The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-10-19
what the Democrats Did Not Do.

w
well, father, your last question is
the most difficult one you have asked
me yet" replied John. eff anyone can
tell what the Bryan fellows propose to
do / would like to hear him myself.
can tell you, though, what they did not
do when they had chance. They did
not vote for constitutional amend
ment in the last congress. giving the
general government authority to con-
troll these trusts. You see some time
ago the supreme court of the United
States in what is known as the Knight
case, under the law Of July 2, 1890, de-
cided in effect that however much
trusts, combinations and conspiracies
to monopolize manufacture and produc-
ton affect and restrain commerce such
results are indirect and incidental, and
that therefore the power to regulate
commerce does not inclu!e power to
regulate or repcess such monOpol!es.
, combinations aud c1nSpiracies. This
decision by the supreme court made it
plain to the Republican members of
the last house OF congress that in or
der to bring about uniform legislation
which would control the trusts it was
necessary that constitutional amend
ment be adopted. 10 that end an
amendment was presented in the house
which provided, among other things,
especially that congress should have
power to define, regulate. prohibit or
dissolve trusts, monoplies OF combna-
tions, whether existing III the form of
a corporation or otherwise The sew
eral states were also by this amend
ment authorized to continue to exercise
such power to control or dissolve trusts
in any manner not in conflict with the
laws of the United States.
Bryan Endorsed Amendment.
"Now this amendment was deemed
sufficient to give the congress the pow
er necessary to deal with the trusts in
proper manner. 1t would seem rs
though there could be no objections to
such a measure, in fact, at the trust
conference, held in Chicago in Septem
Der of last year, Mr.. Bryan himself en-
dorsed such a plan. He said, in his
speech on that occasion. after outlining
plan for general law controlling the
trusts, If it is unconstitutional, and sc
declared by the supreme court. am il
favor OF an amendment to the constitu
ton that will give to congress the pow
err to destroy every trust in the coun
try.' Later on in that same conference,
and. to be more explicit, on Sent. lG
1899, he said, while engaged in con
troversy with Mr.. Bourke Cochran
, who. by the way. at that time SUI
ported the trusts, But, suppose the lay
, is passed and is hcia unconstitutional
then we can amend the constitution
The gentleman suggests that 1t is
difficult thing to get two-thirds OF bot
. houses in favor of an amendment, an
: three-fourths of the states. That
5 true, it is difficult thing. but if tn
Y people want to destroy the trusts 70
. can get twofthirds of both houses an
: three-fourths of the states
. Nov, it appears to me that MI. Br!
an certainly endorsed the constit'
II tional amendment at this trust confe
ence on Sept. l6, 1899. but what di
g the members of his party do in col
e gress less than ten months later on
v will tell you what they did. On pae
4 1929 of the Congressional Record of tt
# last session of congress you will fin
the vote taken in the house on the ant
trust amendment. 1t is necessary, yo
!, know, father, in order for congress
- pass constitutional amendment tn;
~ two-thirds of the members OF bot
= houses should vote for it. When tt
- roll of the house was called, June
% 1900, on the passage of this resolution
:, the vote stood: Yeas, 154 nays, 132. 4
~ two-thirds did not vote in favor of tt
q amendment it failed of adoption,
a Democrats Defeated Trust Amendment
n "Now, of the 1874 members who vote
N for the resolution 149 were Republi
Is ans, four We're Democrats and one WI
~ elected by the Democrats and Silve
l tiles in Montana. OF the 1872 votes viii,
~ We're cast in the negative, there we
It but two cast by Republicans and i
Id by Democrats.
to Doesn't this record show that.
o. spite their arguments against the trus
and despite the fact that Bryan, VIII
talking. for a record. favored this sc