opposing and suppressing the
trusts, does not merit conRratula-
lions; and If 1t is adequate the ad-
ministration is negligent or cTimi-
nal IN failing to enforce it and
should be condemned instead Of en-
dorsed. The Republican antitrust
act 10 device intended TO make
show Of doing thing without do
ing II, or the administration de.
serves execrati0n instead of com.
mendation.
This article would be all right,
only the premises are wrong.
The Republicans passed an anti
trust law, and when the present
administration succeeded that Of
Grover the Fat it found the trust
law inadequate, 1t found that
he Federal government had no
Jurisdiction over trusts organized
n the several States and operat-
ng under State laws, and that it
couldn't enforce the law because
he Federal Constitution was in
But can the Blade
'oint to any trusts organized in
he District of Columbia, or any
t the territories of the United
'tates, over which the Federal
overnment has Jurisdiction? If
can, then the Federal govern
lent is at fault and should be
averely criticized. However,
le mere fact that a Republican
ongress passed that law, shows
lat the Republican party is NOV
g in the right direction, and the
tempt made to enforce the law
lows that the Federal govern
Ient is doing all it possibly can !
, against the trusts. The Blade |
ust admit then, that as the Fed I
al Constitution did not grant a
e Federal government power ,
'er the States in this, as well as !
her matters, that the Federal i
.vernment is not to blame. Ma q
'nally, then, the Republican !
'rty has done its duty. /
Now, when the Republican Z
sderal administration found that ii
could not act in the matter, h
at the power of regulating the o
lsts resided in the States, nearly p
cry Republican State in the B
MON passed antitrust laws, and Ii
nio in enforcing the anti-trust u
n, brought the Hon. John E h
onnett into prominence. In c,
ler words, the administration of "
no, which is Republican, de- ii
inded that John E. Monnett, a.
torney-Geueral and aDemocrat. ia
ould enforce an and-trust law. di
ssed bya Republican State legis- el
nre and signed bya Republican th