Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-10-10

the Lone star State.
Senator Jones of Arkansas, Demo-
cratic campaign chairman, will not
soon hear the last Of his connection
with trust, in partnership with
Searles of the sugar trust. The St.
Louis Republic, the Missouri Bryan
organ, feels so much concern over the
American Cotton company's monopoly,
which has been the subject of much
condemnation by Republican speakers,
because Senator Jones, a Democrat, is
connected with it, that it takes pains
to explain that this "is based on the
patent of an invention" The Repub-
lie says that when the patent expires,
all manufacturers can then use the in
vention, but adds that until that time
it is properly secured to the inventor -
Evidently, the Republic does net
keep posted upon the drift of discus
sion upon this very question of Jones
and his round cotton bale trust in the
banner Democratic state of Texas, al
though that is within the Republics
own territory. This concern is looked
upon in Texas as one of the most gi-
gantic and far-reaching of all the
trusts. 1T has almost driven the
square bale cotton out of business, and
nothing can keep it from monopoliz-
ing the entire traffic very soon, with
a tremendous tax upon the entire cot
ton producing and handling trade"
except the rigid enforcement of the
Texas antitrust law.
This corporation was the subject of
several attacks during the last session
of the Texas legislature, and well
known Democratic members said some
very harsh things about the Hon
James X. Jones, president of the cor
poration, who is also chairman of the
Democratic national committee. 1t
was at first intended to pass a law
especially prohibiting the company
from doing business in Texas, and such
bill was introduced in the house by
Representative Cole, but it was deem
ed that it would be class legislation,
and that the company's exclusion from
the new antitrust law.
In order, however, to make sure of
reaching that end in this new law a
special provision was inserted and
adopted designed expressly to meet
the very point now raised by Jones
defenders-the protection of the pat
ent law-for it reads:
Each corporation, o-partnership,
firm or individual who may be the
owner or lessee of patent to any ma
chinery intended, used or designed for
manufacturing any raw materials or
preparing the same for market by any
wrapping, baling or other process, who
shall lease, rent or operate the same
in their own name and refuse or fail
to put the same on the market for sale,
shall be adjudged monopoly, and be
subject to all the pains and penalties
proviued in this act"
This special provision hts the cotton
bale trust squarely between the eyes,
for it has refused to sell any OF its ma
chimes, operating them only under
lease or through its own agents, the
very offense provided against in the
Texas act
The law also provides that some
officer of every corporation doing busi-
ness in Texas shall make oath that it
is not trust, nor in any way operated
in violation of the antitrust law. A
copy of this blank affidavit was sent
to James K. Jones, president, and it
has been returned properly sworn to,
the officer making the necessary oath
being George w. Oakley. secretary, of
New York city.
How such an oath could be made as
to Texas, in view of the explicit pro-
vision of the Texas statute, just quot
ed, will puzzle plain people, but Pres
iden and Chairman Jones, through his
secretary seems to have strained his
conscience with perfect ease. 1t is not
surprising, however, to learn that, not
withstanding this affidavit, the fore
going and other provisions of the anti
| trust law are being violated by this
corporation in Texas, and these
charges may result in indictments be-
ing returned against the alleged gull
| ty officers of the corporation by the
grand juries of several of the judicial
districts of the state within the next
! few weeks.
| Is it not a curious conclusion to a
| campaign based upon a pretended at
| tack upon trusts, by the party that
never did anything in congress against
! the trusts, and that has refused to vote
for the only practical way to get at the
unlawful combinations, that its ma.
| tional committee chairman will he
| brought into court in the banner state
of the same party, for violation of the
laws in that state against trusts, as
| president of an unlawful monopoly
Evidently, the people of Texas, judg
ing from this law, think with Bryan
that there is mo trust but bad trust, ;
except that a cotton bale trust is wors
OF all.