The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-29
A WORD ABOUT TRUSTS.
Futility of Democratic Efforts to
Shirk Responsibility.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
One of the humors of the campaign is
the frantic efforts of the Democrats to
fasten the responsibility for trusts upon
their adversaries. Tariff is the mother of
trusts" cry they, but forget that in 1898
they passed a protective tariff law OF their
own which in operation for two years
or more, during which large number of
trusts were organized, and so they have
had their full share in the fatherhood OF
the paintings they are now denouncing.
Nor must it be forgotten that two-thirds
of the trusts now in existence in the
United States were organized under the
Jersey. Delaware and Virginia. In New
Jersey especially the laws are so favor
able that they are every day being taken
want to combine to suppress competition.
If the Democrats are sincere in their de-
sires to suppress trusts why not begin
in New Jersey, which is completely under
their control? Or does the fact that this
thrifty State derives big income from
these interpretations stand in the way?
AS a matter OF fact without amending .lns;
little can be done by Congress to suppress
or regulate trusts. The Sherman anti
trust act was an effort to do this. but the
United States Supreme Court declared its
most drastic features unconstitutional.
Congress may regulate interstate COM
merce. but it cannot interfere with manu-
.
manufacture and leave the selling to
others. and so are beyond congressional
control. The Republican lower house last
winter passed amendments to the Sher-
man antitrust act so as to meet this de-
feet, but our best lawyers say that they
are at best unconstitutional, and that with
cut amending the United States Constitu-
ton nothing effectual can be done at
Washington. The Republicans did their
best to pass such amendment in the House,
but it was defeated by Democratic votes.
w N
done until after the election, if at all.
Trusts" say the Democratic SPELL
the which chs lays the
will Bryans friends If they get into power
Kill this same. goose?; Did they IN 1893.
after the people put them in control upon
tariff goose" which had. according to
them. furnished the campaign funds for so
many years to their enemies? Not much
They reformed protection by passing an
other protective tariff and so taking the
mother OF trusts" out of politics.
When it comes to prescribing remedies
say at the top of his voice: PUT the trust
article upon the free list" So he can cure
toothache by cutting off the head. The
most law-defying trust of them all deals
in coal oil-an article upon which tariff
cuties are simply ridiculous. The truth
about trusts is that they are an industrial
disease, just like strikes and lockouts. and
law can reach them only in indirect
hoycotts, but what law can compel the
public to buy of or cease buying from a
particular factory? Labor has its trust
Just the same as capital. There are no
more highly organized or more oppressive
institutions in the world of capital than
the labor unions of all great cities. for
they can starve nonunion man to death
and still keep within the law. All legisla-
ton against trusts is more or less ex-
perimental, and owing to the unweildiness
of our federal Constitution, any legisla-
ton by Congress must be very unsatisfac-
tory, for the simple reason that there is
lack of power and the steps to amend
the Constitution take years to accomplish.
The proposed remedies as TO publicity and
licenses sound well and catch the crowd,
they must encounter many and great OBJ
stacles. And yet the state legislatures
may compel. I'm whole or part, both rem
edies if they set TO work about il with a
Will. And the way to do IL is TO begin and
keep at it. Mistakes are inevitable
The root of both the labor and the trust
troubles lies in our competitive systems.
SOCIALISTS have for years been pointing out
exactly the state of things which now
exist and worse TO come. They are not I'M
ike the Abolitionists of 1S50-lS60, who pro-
claimed the coming downfall of slavery.
Forty years ago everybody felt that the
emo of slavery must soon come. but how
the wisest could not predict. So with these
nearer their solution than any one dreams
of God grant that il may be a peaceable
solution, and that the discussion may not
cease when the election of 1900 is over
ID. p. BALDWIN.
I.ogansport Ind Oct 81