The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-10-05


campaign. The attempt to frightcn
the east by the bogy OF imperialism"
did not work In Vermont and Maine.
They are afraid to raise the Issue OF
new territory among the voters Of the
west, 90 they have started on new
track The Republican party is ready
to met this. as 1t has the other ques-
lions that they have attempted to push
to.ths front az, paramount. II there is
one subject about which caution or
any consideration for their record
should enjoin silence. It is their atti-
tude toward the trusts, for their
friendship to the so called trusts" has
been repeatedly shown.
Trusts are combinations OF capital
formed In every prosperous country to
prevent the destructive waste Of COM
petition, make. economies In produc.
tlon and to SO increase the output as to
make sp1all returns profitable enough
in the aggregate to pay the expenses.
They have often decreased the cost Of
necessities to the consumer. as In the
case Of oil. They have often proved a
benefit to the common people. and they
have their reasonable side. But the
Republican party Is not defending
trusts, and It was one of the first no.
lItical organizations to denounce mo-
nopoly and the restriction of trade. 1t
has been the only party which has
enacted federal legislation against the
trusts, and was the first to specify the
means by which they should be sup
pressed when 1t demanded their sup
preston.
Republican Trust Legislation.
The FIRST blow against the trusts was
the Interstate commerce law. Repub-
lican measure. introduced by Repub-
lIcan and put in force by the party.
This has been amended from time to
time and has been approved by the su-
preme court. Under Its provisions the
great railroad pool was declared lille
gal and attempts to restrict competl-
ton In the commerce between states
have been prevented.
Closely following this law was the
resolution in the Republican CONVEX
ton of 1888, which not only attacked
the trusts, but proposed remedy for
them. The writer of this resolve was
William Mckinley, now candidate for
president OF the United States. The
difficulties met In the conflict of the
laws Of states with those of the feder.
al law In proceedings against trusts
finally led to the Introduction of a
sweeping measure, proposed as con.
stitutiona, amendment under which 1t
would be possible for all the states TO
proceed against Injurious aggregations
of capital. This was the amendment
proposed:
ARTICLE xvi
Section l. All powers conferred by this article
shall extend to the several states. the territorie
the District Of Columbia and all territory under
th. sovereignty and subject to the jurisdiction Of
the United States.
Sec z Congress shall have the power to define
regulate. prohibit or dissolve trusts. monopolie,
or combinations, whether existing in the form OF
4 corporation OF otherwise The several states
may continue to exercise such power In any man.
ner not In conflict with the laws Of the United
States.
Sec. g. Congress shall have power to enforce the
provisions Of this article BY appropriate ieSisa'
ton.
The Democratic Record.
What did the Democrats do, when
they were faced by this measure, that
would prohibit the trusts? They held
caucus and decided that 1t would be
dangerous precedent toward the cen
trallzatiOn of government and would
violate the sacred principle Of state
rights; hence they decided to oppose 1t,
and when the vote was cast the meas.
ure was defeated, the vote standing
154 In favor and 1872 against, lacking
the two.thirds vote necessary to Its
passage. Every Democrat but four
voted against it, while the Republicans
almost as unanimously favored it.
This vote was taken on the list OF
last June. This was done by the Dem.
ocratic party in spite Of the fact that
its leader, William ]. Bryan, had de-
clared in speech on the 10th day of
September, 1899. that "lf It" trust leg
islation) lis unconstitutional, and so de-
clared by the supreme court, l am In
favor OF an amendment to the constl-
tuition that will give congress power to
destroy every trust in the country"
From the first cry Of alarm against
the trusts, Democratic action In the
national government has been friendly
TO them. Mfr. Richardson, who is now
helping manage the Democratic cam
paign, tried his best to side track the
Sherman antitrust bill when the Re-
publicans first PASSED the measure.
When the Porto Rican tarif was un.
der discussion, this Mr.. Richardson ia
yored measure that would have paid
he sugar trust nearly $14.OOO,oOo
Var. Chairman Jones Of the Demo.
A~s national committee also advo-
cats1 bill in the case Of Porto Rico
that would have repaid the sugar trust
about $1i,0OO.000.
The Democratic Ice Trust.
It Is hardly necessary to point to the
recent deceit OF the New York state
leaders. who were forced to accept an
antitrust plank In their platform while
their pockets were bullying with stock
In the Ice trust combination, which.
with the help of the dock commission.
ers, the mayor aud other officials in
"a thu