Hutchinson gazette., 1900-08-30
THE TRUST ISSUE.



"rhe Stars Campaign Forum" In
which, the issues OF the campaign
are TO he presented and discussed by
Willis j. Abbott for the democrats
md Murat Halstead for the republic
ans. 1t IL pity that the Issues are
not to be discussed from populist
standpoint TO the end that the views
of the three national parties might
she known and read Of all men"
In his opening article published In
the Star Of August 10, Mr.. Abbott
says:
"Following the question Of imperial
ism, that Of the trusts has prime im-
portance, For monopoly of this sort
the democratic party through It's
platform offers direct and specific
remedy, The first line OF It's discus
sion OF trusts states fundamental
proposition and principle by which all
issues growing out Of the trust evil
are to he tested II snys Private
monopoles are indefensible and in
tolernble,' You may search the re-
publican platform with mngnifylng
glnss, but fail to discover 80 broad
and yet 80 justliinblc and so neces-
sary II condemnation Of monopoly in
private hands, Upon this issue, us up
on others, the democrats rejoice to
meet the republicans in debate. The
publication Of the so-culed antitrust
plnnks of the two platforms in par
nllel columns will show the differ
ence between the definite and oXplicit
programme OF warfare outlined by
the democracy and the gltterinS gen
eralities Of the republicans;
Republican,
We recognize the necessity ana proprle-
~ of the honest cooperation of capital to
meet new business cOndltions and os-
peclally to extend our rapidly increasing
foreign trade, but we condemn all con-
Bpiracles ana combinations intended to
restrict business, TO create monopolles,
TO limit production or TO control prices,
and favor such legislation as viii effect
ually restrain ana prevent all such
abuses, protect and promote competition
and secure the rights OF producers, la
borors and all who are engaged In In
dustry ana commerce,
Democratic.
We pledge the democratic party to an
inceasing warfare In nation, state aud
city against private monopoly In every
form. Existing laws against trusts must
be enforced and more stringent ones
must be enacted providing for publicity MS
20 the affairs Of corporations engaged In
interstate commerce and requiring all
corporations to show, before doing husl-
ness outside OF the state OF thir origin,
that they have no water In their stock
and that they have not attempted and
are not attempting 10 monopOll2e any
branch Of business or the production OF
any articles OF merchandise, and the
whole constitutional power OF congress
over interstate commerce, the mails and
all modes Of interstate communication
shall be exercised by the enactment OF
comprehensive laws upon the subject
OF trusts.
Tariff laws should be amended by put
ting tho products Of trusts upon the free
list to prevent monopoly under the plea
of protection,
The failure Of the present republican
administration, with an absolute control
over all the branches Of the national
government, to enact any legislation de-
signed to prevent or even curtai the abb
sorbng power Of trusts and Illegal COM
blnatlons, or to enforce the antitrust
laws already on the statute books, proves
the inslncerty Of the hlgh-soundlng
phrases Of the republican platform
Corporations should be protected In all
their rights and their legitimate interests
should be respected, but any attempt by
corporations to Interfere with tho pub
lie affairs of the people or to control the
sovereignty which creates them should
be forbidden undor such penalties as Will
make such attempts impossible.
We condemn the Dlngley law as n
trust-brecdlng measure, sklllfully devised
TO give the few favors which they do
not deserve and TO place upon many bur-
dens which they should not bear,
"The democratic party to-day is
the party Of progress. II is a party,
not of rNdicalism, but of progress
sive liberalism. It's platform contains
the only promises of an advance in
economic and industrial legislation
which have been given to the people.
II stands for municipal ownership
that the enormous revenues which
now accrue to the holders of profit
able municipal monopolies like street
railroads, electric light and gas plants,
water works and telephones, may
either accrue to the people as n whole
or else that the services may be rem
dered grntuitously as part of the
function Of the hunicipality."
II must be admitted of course that
municipal ownership will utterly de-
stroy private monopoly Of municipal
utilities, by converting private monop.
olies Of thatn0tuIe into public monop-
olies. So far the democrats and pop
lists are in accord.
But, from populist standpoint,
the remedies proposed for industrial
trusts, or combinations formed for
The purpose Of controlling the manu-
facturing industries Of the nation. are
altogether inadequate, because such
combinations are based upon and de-
rive their power from a species of
-'private monopoly" which is protect
ed by constitutional guarantees and
the fundamental laws of the land.
The species Of private monopoly"
referred to is the private ownership
Of the sources of supply of raw ma.
tcrial, the avenues Of transportation
or distribution and the special privi-
lege of the exclusive use of the best