Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-10-12


We print below an address issued by the
American Antitrust League, and ask for
it careful reading, and deep eonsidera-
tion.
The object of the American Antitrust
League is to drive from public places the
subservient tools OF the trusts. monopolies.
combines, and corporations, and to establish
the equal rights of American citizens in
the commerce and industries of the
country
To-day in every legislative hall, both
State and national, 0mnipresent stands the
LOBBYIST and corruptiOnist OF this great rail-
road, monopoly, trust combination, which
has formed an alliance offensive and de-
fensiye, by which they expect 10 control
legislation and to plumber the producers
and consumers of America
And what is still worse, there also stand
the representatives, elected by the people,
who have become debauched and who are
the secret servants and Instruments of this
great corporate power and are ever ready
to do their bidding, while proclaiming their
devotion to the rights of the people. We
find them everywhere-in the Legislature,
in Congress, in the Senate, and on the
|
representatives is made easy Their
nominations are arranged for them by the
political bosses, who are but the servants
of this power. Campaign funds are furnish
ed. That part of the public press that can
be managed is nsed to eulogize and lionize
these subseryient tools. Their elections
are managed for them.
There also stands the representative
elected by the people, who is true to the
principles of manhood and is governed by
the promptings of public welfare. lie
stands bulwark against the legislation
by which this great railroad, monopoly,
trust combination expect to plumber the
people. He is obnoxious to this dominating
and controlling power, and their emissaries
are sent to his district to undermine and
destroy him politically. Some popular
man is encouraged to become candidate
for nomination to his place, and the power
and influence and money of this corpOr-
ate conspiracy are put behind this candi-
date, and the true servant of the people
fnds himself defeated for denomination,
and he is retired from public life-retired
because he was q true representative OF the
people and dared to defy this corporate
monster This process has been worked so
not recognized the handiwork by which
majority in their legislative bodies has
been controlled.
In many of our great cities the street
railway traction companies have created
political despotism. That man who is
ambitious politically, before he can hope
to be nominated to any position of public
trust must first kneel at the throne. Yes,
in o q
can hope to earn bread for his family, he
has FIRST to show that he wears the brand
and collar of their ward boss They have
created a despotism so damnable that man
must become serf to this corrupt c0rpor-
ate power before be can obtain an oppor-
tunity to work l have talked with these
men who mourn the loss of their liberty
as American freemen. This great monopoly,
trust, traction combination is corrupting
our public affairs and debauching our
public men, and destroying the foundations
of the Republic by the corrupt use Of
money In our political life.
The purpose of the American Anti
Trust League is to arouse the only power
on earth that is stronger than the power of
money in our public life. That power is
the patriotic impulses Of the people. The
little finger of that power, when awakened
is stronger ten thousand times than the
influence of all the billions of the trusts
and combines of the land. The memories
of the many sacrifices of the fathers call
us to action. If these trust combinations
are allowed to go on they can plumber
each of US into poverty. No man knows
how soon the fear of hunger for his wife
and family will make him a coward. 1t
behooves us to strike while the fire of
liberty yet burns.
The American Antitrust League is
non-partisan. We call all American free
men to council. If a Democrat, or a
Populist, or a Republican, public man has
shown himself to be subservient tool OF
this great corporate power, then all the
united power of all the men of the Ameri-
can Antitrust League will be used to
crush him and drive him from public life.
We will adopt the tactics of our enemy
until we have created Legislative, Judi
cial and Executive power in sympathy
with the public welfare. And we call upon
every American citizen who loves his
country and the great principles of popular
government better than he does his party,
to join as in the work OF re-establishing
the equal rights of American citizenship.
M. L. LOCKWOOD,
President American Anti Trust League.