The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-28
HAMMOND AND THE Lew.

A year ego Secretary Hammond
made "a speech in the salt Lake thea
tire. in the course Of which he said:
There is probably some evil in
trusts, but there is much that is good
in them"
The other evening at his Theatre
meeting Secretary Hammond's speech
consisted of an attack on Cleveland.
who has been repudiated by the Demo-
cratic party OF the state and nation.
defense of Mckinley and Hannaism,
and an apology for the trusts.
The Republican candidate declared
that most of these trusts are imagin-
ary," and he found fault with every
remedy which has been proposed.
Why does Mr. Hammond reject every
remedy proposed for the trust evil?
From his speeches and his conduct as
a public official it may be inferred that
he has four reasons:
First-He refuses to see the trust evil,
and there are none so blind as those
who will not see.
Second-He does not want the trusts
interfered with because. while they rob
the public, they contribute literally to
Republican campaign funds.
Third-He believes there is more
good than evil in these combinations
Of capital in restraint Of trade.
Fourth-He refuses to fulfill his
sworn obligation as secretary OF the
state in relation to the trust evil. and
naturally takes the position he does in
favor Of trusts as a justification Of this
dereliction OF official duty
President Mckinley. in his last gen.
eral message to congress. said that the
trust evil exists. and that it is a men
ace 70 the commercial and industrial in
terests Of the country The supreme
court of the United States does not re-
gard the evil as imaginary. But Ham
mond knows more than Go these digni-
Understanding TO Hammond and his
organ.
But what Mr.. Hammond says OF the
trusts and in their favor is Of little mo-
rnent compared with his attitude as an
officer Of the state Of Utah in relation
TO these concerns. Let the Utah stat
utes. which Republicans viii neither
deny ror enforce, be heard Oh the trust
evil
Section 1852. Any combination by
persons having for its object or eff
feet the controlling Of tho prices Of
any professional services, any prod
nets OF the soil, any article Of manu-
facrure or commerce, or the cost of
exchange or transportation, is pro-
hibited and declared unlawful.
The following sections provide penal
ties and define the specific elements Of
such combinations. Section 1859 pro-
vides a method OF procedure against
these trusts:
It shall be the duty of the secretary
Of the state, upon satisfactory evil
dence that auy corporation OF associ-
alton Of persons incorporated or oPer-
ating under the laws of this state,
has entered into any trust, co1nbina-
ton or association, as mentioned in
the preceding provisions of this title,
TO give notice TO such corporation
that unless it withdraws from and
sewers all business connections with
said trust, combination or associa-
ton, its corporate right and franchise
wiz be revoked at the expiration Of
thirty days from the date Of such no
tice.
The attorney general IS then required
10 bring proceedings as outlined in a
subsequent section.
secretary Hammond defends trusts
because he wants their campaign con-
tributions, and because he finds II
necessary TO land them as a plea in JUS
tffication for his four years Of failure
TO observe the law. to do mis- duty and
in8ugnrate proceedings against these
price-raising combines operating under
the laws of this state.