The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-06-08
Items of General Interest from the
National Center Of Leg
isiation.
REPUBLICANS PlAyIG6 A SHAM GAME.
Against Trusts-The cnban steel
aud MiuiuE Troubics-i Ism
Gatntng Grouad-ianna's Fund
shoea.
[spcelal corresnonisncs.l


in restraint OF trusts. Their alleged
constitutional amendment fell so flat
that il became impcratiyely necessary
10 construct something else that could
bc used for campaign scarecrow.
The ways and means committee is
holding night sessions and calling in
the best legal talent 10 aid il in draw
ing up what the republicans advertise
as real antitrus bill
"ihis is going TO he constitutional
and il will squeeze all the water oui
of trusts and prevent them from OPP
pressing the people. said republican
who stands very high in administration
councils.
II was pointed out that the date set
for the introduction of the bill would
only bc a week before adjournment
and that the chances were very much
against its being pushed through both
houses. even il the republican majority
desired such result
well. Of course. il may not be passed
this session" said this same optimistic
manufacturer OF campaign material,
but ut any rate il viii show the peo-
ple what We intend TO do and they
ought TO keep the republicans in power
when their intentions are so good
The trouble is that the people have
grown tired of promises and good in
tentionS on the part Of the republic
ans. They had clear ma, sss'v in both
houses and could have passed any de-
sired antitrust legislation long ago
The fact Is that they never intended TO
NEEDLE with the trusts and have only
been frightened into a sham display
OF opposition at this late date because
the voters of the country are already
voicing their Indignation NJ party
which no. only refuses 10 restrain the
mischicvous tendencies Of trusts but
actually promotes their interests a
far as possible by power Of congress
Republican Pretrn-e.
Even if d really effective anti-trHst
law were passed. The republicans could
always find an attorney general. like
the present one. who would declare the
law imperative.
A proposition 10 restrain trusts viii
lie i'm nice company with the ship sub
sidy bill on one side OF ii and the arnor
plate steal on the other. not 10 say
ANYTHING Of he opportunities for rust
exploitation so generously furnished
in legis latin- for Port Rico OUTSIDE the
constitution and leaving the Philip
pines in the control of the president
which means Mark Hanna and his
friends
The republicans are q little late with
their prciense OF restraining trusts.
This congress will he judged en- what
i, actually did in relation to trusts no,
what IL proposed TO do.
The Cuban Postal Frauds.
The Cuban postal frauds gave one
object lesson on the effect Of imperial
Inn. and the Investigation OF the Idaho
mining troubles aud the application Of
martial law gives a twin lesson az TO
shr dangers or militarism and DIG
stnndirr army
The republican ma joriiv ~ the house
committee on military affairs TIN 20
Justify the use Of United States troops
IN imprisouinc and finally e~iiiug men.
whose only proven ofTenSc was mem
bcrship in labor union. The wage
workers Of the country Will not fail 70
note this. and they fear thar miliiarism
will he found a much more convenient
toll than the usual iniuartion when
ever an indu~t rial disturbance occurs.
II is not that the punishment ~ the
rioters in Idaho Is condemned. ON the
contrary The labor organizations al
over the country have condemned the
riot and put themselves on record in
favor of furnishing the guilty 20 The
fullest extent Of the law The trouble
is that the administrati and lis party
seem TO think that martial law i a
good substitute for state md federal
law and that II docs not matter how
many innocent men are punished on
suspicion that they are exercising their
rights ms citizens in belonging 70 4
union.
The minority report or the Idaho
trouble shows that Gen. Merriam and
Gov. Steuncnberg cooperated il an
application of martial law which has
no precedent in this country Every
accusation as TO the crueltics Of the
bullpcn was sustained and il was shown
that martial law is still in force in
Idaho for the sole purpose Of erforc-
ing The permit" system.
The wage workers Of the country
are alarmed at this disposition TO take
away from them the protection Of the
constitution and substitute an IRE
sponsible militarism. One Of the first
results Of the Idaho investigation Is
shown in Speaker Hcrdcrson's report
20 President Mckinley that the army
reorganization bill cannot pass the
house. He said hit did the next house
would surely be democratic. The dem
ocratic congressional committee j. sure
that IL will he democratic anyway. but
the administration Is very much
gricvcd over the failure Of the army
bill
Application of Imp~ risii.m.
While an adjournment early IN June
Is confidently advertised by the repub-
l'cans. there il plenty OF vs. ork on hand