Evening journal., 1900-11-03
REPUBLICANS OPPOSE IRnSIS

REPUBl lCANS OPPOSE TRUSTS
Both Mr. Bryan. the Democratic
candidate for president. and the Anti
Trust Conference, which met in Chi
cago last year, admit that there are
but two ways in which trusts can be
controlled. One is by congressional
legislation and the other by state leg
islation, each state making its own
laws in that behalf. 1t was also ac-
knowledged by the Antitrust Confer
ence that the legislation on the part
of Congress up to that time was not
sufficiently strong, and Mr.. Bryan has
admitted it also.
President Mckinley on December A.
1899, in his message to Congress. call
ed attention to the need Of legislation
on this subject, and urged that a
proper measure be passed. Pursuant
to his suggestion, on June l, 1900. a
joint resolution proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States was presented and among other
things were the following provisions:
Section 2. Congress shall have
power to define. regulate, prohibit or
dissolve trusts. mOnopolies. or combi-
nations, whether existing In the form
Of a corporation or otherwise. The
several states may continue to exer-
else such power in any manner not in
conflict with the laws Of the United
States.
Section 9. Congress shall have
power to enforce the provisions OF this
article by appropriate legislation.
A motion was made and put to
adopt this joint resolution. OF the 154
yeas 15O were Republicans and were
Democrats. There were 1872 nays, Of
which 1870 were Democrats and Popu-
lists and were Republicans. Owing
to the fact that a two-thirds vote was
required, the resolution failed of adop-
tion, and its defeat was caused solely
by tho refusal Of Democrats to vote
for It.
That is where the Republican party
stands on trusts so far as its represen-
tatlves in Congress are concerned. But
for the negative action by the Demo-
Gratis we might have had an oppor-
tunity to vote at this election on the
antitrust amendment to the funda-
mental law OF the nation.
Then came the Republican National
Convention. Il expressed itself on this
vital public question in these words:
We recognize the necessity and pro
priety of the honest corporation of
capital to meet new business condi-
! tions and especially to extend our rap
! idly increasing foreign trade, but we
condemn all conspiracies and combi-
nations intended to restrict business.
20 create monopolies, to limit produc-
ton or to control prices, and favor
such legislation as will effectively re-
strain and prevent all such abuses
protect and promote competition and
secure the rights of producer, laborers
and all who are engaged in industry
and commerce.
Could anything be more pointed OF
unequivocal than that? Those word:
cannot be twisted by any Democratic
demagogue in such manner as to show
that they constitute a declaration il
favor of the trusts.
Nor is that all. AT the Republican
State Convention held in this city OF
August p, 1900, platform was adopt
ed in which this plank occupies
prominent place:
We denounce and condemn all com
binations and monopolies whose OBJ
iect It is to stile fair competition anC
TO unjustly enhance prices at the ex
pense of the consumer.
Prior to that the Union Republican
State Convention had expressed itscl
in these unmistakablc terms:
That an combinations or trusts. SO
called. whose operation, management
and control, increase the cost of an.
article or commodity to the consum
or arc "a menace to the safety OF tn
country and should be so regulate
aud controlled by proper and adequat
legislation that said operation. man
agement and control will in the futnr
! inure to the benefit of the people. An
. If for the good OF the people it is foun
e. impossible to permit the existence {
such combinations or trusts undt
!, such restricted conditions. then we d,
u mand such legislation as viii con
d pletely abolish them.
g Thus we have il, right down the lin
a the Republican party is the frien
!. and promoter OF all legitimate ente
Y prise, and the uncompromising al
Y, tagonist Of everything that is illegit
n mate and which defrauds or weigl
% upon the people.
n No effective legislation again
~