Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-13
THE ANTLTRrST Parry

the ANTITRUST PARTY.
| There is consensus of opinion among
| republicans who speak with some au-
! thority that the next republican ma
| tional convention must make a plain
and unequivocal declaration against
| the trusts and all combinations or con-
solidations of monopolistic character.
The latest expression to this effect is
from Senator Carter of Montana, who
was chairman of the republican ma
tional committee in 1892. In an inter
view Mr.. Carter says the next national
| convention will undoubtedly place in
its platform some sincere and vigorous
expressions in regard to trusts and ne
cites the fact that the states wherein
republican legislatures have attempted
to deal with the question of trusts legis-
, lation has been enacted looking to
definite and wholesome control. Demo
cratic legislatures on the contrary,
have either done nothing or enacted
violent and inconsiderate antitrust
laws that could not be enforced.
The republican party is opposed to
trusts now as it was in 1855 and 1892,
when it said in its national platforms:
I'VE declare our opposition to all com
binations of capital, organized in trusts
or otherwise, to control arbitrarily the
condition of trade among our citizens"
and recommended such federal and
state legislation "as will prevent the
execution of all schemes TO oppress the
people by undue charges on their sup
plies, or by unjust rates for the trans
portation of their products to market"
This is the language of the platform of
1888, reatfirmed four years later, II re-
publican congress in the meantime hav-
ing passed an antitrust law.
The sentiment of the republican party
has not changed since these declara-
tions were made, as shown by the ac
ton of republican state legislatures.
The rank and file of the party is, if
possible, more earnestly opposed to
combinations of capital, organized in
trusts or otherwise, than ever before,
and the expressions of the leaders leave
no doubt that they share this feeling.
Individual expressions, however, while
not without value, will not suffice. The
attitude of the party must be pro-
claimed in unmstakable terms through
its representatives in national convcn-
ton and n republican congress must
enact legislation that will enable the
government to exercise its constitu,
tiOnal powers to the fullest extent for
the restriction of the monopolistic com.
binationS.
The republican party is the only party
the people can depend upon to deal
with this question intelligently and eff
fectively. The democratic leaders have
already shown that while they can be
most profuse in denunciation they have
no policy or plan for repressing
the trusts. They hope to delude the
people by vociferating, "Down with the
trusts" but propose no means of ac.
complishing it. Not one of them has
suggested any policy in connection with
this question, which they are agitating
solely with a view to vote getting. A
republican congress will, we conf
IDENTIFY believe, devise a practical and
effective plan for dealing with the
trusts and industrial combina tons. 1t
is confessedly not an easy problem.
There are difficulties that seem almost
insuperable. Yet the powers Of the gov
ernment to deal with it have not been
exhausted and it is the duty of a re-
publican congress and administration to
exert these to their uttermost limit.