The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-09-27
THE TRUST QUESTION.


MopuDiicau fabty AooRs ELMER Deelr0 Or
Ability to Deal with It
The platform very properly gives
prominence to the trust question. The
appalling growth Of combinations in
restraint of trade during the present
administration, proves conclusively
that the Republican party lacks either
the desire or the. ability to deal with
the question effectively. Ii as may be
fairly assumed from the speeches and
conduct of the Republican leaders, that
party does not intend to take the peo-
ple's side against these organizations,
then the weak and qualified condem-
nation OF trusts to be found in the Re
publican platform Is designed to dis
tract attention while industrial despot-
ism is completing its work. private
monopoly has always been an outlaw.
No defense can be made OF an indus
trial system in which one, or a few
men, can control fer their own profit,
the output or price Of any article Of
merchandise. Under such a system the
consumer suffers extortlon, the produ-
Ger Of raw material has but one pur-
chaser, and must sell at the arbitrary
price fixed; the laborer has but one
employef and is powerless to protest
against injustice either in wages OF
1 in conditions of labor; the small stock
holder n at the mercy or the specula-
tor, wEIle the travelling salesman con-
tributes his salary to the overgrown
profits of the trust Since but small
proportion of the people can share In
the advantages secured by private
monopoly, 1t follows that the remain
der of the people are not only ex-
cluded from the benefits. but ore the
helpless victims Of every monopoly or
ganiEed. 1t Is difficult to over-estimate
the immediate injustice that may be
done, or to calculate the ultimate eff
feet Of this injustice upon the social
and spolitical welfare OF the people
Our platform, after suggesting certain
specific remedies, pledges the party tt
an unceasing warfare against private
monopoly in nation, state and city.
heartily approve of this promise; II
elected, it shall be my earnest and con
bluul cllutuNoI W lNillil thN pio ~
letter and spirit. | shall select an at
torney general who Will, without feal
or favor, enforce existing laws, shal
recommend such additional Legislation
as may be necessary to dissolve ever,
private monopoly which does business
outside Of the state of its origin; and
If contrary to my belief and hope,
constitutional amendment is found Il
be necessary. | shall recommend sucl
an amendment as will, without impair
ing any of the existing rights of tn
states, empower congress to protec
the people of all the states from injur
at the hands Of individuals or corpors
tions engaged in interstate commerce
The platform accurately describe
the Dingley tariff law, while 1t col
o demns it as trust breeding measure
@ skillfully devised to give to the fe'
J. favors which they do not deserve, an
n to place upon the many burdens whic
l. they should not bear" Under its o.
7 Grafton trusts can plunder the peop
O Of the United States, while they su
J. cessfully compete In foreign marke
v with manufacturers Of other countrie
h Even those who Justify the gener
T. policy Of protection will find 1t dif
8 cult to defend tariff which enabl
n trust to exact an exorbitant tt
G. from the citizen.