The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-11
OBJECT LESSON FOR UTAH.

The people Of Utah have not far to
go to discover the blessings that flow
from a government by the trusts. With
the smelter trust levying heavy tribute
upon the mines of this state. we have
an uncomfortable object lesson con-
stantly before us. An article on the
mining page of The Herald a few days
ago contained some figures that should
be studied by every voter. These fig
ures are from expert sources and show
that, although the average cost of re-
ducing silver-lead ores in the United
States during 1898 was but 1927 per
ton. with a further reduction in the
cost for last year, the treatment
charges assessed by the trust against
Utah mines range from $3.50 to $11.50
per ton. And it must be borne in mind
that a large proportion of the Utah
ores are of that character most CCeap-
" smelted, and the cost of their reduc-
ton Is much below the average of 1927
per ton. Since the smeIter trust gained
a monopoly of the smelling industry
in Utah one year age, the charges for
reducing ores have been advanced all
the way from 50 to So per ton. In other
words, a single one OF Mr.. McKinley's
trusts is squeezing the mine owners Of
Utah to the extent of IS to s. for ev-
cry ton of ore sent to the smelter.
Surely the ore producers Of this state
should be the very last 10 endorse a
trust-OWned. trust-breeding admins
tration at Washington, should be the
very last 20 vote for a candidate who
not only stands for trust rule, but con-
tends that there is much good" in the
trusts. The mine owners should surely
be the very first to give support to any
party that promises relief, that stands
for the interests Of the people, as
against the trusts, and proposes effec-
tive remedies for the evil.
The Democratic party proposes three
methods for dealing with the trusts
each Of which would check the rapac-
ity of these monopolies, and the appli-
cation of all three remedies would
doubtless prevent entirely the exist
ence of unlawful combines. These are
the plans proposed:
First-Enforcement of the present
federal law against combinations in re-
straint of trade.
Second-Removal of the protective
tariff from all trust products.
Third-A system Of federal license
and control Of interstate corporations.
This last plan. probably the most
feasible and effective yet suggested, is
the one proposed by Mr.. Bryan at the
anti-trtA- conference, and has received
the endorsement Of many leaders IL
the trust movement.
Subsidized trust organs seek to be
little the antitrust issue and newspa-
pers that have been purchased by Mark
Hanna, who declares that the trust IS
a public benefactor, point to the fact
that the antitrust law was not enforced
by Cleveland as proof that the Demo
Gratis are insincere. The law was not
enforced by Mr. Cleveland for the we'll
known reason that he, although not
owned. body and soul by the trusts.
as Mckinley is owned today, was yet
extremely susceptible TO the trust in
fiuence. His attorney. general was o
trust attorney, although not so motor
ious a defender Of monopolies as the
man selected for this place by Mr.. Nc
Kinley.
1t was because of Mr.. Cleveland's
sympathy for the trusts and his be-
trayal of Democratic principles that he
and his following were cast out of the
party by the Chicago convention in
1896. and it is most notorious and sig
nificant that they have since become
active allies Of the Mckinley party in
defense Of the trusts and the gold
standard. Therefore those who rail
against Clevelandis1n and embrace Nc
Binleyism are ignorant or dishonest
for the policies Of Cleveland, with ref
erence to trusts and the gold standard,
are the policies OF Mckinley
Mr.. CleveIand's attorney general, n
the absence Of a decision from the su-
preme court upon the cOnsitutonality
of the antitrust law, set up his own
opinion. holding that the law was in
valid, and Iris was his excuse for his
failure to enforce il. Since then, how
ever, the law has been sustained by
the highest court in the land, which
has clearly pointed out the way for
prosecution of unlawful combinations.
Hence, there is no shadow of excuse
for the present administration re-
fusaI to enforce the law. OF course no
excuse is sought or needed. since it is
matter Of common knowledge that
the trusts are absolute owners of the
administration.
Were Mr.. Bryan president of the I'm
tied States, does any one imagine that
he would select an Olney or a Griggs
for his attorney general, or that he
would permit the robbery of the people
by unlawful combinations
The Herald again invites Mr.. Ham
mond's organ 10 publish Mr.. Ham
mond's VIEWS concerning the Demo