New-York tribune., 1900-09-30
Observation-Disclosures CITY
SPEAKS N THE HALL WHERE BRYAN
WAS NodINATED-FRANCH TAX
ACT AS ILLUSTRATIoN-CURB
ING TRUSTS
ING TRUSTS.

Kansas CITY No, Sept. Ex-Governor Roose-
welt arrived here tonight after his speaking tour
in Kansas in the course Of which he delivered a
number of addresses. He had a hearty recep-
tion and delivered an address in the big Con-
vention Hail. where Bryan was nominated in
July. The utmost enthusiasm prevailed, and the
speech was frequently interrupted by applause.
In his speech Governor Roosevelt said:
you know that q promise amounts TO nothing
that is not bac ked up by performance. Let me
recite TO you what occurred in my own state
during the last four years BY trusts we mean
generally speaking. all the big corporations:
Now. there are unquestiOnably evils connected
with them, but we cannot get rid OF those eVlls
by in6lscriminate oratory, but by careful action'
Words do not hurt, deeds bite TWO years aso
when I running for Governor my opponent
Mr.. Van Wyck. and the Tammany leader hicm- Tld
ard Croker, both denounced corporations Inc!
denounced trusts and the Ike, and yet they
charged more Yehemently than could, because
In the first place, 1 wanted to discriminate oe
tween the good and evil in them, and in the next
place I did not intend TO say anything couIa
not back up in deeds
Now. came in. and. Of course. the conditions
differ in different States. In my State the great
est evil connected with corporations was the Iact
that some exceedingly wealthy corporations
which owned the street railway and similar iran
chIses the most valuable franchises that the
State had to give, had made enormous fortunes
out Of the gift of the State without giving any
adequate returns.
Now. I did not go at them in Socialist or
Anarchist spirit, but 1 went at them with the
spirit Of doing justice to them. and eXacuns
Justice from them We went TO work, and we
put through "a Franchise Tax bill. under Whicn
there has been put upon the assessment rolls OF
Nev-York City nearly S200.e00,o0O of corporate
17rorert, that had heretofore escaped taxation.
As q consequence Of legislation OF that type our
ing the last six years, legislation by Whlch we
have got proper return from the corporations
for what they got from the State, we now have
IN that State the lowest tax rate we have had
for the last forty years.
These are my performances. Now, let me can
attention TO certain facts about my opponents.
Al the time were putting the Fre1chise Tax
bill through. Air Van Wyck in speech ana MT.
Croker in inIeTviews-DecsUse speechrn6klng Is
NOT his strong point-were denouncing trusts
with more ferocity than I could employ. and al
the very time fbev were becoming the largest
stockholders in the Ice Trust, which was the
worst trust in the country. Now, MI van Wyck
was by Mr.. Croker put on the Committee on
Resolutions at Kansas City which drew up the
Kansas City platform, and the plank agaIhsl
trusts was partly drawn up by MI Van WycK
who at that time had in his possession the Ice
Trust stock This plan was also packed nE
Senator Jones the chairman Of the Democratic
National Committee. one OF the chieI oeheh-
ciaries Of the Cotton Bale Trust in his state
The Democratic convention that has just been
held in New-York condemned the Ice Trust, aho
at the very time all Of the leaders M. Ean an
YEvck and Nr Croker, and Corporation Counsel
Whalen and Mr. Guggenheiuler, all OF them, not
only had stock in II, but their lawyers were
fighting at every step the Republican Attorney
Generals efforts 10 dissolve TINS trust. Inc
courts have not decided the question yet, ana
we do not know whether that trust can be ais
solved. What I want 10 call your attenuoh 10
IS the fact that will have not mace eXtraNa-
CANT professions, but are doing our best TO dis
solve the trust that Mr.. Croker and his lieu
tenants through their lawyers are fighting so
hard at every step TO save and that IN New
York State the Democratic leaders VINO nave
publicly denounced trusts at the same time nave
had private ownership in them think you see
the point have made.
As things are now, only the States can deal
effectively with corporations That brings up
great difficulties, owing TO the intertrafnc De
tween States We have got to have constl-
tutional amendment 10 give the National Gov
n~r,-r- ont IldS
tional amendment was introduced III Congress
which would give the Nation full power 20 deal
with trusts--to examine into them. 10 regulate
them TO rescind their charters and suppress
them in common with other corporations, 10 DO
-rbatever seemed wise That measure received
the vote Of every Republican but two and
against IL was cast every Democratic vote save
four Now ask you. and think have right
10 ask YOU, to compare what has been done by
rs with what has been promised and prophesleo
and has not been done by our antagonists. by
their fruits shall ye know them" and ask you
10 look al the actual Democratic thistes, and
not take into account the imaginary figs they
have promised 70 pluck from these thistles.