The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-04
The Anti-Trust Decision.

To the Editor OF The Post.
Corsioana. Texas, March 20.Tbe trust has
been stripped Of its coat of arms and stands
with uncovered head before State authorities.
The supreme court in the Waters-Pierce OIL
case held that combination in restraint OF
competition must answer to the State courts
for violation Of State law. Under the decision
OF the Federal supreme couri there Is now
no escape for the alien corporation whlcn
seeks to override State law by evading the
decree Of State courts upon the mere plea
OF non-residence. The decision establishes a
precedent which must be Of Incompatible i'm
portance to the industrial enterprises OF Texas
and other States which may seek to evade
the dominating influences Of industrial trusts.
The trust so called Is merely combination
Of corporations which enter into a co-part-
nership for the purpose of evad.ng compet-
ton, by kecRng the production OF commodi-
ties within the metes and bounds OF consump-
ton. oyerproduct.on must necessarily re-
suit in unremunerative prices, and rompcti-
ton unrestrained may ultimately result in
the complete destruction Of Industrial enter
pyises. This argument must be apparent TO
those who vigorously oppose industrial com
pacts. Yet we can not disguise the fact that
I Industrial combinations operate solely upon
the vicious theory of communism. which
clothes industrial trusts With arbitrary au-
thor ty by which they may at will strike down
Individual competitors with unrestrained
hands. Industrial trusts maintain their ex-
istenoe by dominating and controlling Il pa
teFnalistic tariff protecting government, as
administered by the republican party.
lndtvidualism, free trade, commercial ex-
pGrsion and an absolute commercial indie
pendence is the doctrine of democratic gov
ernment
Reverting TO the decision Of the supreme
court of the Federal government we find them
committed TO the doctrine as laid down by the
constitution of the United States government.
a doctrine which COMFORTS with the estab-
iished policy of the democratic party. The
decree of the Federal supreme court in recoe-
nizing the Jurisdiction OF State courts. also
decree that an Industrial trust Is a comblna-
ton in restraint Of trade competitions and Is
tnefetore unconstitutional. When we con
slider that the courts decree is a complete
v!udicstion CT democratic principles as meas
ured by Federal statutes, we can not over
iook the Importance of calling public atteu-
Hon to the mass OF unconstitutional laws
that are being arbitrarily passed by re-
authority. The passage OF the protective tariff
act demanding tribute from the mpover-
lshed people Of Puerto Rico is clearly an tu-
constitutional monstrosity The Puerto Rico
solemn treaty made with the people Of Puerto
hlco by the great commander In chief of the
american army In disregard OF the Federal
sonstitutioh we nnd the republican party
machine IN It's zeal to secure the patronage OF
the sugar trust bowling the knee of servltudt
TO an industrial trust which defies the laws
ana constitution OF the United States with
:mpunity, Relying upon their hirelings the
trust secures the passage OF an act OF ppt.
nay, an act which alters and amends peace
treaty without consulting one OF the peopln 4
parties 10 the treaty. The trusts are masters
OF the republican machine who grant in.
munity TO those who disregard constitutions
law. and dip, the flag OF our country in thr
plood OF barhartans in the mad conquest al
poliueal expansion in the Orient. v
onislJ ..PW
j. p. Wilson.