New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-27
MAKING TIE TRUST PLANK.


Richard Croker is going to Lincoln, 1t is said.
before the Kansas City Convention to consult
with Mr.. Bryan about the best method of
carving on the great antitrust campaign so
ably begun in this city some months ago by the
Hon. Augustus Van Wyck, of the American Ice
Company. That is proper journey for him to
make. There ought to be good bit of consulta-
ton among Democratic leaders about their anti
trust movement. 1t is something concerning
which they must be as wise serpents and as
harmless as doves or there will be trouble. Mr..
Croker. of the American Ice Company, COM
monty known as the Ice Trust, which recently
formed a combination, secured practical
monopoly of the ice business Of this city and
doubled the price to the people, is just the man
to steer Mr.. Bryan through the mazes of this
intricate question.
When he gets out to Lincoln, comfortably set
tied in Mr. Bryans library, Mr.. Bryan will
bring out his draft of the platform prepared for
Kansas City to be quigged by his "driveller
from New-York" He will have one sentence
reading: I'VE denounce all attempts Of corpo-
"rations to raise the price Of the necessaries of
life to the consumer" When he gets to that
Mr.. Croker will say: "Guess you'd better leave
that out. 1t might hurt US in New-York."
Then they will come to a declaration: 1.-THE
corrupt habit Of the trusts is to engage In poll
'tics to interest public officials and influential
party leaders IN their property, and thus secure
governmental protection and support in their
efforts TO Cypress the people We demand laws
prohibiting the holding Of trust stocks by pub
"lic officials" Mr. Croker will say: Guess
you'd better leave that out, too. 1t might hurt
1.-The feelings of our friend Robert A. Van Wyck,
"of the American Ice Company, whose brother,
you know, is an honored member of our dele
cation and a leader OF the battle against
trusts"
Then Mr.. Bryan will perhaps read this plank:
1.-The secret management of gigantic corpora
''tions is one of the crying evils of our time.
I'VE demand public examination into the ac-
counts Of the trusts and the regular pubca-
"tion of the names Of their stockholders" We
hear Mr. Croker saying: Guess you'd better
leave that out That suggests inquiry into
"'private business and you know we are
STRONG on the sacredness Of private business
down in New-York."
Possibly Mr.. Bryan, who loves moral propo-
sitons, may have of those hired men,
planks of his, pledging unselfsh devotion to the
people and reading something like this: 1--WE
view with alarm the tendency Of men to en-
gage in politics to further the interests of their
"own pockets. and If placed in power we pledge
yourselves that government shall not be used to
promote the private pecuniary interest Of any
"official or political leader" 'Hm," says Mr.
Croker "Guess you'd better leave that out
Might be twisted into a slap at and my
"famy's freproofng business. Sounds too
much like my Mazet Committee testimony
about working for my own pocket all the time.
mo no! Well have to change that. 1t would
never go down our way How would some
! thing ike this do: we denOunce the Repub-
"1ican fostered trusts, which do not fairly share
their profits with people, and we point
with pride TO the practice of faithful officials in
| " Democratic communities in interesting them
selves in these corporations guardians Of
the rights Of the people whom they represent.
! THAT, you see, lets out our trusts and we can
make the strongest kind of a campaign pro-
! Claiming the virtue of our men in taking the
| 'Tce Trust by the throat and compelling 1t to
make a distribution of its unholy wealth."
Yes, yes" answers Mr.. Bryan. THAT sounds
"au right, but aren't you afraid people might
| "see through it and ask how they benefited by
"the division? Perhaps you'd better wait till
you get over to Kansas City and just get
somebody to quigg the antitrust plank en-
'tirely. Well make the campaign on imperial
ism and Is to l."
If Mr.. Croker goes to Lincoln and doesn't
have some such conversation as this he will
not be doing the fair thing by Mr.. Bryan and
his interests IN New-York.