Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-10-10


ecutions and convictions.
DcIp,cr T. Fail 10 Act.
In 1872 the national Democratic plat
form first spoke concerning trusts.
concluding AZ follows:
I'VE demand the rigid enforcement
of the laws made to prevent and con
troll them. together with such further
legislation In restraint of their abuses
as experience may show to be neces-
sary.'
Probably that demand was for Re
publicans. That year. unexpectedly
and unfortunately. the national gov
eminent was turned over to the ten
der mercies Of the Democracy. Cleve-
land fatty refused to enforce the
Sherman law as his platform demand
ed. His attorney general said 1t was
worthless and could not be enforced
No Democrat In either branch of con-
gress offered such further legislation
as experience may show to be neces-
sary.'
Cleveland's annual message in 1896
relegated the trust question to the
several states, as was argued by Vest
when he opposed the Sherman law.
After the Inauguration of Mckinley
the prosecutions of trusts We're re-
newed. Not satisfied with the SHEER
man law. on June |. 1898. the indus
trial commission was created to devote
special attention 10 trade combines.
Decisions of the federal courts have
more clearly defined the relation of
the trusts, the states. the people and
Congress They hold that Congress
Is without power To repress or regu
late combines and monopolies formc,i
ana operating within the state. ex-
cept as to the carrying on of inter
state commerce. They also say states
are powerless 10 enact any laws op
eratiye beyond their respective Dor
ders, and that no state can exclude
from its territory corporations of an
othex state engaged in interstate com
merce. Corporations and combine
tions of corporations are created by
legislation within the several states
and Congress has no control over
them except where they infringe upon
interstate commerce. The constjtu-
ton gives 10 Congress the power TO
control commerce between the states
and under the laws enacted by Re
pubiicans many trusts have been
smashed but those operating within
the states where formed are safe.
Proposed Amendment.
In his last annual message President
Mckinley suggested the propriety OF
proposing constitutional amendment.
empowering Congress TO assume all
control and restraint Of trade com
bine>. Mr.. Bryan earlier in the year
had also made such a suggestion. Al
resolution 10 submit such an amend
ment 10 the several states was intro
duced in the House by the Repubu
cans. but IL required a two-thirds vote
which the Republicans did not have.
As Mr.. Bryan did not order his Demo
cratic and Populist cohorts TO vot,
for it. as he did in case OF the peace
treaty. the resolution failed. He fights
trusts with his mouth for political pur
poses. In their fight against this
resolution they dug up the old Cat
houn doctrine of state rights. and
Democrats embraced the fieshless ca
daver The insincerity of their trust
talk appears m every turn. The chair
man Of their national committee has
the round cotton bale trust. Bryan
has absolute control over the Demo
Pop Ii 70 l combination. In KeI.-
lucky the Democrats have the Goebel
combine for stealing elections. Tam
many Hall Democracy has S60.osla-
600 combination which has a monopoly
on the Ice business of New York. which
Mr.. Bryan the other day audaeiousIy
asserted hurt no one presumably BE-
cause controlled by his friends. And
there are others
Indirect Assault on Tariff
Rryaaite orators assume that trusts
must he the product of our tariff sys-
tenn. They dare not make a direct as
sault upon our protective system. be-
cause they did that in 1892, and. be-
Ing successful. furnished US a lament
able object lesson In a revenue tar
III That Wilson bill. with its cold
furnaces. idle spindles. soup houses.
broken banks. railroads in the hands
OF receivers and the bond-issu.ng al.
utnistration OF Grover Cleveland IL