Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-03
DOWN ON TRUSTS.
Bryan Advocates the Speakers at =,
Mass Meeting.

Bryan Advocates the Speakers at q
Mass Meeting.
There was a mass meeting at Masonic
Temple last evening, held under the aus
pices of the local branch of the American
Antitrust League. Vigorous addresses
were made denouncing trusts and most of
the speakers also criticised the administra-
ton. The audience present proved to be
of an inquring turn of mind, and the
speakers were frequently piled with ques-
tons. Representative Sulzer of New York
presided and seated on the platform in adj
ditiOn to the speakers were the following:
Senator Henry Heitfeld. of Idaho, Rich
Lacey Of New York; General William Ben
die of New Jersey, ex-senator Wilkinson. Call
of Florida, j. c. Turcher of New York F.
J. Linderberger of Detroit P. T. Moran,
ston, George Killeen, Edward L.. Jordan,
Thomas P. O'Dea, A. A. Lipscomb Rev
Alexander Kent anpd Louis schade.
The first speaker was H. B. Martin who
described the evils of trusts and blamed
the administration for, non-enforcement of
the Sherman antitrust act of 1890 He
said if this had been done and the law
properly upheld every trust or combine in
the United States would have been de-
stroyed.
In the opinion of Chairman Sulzer, who
next addressed the meeting, trusts. ac-
cordng to the laws of the United States.
as we'll as to the Small ones. He said the
law was clear and plain. and declares" that
every contract or combination in the nature
of trust designed 5toprestrain trade and
commerce Is a conspiracy. He declared
that the law has been successfully en-
forced, and he asserted that the difficulty
was not with the law4as' much as with those
who were required tosenforce it - He be-
lieved the Attorney General was wrong
He said the gigantic combinations con-
trolling wholly or in a large part every
conceivable product or industry of the
country are the greatest menace at the
present time to democratic Institutions
He declared that trusts practically control
the government today. He believes the
statistics of the growth of such organiza-
tons leads to the conclusion that a con-
.Spiracy exists to convert the government
OF the United States into an oligarchy of
wealth. Industrial serfdom is the future
of the people of this country unless the
trusts were destroyed. He asserted that
the republican party stands for trusts. and
that the latter supported Mckinley in 1896
and will do so III 1900. He also paid his
respects to the Secretary of the Treasury
and the Attorney General, who he de-
clared were friendly to these interests.
Depends Upon Bryan. ...
Senator Allen Of Nebraska followed in a
speech in which he declared himself in
favor of free silver and asserted that the
abolition of trusts rested with the people
a.
Bryan. He also asserted that the republi-
can party stands for trusts, and no help
could be expected from that organiza ton
In hghtfng these interests. He believed the
opposition to trusts must come from the
west, as the masses of the east would be
AFRAID to oppose these influences for fear
OF being blacklisted. In the west. he said
the producers are in the majority. and SO
there are none under the control of trusts
he said at the next election a candidate
will come from the west who. If he is elect
ed, Will enforce the laws on the statute
DOCKS against trusts. This reference was
understood to be to Mr.. Bryan, and the
audience broke out in applause. In reply
to some one in the audience who wanted to
Know why the speaker, who had declared
that ne belonged to neither of the political
parties. Is advocating the claims of Mr.
Bryan. He replied that he was for Bryan
because Bryan was against the trusts and
was for free silver at the ratio of 10 to 1.
Inc next speaker was Capt O'Farrell,
who told some humorous stories and enter
tanned the audience by his wit, at the same
1ime earnestly portraying the evil of trusts
Speeches We're also made by John M De-
vine and E. r. Ridgely of Kansas