The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-01-17
SUBSCRIPTION: RATES.
WEDNESDAY JAN. IL 1900.


REPUBLICANISM AND TRUSTS
The Chicago Tines Herald, which /
more than any other paper in the
United States, expresses the views OF
the men who control the Mckinley sd
ministration, has been discussing late
ly the question OF the issues Of the
next campaign, Very naturally, II
dismisses the trust question with the /
statement that there can be no issue
made on trusts because their regula-
tion is matter wholly outside legis-
lative power.
This is perfectly natural view for
q Republican paper to take. The Re
publican party will do all it possibly
can to make it appear that the gula-
tion, the control or the abolition Of
trusts Is matter outside the power
Of congress. Republican politicians
viii do this because they are wholly
under control OF the men who are as.
sociated with trusts and who profit by
them. The party itself may make a
perfunctory declaration in its national
platform against these monopolis;ic
corporations, but even it's own mem
bers will laugh at any utterance
which suggests Rntagonism TO indus
trial monopoly, knowing, as they do,
that the party organization is support
ed out of the fruits of monopoly.
Trusts will be great issue-no
necessarily the great issue-.n 1900.
BY their development and their in
creRsing control over every line Of
industrial and commercial endeavor
they have increased enormously che
cost Of living in this country and have
limited beyond calculation the oppor-
tunities for employment, Now and
then some newspaper or some man Of
national standing, from whom better
things might be expected, declares
that the organization Of trusts is
legitimate and inevitable outcome Of
natural law. This is in no sense the
fact. IL is easy TO declare that
nAONGnEnAh " nANh ANpAiN AZ
conditions hostile TO the interests OF
the great majority Of the people, are
natural IL is not so easy 10 prove
that this is the case. There is 20 sue
cessful trust operating in the United
States today which is founded upon
any natural law whatsoever All dnd
their basis in special privileges grant
ed by legislation, or by corporations
which exist under special grants Of
power from the legislature. IL the
state-by which is meant not nceessa
rily the federal or state government,
but even the local government, repre-
senting the people-should withdraw
an grants OF special privileges, hne
great source of the power Of the
trusts would be eliminated In time
this will be done. The tendency
OF publie legislation, insofar as IL can
be controlled by the Democratic par
ty, is toward the Abrogation OF special
privileges But even this, carried TO
its fullest extent, woold not wholly
do away with trusts. These great con
solidationf OF capital have progressed
90 far that something more than the
mere withdrawal OF privilege from
them is necessary. Not only must
their source OF supply be shut of, but
they must be STACKED at every point,
We must smite them hip and thigh.
We must ntillze that tremendous pow.
er OF the natioosl government which
the Republican party has found II
very easy TO employ ia attacks upon
labor organizations, and we must USE
II as iorceiully and as unswerviugly
in behalf OF the people against the
few, as IL has heretofore been used
in behalf Of the few against the peo'
pie.
The purpose OF the trust is monopO-
ly. The purpose Of monopoly is profit
for the few. The men who defend the
trusts make smooth aud plausible
statements that because OF their con
troll OF markets they have reduced
prices 70 the general consumer and
have accomplished this BY what they