The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-17
BROAD RIPPLE MEETING
REPRESENTATIVE OvERsTREET EN.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED.
In His Speech He ~iscuss Trusts,
M%ilitarism and Imperialism
"A Big Crowd.

Representative Overstreet made his Sec
end speech in the campaign last night at
Broad Ripple. The meeting was attended
by about six hundred of the citizens OF
Washington and adjoining townships. AMI
was one of the most enthusiastic of the
campaign. Prior to the meeting there was
a street demonstration composed of the
Rough Riders of Washington township
and a number of local organizations. IL
was a very creditable demonstration
DR.. r. c. Light presided at the meeting.
and introduced Mr.. Overstreet to his audi
ence as one of the agents OF prosperity.
Mr.. Overstreet totally departed from his
speech on the money question. which he
delivered so effectively on Monday night
at North indianapolis, and discussed at
length trusts, militarism and Imperialism
in a way that kept the enthusiasm of his
hearers constantly bubbling over. Mr..
Overstreet showed conclusively that MIR.
Bryan's denunciation OF the trusts is but
a snare with which he hopes to catch the
voters on election day. Beginning with
Mr.. Bryan's congressional record Mr.. Over
street pointed out the fact that while he
Bryan was chairman of the ways and
means committee he did not make a single
attempt to legislate against the trusts,
and yet at that time there were no less
than s~eventy-seven of these corporations
fiourishing i'm the United States under Mr..
Bryan's nose. On the ether hand, said
Mr.. Overstreet, the first resolution that
was ever framed against the trusts was
by the Republican national convention.
held in Chicago in 1883. That resolution,
said Mr.. overstreet. was drawn up by no
less a person than William Mckinley, the
President of the United States. The first
antitrust law ever enacted was introduced
by Senator John Sherman. OF Ohio, in the
United States Senate In 1880. At that time.
said Mr. Overstreet. every Democrat in
the Senate ridiculed the enactment OF such
age every one of them voted for IL, because
they were afraid to do otherwise.
Mr.. Overstreet maintained that the Re-
publicans were ever against the trusts, and
that the Democrats had always been found
on the other side. During the last session
of Congress-, he said, the Republicans had
attempted to amend the Constitution so as
TO be able TO cope with the question. but
the Democrats had voted against the meas
ure. Mr.. Overstreet argued that IL would
be impossible to regulate the trust Ques-
ton by state legislation, and that the only
way they could be controlled was through
Congress. He said that he frankly ad-
mitted that under certain conditions the
trust question was one full OF grave pos
sibilities.
But What are you going TO do about it?"
said Mr.. Overstreet. "What IL Mr.. Bryan
going TO do about IL? IL seems 10 me that
IL is a question of which party you are go
ing 10 trust. The Republican party frank
ly confesses there Is danger under certain
conditions. and has put forth its best ef-
forts to enact laws that will regulate and
control them. On the other hand l ask
any man to point out TO me one single In
stance I'm which the Democratic party has
attempted TO crush the evil about which IL
so loudly p~rates-"
Near the close of his speech Mr.. Over
street briefly touched upon the issues OF
imperialism and militarism. He said he
had seen enough Rough Riders In the last
two weeks TO crush in a single charge any
empire that would ever be established I'm
the United States. Tn issue OF imperial
ism. said Mr.. Overstreet. is not worthy OF
consideration. The conditions I'm the Phil
ippines are iamentable. but they could not
be helped. They were the natural out
growth OF a war waged In the interest OF
humanity and civilization II would be a
sin, Mr.. Overstreet said. TO leave the Fill
ipinos In their present ignorance. and i'm
compatible with American honor. The time
will come. said he. when the Filipinos will
bless the day that American soldiers drst
set foot on their island. II Mr.. Bryan
were elected, said Mr.. Oyerstrcet. ne would
that now beset President Mckinley. and
would be powerless 10 change the condi-
lions. In conclusion Mr.. Oeerstreet said
that while the trust question and the con-
ditions I'm the Philippines were likely TO
prove bothersome for awhile. yet the Re-
publican party. If given the opportunity.
proposed TO find a means OF solution. we
have the gumption. " he said. '.and we will
work out the way despite Mr.. Bryan and
his party