The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-26
RALLYING CRY
OF the Democracy From This
Time Forward
Appears to Be Opposition to
the Trusts.
ST. LOUIS LOVE FEAST.
Mr.. Bryan the Principal Speak
er of the Occasion.
Merges Money Question Into the
Trust Question.
ST. LOUIS LOVE FEAST.

THE Stars and Stripes Forever" an
army of walters laden with viands ap-
peared and the mammoth Democratic
antitrust banquet was on, while the
1,445 banqueters seated at the tables
broke into a tremendous cheer. rising in
a body and waving the small hand flags
that had been provided at each cover.
The vast arena of the Coliseum was
filled with long tables tastefully dec
grated with roses, lilies of the valley
and carnations The table of honor
was placed on raised platform at the
north side of the arena ana at IL We're
seated w. J. Bryan, Ex-Governor John
P. Altgeld o. H. P. Belmont, M. Z.
Wetmore, Harry b. Halves, president
of the Jefferson club, under whose au-
spices the dinner was given; Champ
Clark, David A. De Almond and
number of other prominent Democrats.
The Coliseum was decorated through
out with flags and in the center or each
was fixed a large silver shield.
The dinner was concluded at o'clock.
No speeches were made during the ban
quet 1t was strictly a love feast. By
the time the ia bleS were cleared the B.
900 seats of the amphitheater were fill
ed with spectators representing the so
ciety of St. Louis, and the speaking be-
gan. The first speaker of the even
ing was Harry B. Halves, president or
the Jefferson club, who delivered the
address of welcome. Mr.. HaWes SAID
in part:
should be merely the means of afford
ing entertainment, but it was believed
by it's promoters that the serious dis
cussions to be held tonight would be
the means of crystalizing' public sent1-
ment against the encroachment upon
the liberties of the people of the giant
monopOlies and trusts. 1t is not sought
or desired to push to the background
the vital issues of 1896, nor to lessen in
any particular the fight to be made up
on the greatest of all trusts, the money
trust. which, greater than all, is more
dangerous than all and by its existence
renders possible many com binat1OnS OF
wealth that without it could not sur
vive. The battle line must be drawn
sharp and clear, with Democracy on
one hand and the trusts and mOnopOlies
on the other If the discussions here
tonight will add to the enthusiasm and
determination of the Democratic party
to wipe out of existence these formid
able allies of Republicanism, then the
object of this meeting will have been
accomplished"
Mr. Halves gave but a few words to
imperialism. declaring that it and the
acquisition of foreign territory are for
eign TO the policy of the Democratic
party.
President Halves was followed by
Champ Clark of Missouri, who present
ed the state and district banners in the
name of the state committee Mr. Clark
was greeted with a tremendous ovation.
Trusts and Democracy occupied
Colonel NJ. c. Wetmore of St. Louis but
a few minutes His remarks were
greeted with cheers.
He was followed by David De Ar
mond of Missouri who spoke upon
The Trust and It's Parents The pa
rents of the trust, according to the
speaker, are the protective tariff favor
ed by the Republicans, and the partial
ity which, he claimed, that party had
ever shown to corporate interests.
When Mr.. Halves arose to introduce
Mr.. Bryan he was greeted with APP
plause and the applause which met Mr..
Bryan was of the most fiattering de-
scription. The cheers drowned the
music of the band, which struck up
Hold the Fort" as he advanced to the
front of the rostrum. Mr.. Bryan spoke
as follows:
Gently. upon learning from a Republ-
can that confidence had been restored,
remarked that he had examined Web
ster's dictionary to learn what conf
dence' meant and found confidence de-
fined as trust and then he under
stood that confidence had been really
restored.
More trusts have been formed during
the last two years than existed at the
beginning of the present administration
and the nominal capitalization of the
trusts now in existence approaches, if
it does not equal in amount, the world s
total supply of gold and silver. The in
fuences of these trusts has become so
enormous that the people without re-
spect to party, are asking themselves
| how the eVN can be remedied.
The purpose of the trusts is to con-
troll the product of some article of mer-
chandise and the methods employed are,
first: The union of all individual fac
| tories under one mana cement or in one
| corporation, and, second, the crushing
| out of new rivals. A monopoly when
! once complete not only dictates terms to
| those who buy the product, but it also
| dictates terms to those who sell the raw
| material and to those who furnish the
| labor. If the trusts are permitted to
el,an Rra6 ,xJY1-4 -sraI
| aristocracy growing up in the United
| States which will prove as destructive
| of our ideals as landed aristocracy
| would
THE principle of monopoly is incom-
! patible with our institutions. Mans
| necessities compel him to become a pur-
J chaser and where there is but one seller
| the purchaser is completely at the
mercy of the seller. Where there is
competition between producers, the
| purchaser is sure to obtain what he
| wants at a reasonable price. When
| competition is eliminated the price con-
| troIled not by reason. but by the greed
! of the one who possesses the monopoly.
1T has been said that the power to
! tax is a power to destroy. A monopoly
possesses the power to tax; it can levy
| such assessments as it will upon the
| purchaser, and we can no more afford
| to permit such a power to be exercised
| by private individuals than we could
! afford to authorize a private individual
| to set the machinery of taxation in or
| der to enrich himself at the expense of
| his fellows The government would be
| guilty of gross neglect if it permitted
! an individual to secure a monopoly even
| without Legislative assistance, but it is
| still more culpable if by legislative act
| it furnishes the means by which a mo-
| nopoly is secured. The corpora ton is
| the means now employed by those who
| seek to secure a monopoly Since the
| corporation is a fictitious person, Gre
| ated by law, the power that creates
can regulate, restrain or annihilate. To