The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-28
NOT POLITICAL.
Ex-senator PETER Thinks the
Democrats Have No MOnOp-
oily on Antitrust Move.
ments - Refuses to
Be Tail to the
Bryan Kite.


Ex-United States Senator W. A. PEI
fer was invited to speak on the subject
of Trusts" at Chicago August 9Th, but
declined. In addressing the chairman
and secretary of the Antitrust league
he expressed himself as follows:
Your letter inviting me to be present
and address a public meeting on the
subject of Trusts to be held at Bur
hngton Park, Chicago, Ill, August 9,
1889, while only appreciated, would APP
peal more strongly to my sense of duty
were the meeting not obviously called
in the interest of the Democratic party.
All good citizens without regard to
political affiliations, are of one mind in
opposition to whatever there is of evil
IN the thing called a Trust and there
ought not to be any attempt to fore
stan public opinion on the subject by
making II party question, at any rate
not unless there is an evident dispOsi-
ton on the part of some party or of any
considerable number of voters indie
pendently of party, to defend the evil
as Iar as party records show, Re
puDllcanS, IN 1888, took ground against
the trust evil, and in $780, the Sherman
ahu-IruSt law was passed. Democrats,
IN 1872, followed with a similar party
expression, but did not avail themselves
or their opportunity, in 1885, (when
they had the president and both houses
OF congress) to strengthen the act OF
~ or to enact another better adapted
to the object sought to be accommodated
The trust is not a new thing, by any
means 1t is only an enlarged partner
ship with the right or capacity of sue
cession added, and the rapid deveIon-
ment of the trust theory of late years
and the vast power welded by these
enormous aggregatiOns Of wealth and
brain energy is bringing the subject
n il Via d, =
unless the Democratic party changes
Its principles and its policy on the sub
9ect OF state rights, it cannot success
fully handle the trust problem 1t would
be wise, therefore, in that party if If
would revise it's creed, bring it forward
about hundred years, so that it NAV
study national issues without getting
tangled up IN the meshes of state boun-
dairy lines
The internal commerce among the
people of these United States is the
pest example OF free trade that has
ever been given to the world Citizens
OF each state shall be entitled to all the
privileges and immunities of citizens of
the several states So it is provided in
trusts are engaged in business, in
trade, IN commerce, and congress shall
nave power to regulate commerce
among the several states
Congress. in the Sherman act. has
taken the first step toward regulating
the trust business. From what has
been learned since, it is evident that
the next necessary step is a declara-
ton that the manufacturing, making,
producing or preparing Of any article or
articles used, sold or exchanged among
the people of the country generally, or
intended to be so used. sold or ex-
changed, is included within the mean
ing OF the words commerce among the
several states this to be coupled with
an act prohibiting and furnishing every
Willful movement which in any way re-
StTlCfG
of exchanges.
There is, then, but one question left.
and that, after all, is the real question
in issue-the charge for service render
eds it reasonable or unreasonable?
There is nothing wrong in proper eff
IortS TO raise prices when they are too
low. Honest toll deserves honest re-
Enumeration, no matter in what line it
is performed. Working men have been
organizing in trade unions and have
found it the only way to maintain
themselves and secure fair wages.
Farmers have been experimenting
in the work of organization, and it is
not at all likely that agriculture will
ever reach its highest and best condi-
ton until, through compact organiza-
ton, farmers are enabled to so control
the markets that they can secure re-
munerative prices for their produc-
tons. The laborer is worthy of his
hire. His right to live is as good as
anybody's, and he is as much entitled
to good pay for his work as the specu-
lator, the manufacturer, or the profess
sional person.
1.-The question of price-what is rea-
sonable compensation - enters into
goods, wares and merchandise the same
as it does into labor. What is the ar
ttcle reasonably worth? Its market val
ue or price, first of ALL includes cost of
material and labor. Capital is entitled
to reasonable returns from profit on in
vestment.
1T must be remembered that while
labor is entitled to a just reward and
capital to a fair return, they are not
entitled to more than that; the con-
sumner has the right to purchase his
supplies at a. reasonable price The
whole question turns on a proper esti-
mate and regulation Of the wages of
labor and the income of capital
In the campaign of 1896. the COM
plant on one side, that prices were too
low, was answered on the other side
not by denial, but by the confident
expectation that prices would rise
again under the operation of wise poll
cies in administration.
From my standpoint 1t is not wise
to take the trust question into party
politics. It is a matter in which we are
all alike very much interested. 1t is a
national-a.ye, world question. But if
1t is to go into party politics, as before
suggested, do not think the Demo-
cratic party, without change of base
Is competent to handle it; and there
fore, with great respect to the commit
tee, must decline acceptance of the
invitation so cOurteously extended