The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-10
HATED TRUSTS MUCH
But Loved State Rights More,
Did the Democrats.
DEPOSITED IN A CAVITY"
Describes What the Republic
ans Have Done to Them.

Especial Correspondence Of the Eagle)
Washington, June $50 great was the
Democratic opposition to the Republican
attempt 10 regulate trusts recently in
congress, when the latter party suggested
an amendment to the constitution that
would have raised a remedy, that the
eouthern Democrats grew very bitter and
Some Of them declared in debate that
their states would refuse to ratify the
amendment, if passed. This was carry
Ing opposition to a considerable distance,
but SO imbued were the southern Demo-
Gratis with their old idea Of states rights
that they thought of nothing but that
The Democrats from that section I'M
poubtedly meant what they said. Had
the amendment been placed before them,
they might have refused even TO vote
I;pon it. Owing to their well-known and
tong-fostered ideas on state rights, per-
baps not as much blame can be attached
TO the southern Democrats for the defeat
bf the legislation which would have con-
trolied the trusts, as to the Democrats
Of the north, who really favored the
amendment yet who sacrificed their views
and stultified themselves in order to per-
tnit their southern party associates to
have their own way.
Speaking Of the result from a political
standpoint, the Washington Star, which
Is an Independent paper, inclined to be
very critical Of the Republican party, ad-
aninistration and policies at frequent in
tervals, says. editorially: Judged then
as a partisan maneuver, the honors of the
house contest were with the Republicans
Nhsy outwitted the Democrats. They de-
p-ited them in a cavity, to employ the
phrase Of Mr.. Everett Of Massachusetts,
They brought forward the very propo-
Eition for which with varying degrees of
Vociferation the Democrats had been
riamoring. Here was the constitutional
amendment which so many Democrats,
with Mr.. Bryan at their head, had been
Prescribing as the solution of the whole
trust question. Here was the chance 10
harpoon the whale Let congress do its
part, and then let the states be polled,
and all would be well The Democrats
of New Jersey in state convention as late
Is Thursday declared for constitutional
amendment on the subject
Confronted squarely with their own
proposition the Democrats declined it. OF
course they had their reasons. In a world
Of plenty, reasons are abundant politi-
cal party which would allow its stock of
reasons to run low would have little ex-
cuse for existence. So the reasons were
forthcoming The Republicans did not
mean what they said. They were indulg-
Ing in hollow mOckery. The amendment
they presented, moreover, was not pr Oper-
~ drawn. 1t carried too much. It went
too far. 1t deserved defeat on two
Scores: First because of the insince Gritty
of its authors and then because of its
dangerous slpshod form And defeated
1t was in the names of Mr.. Bryan and
The constitution"
The Republican party in the house made
D substantial and practical demonstration
Of it's desire to do something which would
relieve the situation with regard TO
trusts. 1t proposed an amendment which
would have done the work. The amend
flent required a two-thirds vote in the
house. and the Republicans did not have
that great a vote TO give it. 1t demand
ed some Democratic support, yet every
Populist. and every Democrat but five,
voted against this practical solution of
the national trust question.
The house also passed later, a bill
amending the Sherman antitrust law. 1t
merely strengthened and better defined
the law and imposed heavier penalties In
some instances. 1t could not give more
latitude in handling trusts, since all con-
gress had was exhausted in the passage
of the original antitrust law. What more
latitude 1t desired and should have, the
Democrats made it impossible to have.
Hawaiian imports from the United
States last February were 81 467. s5S an in
crease OF $450,O00 over the corresponding
month IN 1899. From al other countries
rhe imports amounted only to S2SS,275 be-
So. COO less than in 1899.
Manila's customs receipts last March
amounted to S515.575, as compared with
s2i3.i6S in March, 1929. Under Suanish rule
the largest March receipts were S299. 442, in
1887. so that their record has been beaten
by S2l6000 for that month under American
administration.
Out of nearly thirteen hundred millions
OF dollars worth of merchandise carried
between the United States and Europe
during the fiscal year ending June 50, 1S99
less than three million dollars worth
were carried in American ships other
than those of the American line The
latter named line carried nearly forty
million dollars worth Foreign ships car
ried twelve hundred and fifty million dol
lars worth. And yet the foreign lines ara
concentrating all Of their opposition to
the massage Of the shipping bill upon the
only American line IN the transatlantic
trade.
The export trade of the south for the
past twelve months amounted to over
R,e0,ooa. 90. more than one-third Of that OF
abe entire country. These are figures
which speak more eloquently than the
marrow southern politicians who con-
krlbute 50 literally 10 the Congressional
Record.
Senator John l. McLauren has recently
write nan article for Harper's Weekly
In which he states that expansion is the
greatest boom that the south ever has
mad He declares strongly in favor OF
this policy Senator McLaurin. 1t might
be stated, is . Democrat. but on the ex-
pansion question ne stands with Morgan
OF Alabama. and other leading members
or his party from the south.
Dr.. Carl Swensson Of Llndsborg was IN
Washington this week
Mr. and Mrs Victor Murdoch n with