The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-10-05
WHAT IS 8RYAN's REMEDYq

NAA' AyoA Says luS LSpuOACdH party
originated trusts through the tariff. Mr..
Bryan says the republican party is in
favor of trusts. The latter statement is
an absurdity on its face because at least
one-half the people of this country are
republicans, and if the trusts are the evils
that Mr.. Bryan says they are, then one
half the people of this country are either
too big fools to perceive them or else are
making themselves ridiculous by sup
porting them. The facts are that trusts,
in the sense that term is used by Mr..
Bryan, being combinations of capital for
the purpose Of controlling and raising
prices of commodities, are equally op-
posed by every person not interested in
that trust, without reference to political
opinion.
Trusts do not owe their origin or
existence to the tariff. Many industries
in this country do owe their beginning to
the protection given to them by the tariff.
Some of these industries have combined
and have formed trusts, some of which
may be trusts in the sense that Mr.. Bryan
speaks OF, and some may be, as it is
quite possible, combinations of capital
and industry for the purposes Of more
economical production with the final re-
suit of oheapened product to the con-
sumer. If there is any one trust or any
number Of trusts in this country of whom
it can be shown that owing to the tariff
that they are enabled to raise prices be-
yond that which sinele manufacturers in
this country would be willing to make
and sell the same product, then we be-
lieve every republican member of con-
gress would vote to throw the gates
open to foreign competition on such
articles.
On the other hand, it is certain that
France with strong protective tariff, and
England with free trade both have trusts
galore, and have had them long before
the trust movement started in this coun-
try. Besides this many, if not most of
the largest trusts in this country are on
products that either have no tariff at all
or on which the tariff has no particular
effect because our home product is so
great that foreigners cannot compete
with us and in fact we have to sell in
foreign markets and against foreign COM
petition to be able to dispose of the sur
plus product.
In all Mr.. Bryan's talk against trusts
we have never seen him state his remedy
except that he is against them and wants
to destroy them. Mr.. Bryan will never
be able to destroy trusts. 1t would be
impossible by law to prevent the COM
bination of individuals either as capital
lists or laborers. Further, such law
ifpossible, would be destructive not
only of rights but Of progress. Nine
tenths of all great enterprises of the
world are made by such combinations of
capital. But while the law cannot pre-
vent, the law can control. Corporations
are creatures of the law and because
created by law can be governed and con-
trolled by law, and that is the republican
remedy for the abuses of trusts.
Many states, among them our own re-
publican North Dakota, have strict laws
against trusts, We are not likely to
have any trusts in North Dakota, but we
still have to deal with them. Why?
Because of interstate commerce. A
trust formed in another state cannot be
prevented from doing business here.
Some states, notably New Jersey, have
no laws against trusts and half the big
trusts have their main offices in New
Jersey. What is the remedy for this?
Only national control; but in order to
get it into the hands of congress it is
necessary to, have a constitutional amend
ment. Such an amendment was intro
duced in the last congress blythe repub.
licans, and every democrat voted against
it, because it took the control from the
separate states.
Well, We would like to hear Of their
remedy. Trusts cannot be destroyed by
law. Tariff. won't touch but q small part
ofthem il at all. What will Mr. Bryan
do about tiemf