The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-22
UNFOLDING TRUSTS.

UNFOLDING TR USTS.
Speaking upon the bill appropriate
iog Inonay tar the support 81 the post
oilig2 - Congress, Nj. GitiDGs said:
"fte right to designate what shall
be carried IL the mails necessarily in
voives the right to determine what
shat! be excluded.
"iutorst2re contracts are prohibited
by the antitrust statute Of 1890, under
the power given congress to regulate
commerce between the states and for
eign nations. Although thus con-
demned, we still permit and thereby
aid such trusts by allowing them to
use the mails to carry on their out
lawed business.
"Why should we exclude these Oh
noXious combines from the front door
and let them in at the side door? Why
not say trusts shall not use the mails
to carry on their business? We have
said this to the Louisiana lottery and
other obnoxious concerns and crushed
them throughout the entire domain OF
the United States. Congress, under
the adjudications alluded to, has the
sole power and right to exclude any
thing it chooses from the mails,
whether moral or immoral.
What do we hear from the great
state of Ohio, the home of the presi
dent and his distinguished aids-de-
camp? We hear the trusts there re-
fuse to comply with the orders Of the
courts, and that relief is denied the
people, the legislature having just ad
iourned without taking any action.
Why, Gen. MonEett, the distinguished
attorney general of that state, practi-
cslly says to me, in letter, that the
trusts in that state are more powerful
than the courts; that the courts have
submitted interrogatories to the trusts
and they refuse to answer, and the
Republican Legislature that has just
| adjourned refused to remedy the law
though Gen. Monnett and others, as
private citizens, urged proper amend
lnents.
What is the history of the Repub-
Iican party III that state on this sub
jet? TIE president of the United
States WIS four Years governor of
OGio, yet no trust legislation was haG
during his administration. Why? The
power OF the s,ate TO legislate was ole
! and well known. Justice Mckenna
cites cases decided in 1904, ninety six
years ago, III support of tile opinion
! Of the court i'll the Texas case two
mcnths ago. The president cannot
plead ignorance Of this old law ard
right Of the States. He failed again
to 90 his plain duty But it re-
manned with the trusts to bury politi-
Ually Gov. Bl5hrell and the patriotic
| McnneIt, by whose influence trust
law Was passed in that State.
! Gen. Monuett undertook to enforce
ii vigorously, and with the result thu t
tie courts were olerridden by the
trusts, and lie and Gov. Bushnell
turned out Of Cfllca without even a
decent E,clitica! burial. The admins
tratiuu OF Gen. MoHnett was not in
dcIsed by tho Republicans on II g
trust question, but the Democrats did
indoTss it an. went down in defeat.
~ will read Il clipping from the st.
Louis Republic of April 10, 1900, show
ing that the Ohio Legislature failed to
pass any trust legislation, although
| Gen. Monnett writes me that he had
suggested certain amendments which
would strengthen existing law. The
Republic says:
"'No Anti. Trust Laws-Ohio Legis-
lature will adjourn without offending
Monopolies.
| Columbus, Ohio, April 10
1.-The Ohio legislature will adjourn
sine die at noon tomorrow. The past
| week has been perfect orgie of legis-
latioD, and all records have been brok-
en- in the number of laws enacted.
None of the antitrust bills have be,
come laws. The Price bill, requiring
all domestic and foreign corporations
to make annual reports to the secre-
| tary of State, passed the House, but
the Senate has.not acted upon it. A
final effort will be mado to break the
deadlock on the appropriation for the
Ohio centennial, but there i, little
hope that it will succeed
Compare the record of the Demo-
cratic State legislatures and Republic
can legislatures, Democratic State
and Federal Officials with Republican
State and Fedora! Officials, 3nd you
will find that the Democrats prove
their faith by their works-oppose
trusts and enforce the laws against
them, where the Republican officials
pretend to 90 nothing but cultivate
these monsters of such frightful mien
that to be hated need only to be
SEEM