Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-29

LACK OF ENERGY DISPLAYED By
THAT OFFICER VERY LARGELY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RAPID
ITY WITH WHICH CAPTALISTlC
COMBINATIONS ARE SECURING
CONTROL OF AMERICAN AZ
FAIRS-MR. BRYAN TOUCHED
THE CORE OF THE TRUST PRO
BLEM-THE FIRST PHILIPPINE
BLUNDER - THE PRESIDENTS
FIRST ORDER SHOWED WHAT
WAS IN HIS MIND.
special Washington Correspondence
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 2S.-Mr.
Bryan. in his recent speech at Chicago,
pointed out that the attorney general
Of the United States had certain pow
ers and a certain range Of action IN
dealing with trusts the Inference De-
ing that this officer is largely respon-
sible for the lack of energy displayed
by the department of justice in prose-
cutting trade combinations. Only one
or two prosecutions worth mentioning
are pending at the present time, wnlle
the number of trusts amenable to pro-
secution is growing almost daily. Inc
antitrust law makes it the duty OF the
several district attorneys of the United
States, in their respective districts, I'M
der the direction of the attorney gen
eral. to institute proceedings in equity
to prevent and restrain violations OF
the law. Notwithstanding this plan
provision we do not hear that the at
torney general ever inyokes govern
ment by injunctinn" against monopol-
istic combinations. Mr.. Bryan Is
therefore quite correct when he lays at
the door of the administration the fail
ure to grapple with the trust question.
In the face of this failure Examinations
by Republican platforms against trusts
have very hollow ring.
In referring to the duty of the at
torney general to recommend adequate
legislation dealing with the trust evil,
or an amendment to the federal consti-
tuition authorizing the enactment OF
such legislation if amendment be need
ed. Mr.. Bryan touched the core Of the
corporation problem. The trust prose-
cutions in the several states are demon
strating the inadequacy of State ma
chinery to cope with combinations OF
capital extending beyond their bor-
ders, which, when too hard pressed,
simply move their headquarters to
some more convenient locality, thus in
flicting material injury upon the COM
munity left behind. There will always
be states, like New Jersey and Della
ware, where trusts may find welcome.
Obviously the federal government is
alone able to deal with situation OF
this kind. The power to deal with
trusts should be co-extensive with
THE DOMESTIC TERRITORY
within which they operate. But the
federal constitution contains no clause
comforting on Congress authority to
create or control corporations. Such a
clause was originally proposed by Mad
ison. but it was not included in the
draft of the constitution as finally
adopted Whether we believe that
trusts should be prohibited altogether,
or that they should be permitted to ex-
list under rigorous governmental con-
troll, so that whatever their economic
advantages may be, such advantages
will accrue to the many rather than to
the few, we find ourselves drifting to
the conclusion that the federal consti-
tutnon and the federal legislature are
must combat the giant industrial Som-
binations of the day. 1t seems prob
able that one of the great issues of the
future will be the question of federal
control of corporations, involving a
constitutional amendment comforting
on Congress ample power to deal with
corporations operating beyond State
boundaries.
GEN. MILES GAVE OUT
some correspondence the other day
which fixes the responsibility for the
initial blunder in the Philippines. On
May 4, three days after Dewey's victory
at Manila, President Mckinley ordered
that 5000 troops be sent to San Fran
cisco "for such service as may be or
dered hereafter" This order marks
the decision to occupy the Philippines
which ultimately led to our demand on
Spain for the cession of the entire arch
ipelago. At the time this order was
given Dewey had the city of Manila in
his power. He had achieved his OBJ
jective and had established a naval
base at Cavite. There was no need
for the dispatch of an army except for
the purpose of retaining POSSESSION Of
the Philippines. For this purpose
Dewey thought 5000 men would be SUI
fcient And vet fhrae DAVIS after Dew