The evening times., 1900-06-27

in theory at least, the political equal of
every other unit in the political or nation
al organism. and yet TO be condemned
to social degradation and industrial bond
age. is supreme irony and mockery and
adds 10 the bitterness of intoierable en-
yiTOnmsnts. Great wealth Is being mass
ed in a few hands. Gigantic corporations
control the channels OF trade and the
sources OF wealth. This is an age OF big
ness" Man is overshadowed and forgotten.
Wealth is apotheosized. Individuals are
lost in the vortex Of power. The prirci-
pies of justice. Of equality, the question
OF right. Of moraas, these are regarded as
too abstract and academic for considera-
tioE and too unreal and impracticable for
rigid or literal enforcement The light
of the millionaire is obscured in the b,aZ-
ing efIulgence of TAe billion9ire. The spec
ulator, the stock jObber. the wrecker OF
small fortunes and builder OF stupendous
ones looks from dizzy heights upon strug-
Cling mortality below and accepts the SER
vile hattery of some. while he remorsely
crushes all impediments 10 additional con-
quests.
The law OF association is forgotten; the
interdependeuce Of man is ignored 1t is
forgotten that all the world is linked to-
gether and that 1t should be. In fraternal
power. To divi6e il, to disseyer humani-
ty by artificial and arbitrary and tyran-
nous conditions, is a sin the enormity Of
which is scarcely apprehended.
The Friend of Trusts.
but the Republican party is the friend
OF trusts. 1t breeds them. and they feed
and fatten upon its policies. Republican
ism centralizes and eongests power.
Trusts are eongestions Of capital They
are combinations to restrain competition
among producers: to crush and destroy
the honest manufacturer and producer as
well vender. and TO secure control Of
the armies OF production and wealth.
They DESTROY individualism. They are
'sordid despotism.' that leaves sorrow and
distress in its wake. The chairman of
the national Republican party recently
stated that there were no trusts. Later
he declared that if they did exist. some
were good trusts. and that in any event
the Republican party would take care OF
them. That the latter part Of his state
ment is true is evidenced by the fact tnat
most all the trusts IN this country have
beer organized within the past three
years under Republican misrUle. All are
thrifty. and private competition is being
destroyed aEA individual enterprise sti-
fed
That the Republican party is friendly
10 the trusts is further demonstrated by
the fact that no trust is protesting against
this proposed constitutional amendment
offered by TIE Republican members OF the
judiciary Committee. They regard I, as
it is as a deIusIon and a sham; as en-
effort 10 induce the people 10 support the
Republican party in the coming campaign
The efforts OF Republican politicians 10
convince the people that no trusts exist
having proven futile; they now assume
the heroic, and pose as the great and only
trust destroyers. Carnegie stated. There
is no possibility OF maintaining a trust
The public may regard trusts or cOmbina-
tions with serene confidence Doubtless
MANY viii have no difficulty in believing
/ that Mr. Carnegie. whose profits last year
from the steel trust were perhaps S2J.-
! 900. OOO. regards trusts with perfectly Sc
rene confidence
1T is a siguihcane fact that the Repub
Iican party found 70 evils in Illegal combi-
nations and trusts when IL promulgated
its platform in 1896. This is a most re-
markable omission for party that now
pretends 10 be the foe Of criminal combi-
nations. think the answer is found in
| the fact that 70 win the election unhnit-
ed wealth was required. the payment OF
I which was promised by the trusts and the
/ great corporations. The Democratic plat
/ form contained a ringing. emphatic decla-
| ration against the menace OF capitalistic
/ combinations and the Democratic party
stands ready 10 supplement present legis-
( lation by such - Will protect the people
| against combinations OF capital organized
| 10 prevent competition and 70 work serious
/ evils 10 the masses. That organizations OF
/ capital into trusts are harmful and dan
/ gerous TO society is almost universally
/ recognized The marvellous growth OF
/ trusts. the tremendous power they exer-
J else. have aroused the people. who demand
| their suppression. So earnest are the
people upon this matter that President
! Mckinley directed the attention Of Con
! gress to the matter in his annual message
| December .. 1899. in these words:
Combinations Of capital organized into
/ trusts to control the conditions OF trade
| among our citizens. 10 stifle competition,
! limit production. and determine the prices
| of products used and consumed by the peo-
! pie are justly provoking public discussions.
| and should early claim the attention Of
! Congress. II is universally conceded that
! combinations which engToSs or control the
| market OF any particular kind Of merchan-
| disc. or commodity necessary to the gener-
| al community. by suppressing natural and
| ordinary competition. whereby prices are
unduly enhanced TO the general consumer
I are obnoxious. not only to the common law,
| but also to the public welfare. There must
a
| organizations
Notwithstanding this apparently earn
! est appeal for the suppression OF the de-
| nOunced organizations. nothing has been
| done by the party in power looking TO the
! conSummatiOn Of this desirable work"
Continuing Mr. King said: "A national
! election is at hand The party in power.
realizing its many deliuquencies and cog
infant without coRtriuon) OF its betrayal
| Of the people, is now engaged in the unsat-
| isfactory effort of attempting to con-
vince the people of its friendship for them
I II Is vastly amusing to witness the gyra-
| tions and smirks and smiles Of those who
| for three years have been In power with
| out making the slightest effort 70 regulate
| or control or prohibit trusts and criminal
| combinations In restraint Of trade. as they
| vainly profess adherence Of such combi-
nations and such sincere. disinterested
| and affectionate regard for the people
VIII Appeal to the People.
! The Federal Government is not limited
! in its power to prevent combinations in
restraint of trade. II possesses the taxing
power which Chief Justice Marshall said
] was the power to destroy
| Congress has the power to tax corpora-
| ticns and business pursuits. II taxes those
| who are engaged in the manufacture OF
| OleomargaTine. and a bill Is now pending TO
! impose tax OF 10 cents per pound upon all
| oleOmargarine manufactured in the United
| States. Suppose that under this taxing