The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-08-17
Democracy And Trusts.

4
The insincerity of the Kansas City
denunciation Of trusts is gradually be-
ling demonstrated in several ways.
The connection of several prominent
| Tammanyites with the New York ice
trust was notorious when the declar-
alton was made. The Tammany repre-
sentative on the platform committee
was himself y trust magnate, and his
place on the committee was secured
for him by the sacrifice OF David Ben
nett Hill. 13s
1t is now proved that Chairman
Jones is an owner of stock in an op-
pressive Southern trust-The Patent
Cotton Compress company. This
trust is dominated by John E. Searles,
already known to fame as one of the
Sugar Trust magnates. In recent
interview Mr.. Jones admitted his con-
nection with, this trust, though he
did not think 1t was a trust. He did
not, however, deny that it was a mon
opoly, and a trust, unless it were a
monopoly, would be dangerous. He
said further: Mr. Searles is prominent
In the company, butt do not know
that he controls it. Our company is
working under patents for long term
OF years-fourteen. l, think. The
constitution OF the United States pro-
vldes for patents, and / believe in
standing by the constitution"
The argument of Mr.. Jones is plain
language is this: Monopoly is most
pernicious aud unlawful if it is not
our monopoly; if it ours it is not only
lawful but constitutional and we stand
by the constitution in that if in no.
thing else. ~ 8.
Mr.. Jones party is not more consis-
tent and sincere than he is. In 1888
it was in control in Congress, and the
committee on manufactures of the
house was instructed to investigate
and report recommendations relative
to trusts. It investigated from Jan
uary % to July % of that year and
then made partial report saying that
hn IF hvv 1of
and trusts had been furnished to it,
and that the number was very large.
Among the strongest of these combi-
nations were the Standard Oil trust,
Sugar trust, Cotton Bag trust and
Whiskey trust. The work of investi-
eating these went on from September,
1888, 20 March, 1889, when final re-
port was made. But no remedy was
proposed by it. The work was entire
ly futile and the report confessed and
after celebrating for months aEd"ow-
ing to differences of opinion between
members of the committee" nothing
|
could be dope but to "submlt to the
careful consideration OF subsequent
Congresses the facts shown by the
evidence they had taken"
From all the buster made by a
Democratic majority this was the i'm
potent result. In July. 1890, at the
next session Of Congress, Senator
Sherman introduced his antitrust bill
which became law. 1t is the only
law of the kind that Congress has
ever enacted, although it has not ac-
complished all that was sought to be
accomplished, it is as effective as it
can be made until Congress has greater
power than is now coferred on it by
the constition.
The history of all antitrust agita-
ton shows that all that has been ac-
Icomplished by the Republican and not
by the Democratic party. The Demo-
Gratis have promised much, but have
done nothing They are still promis-
| ing, and still buying stock in pros
porous trusts=Ledger.
L