The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-01
REPUBLICANS AND TRUSTS.
SOME ADMINISTER ALTON NOVELTIES
ARE LOOKED FOR.


fuI in Talking of the Evils of
Trusts 10 Preface Their Remarks
with "lf They ENist"-CrIticism OF
McLaurin-"HiIlS" Mason and the
BOerS.
Washington jan ST. Republican Iead-
ers in Congress have started the poliu-
cal min grinding, and they are expected
a. an early day 10 display several SAM
pies of attractive campaign material Nov-
elites in antitrust legislation are being Sc
crotly prepared. and the leaders are now
considering whether or not there will ba
any legitimate demand for such material
IN the coming presidential campaign The
subject is now being seriously considered
by the best legal talent in the Republi-
can party and to their judgment viii be
added che opinions Of the leading members
of the Republicans on the Senate judi
ciary Committee
There is some difference of oplnlou
among the Republicans as to the neces-
sity of meeting the Democratic attack on
trusts with proposition to amend the
constitution to enable the government To
exercise qualified control over railroad
corporations and to place a constitutional
limitation upon the forming of commercial
combinations. otherwise known as trusts.
Some Of the boldest and most practical
leaders Of the Republican party contend
that the Democrats realize that they have
no issue upon which to base their next
campaign that Is calculated to excite en-
thusiasm ana promote possible success.
unless it be general outcry against
trusts.
some Republican Views.
Many Democrats are inclined to thinlo
that it would be their wisest policy to
make opposition to trusts their battle cry.
To-day discussed this subject with many
of the leading Republicans of the Senate,
ana hnd that the proposition to forestal
the Democrats in their attack upon trusts
is under serious delberation. There are
now pending before the Senate Judiciary
Committee several proposals to amend the
constitution so as To give the United
States government certain power over cor
porations. Senator Hoar, chairman of ths
committee, declined to anticipate the prob
abe action of the committee on this sub
1ect but he was not aVerse to admitting
that no definite conclusion has yet been
| reached. Such consideration as the SUBJ
iect has thus far received been OF a strict
~ confidential nature just far enough re-
moved from the regular proceedings OF
Che committee 10 justify the members in
| saying that the committee has not form
ally discussed the proposition.
Senator Aldrich, chairman Of the Commit
tee on Finance, says the question does not
properly come before his committee, and.
there fore, he is not authorized to state
what course viii be pursued in regard 10
Republican legislation against trusts. He
frankly admits that If the so-ealled trusts
are 80 destructive and demoraIzing to
public interest, the Republican party is as
ready and as anxious and equally as we!l
oualf6qH a tho Democrats q correct such
abuses as may exist Under certain con-
dii0ns II might be advisable for the Re-
publican majority IN the Senate to rec~
ommend a suitable amendment to the con-
sttution to enable the government to reg
uate to a reasonable extent the business
of certain corporations so that equal JUS
ktioe will be meted ont to all concerned.
Ready to Abnte the Evils.
Senator Cullom, chairman of the Com
| mfttee on Interstate and Foreign Cons
merce, says that his committee will be
glad to cooperate with the members OF
the Judiciary Committee in bringing about
| such legislation as may be deemed ne
cessary to correct such evils as may ex-
ist in connection with the great corpora
| tions and business combinations. From
political standpoint Senator Cullom says
| the Republican party is fully as capable
of guarding the interests of the people
as are the Democrats. He added II the
| so-called trusts are so wicked and so
! destructive to pubic interests the Repub-
| lcan party will not hesitate to take rea-
sonable and proper legal steps to rectify
the abuses complained Of
! Senators Lodge, Spooner and Elkins,
three Of the leading political workers and
guides in the Senate, concur in the opin-
| ions expressed by Senators Aldrich and
Cullom, and IL upon further deliberation
It may be deemed advisable to anticipate
the Democratic assault upon trusts. the
] IA 70 fa falx
prompt action in that direction. AT pres
! ent there is a disposition in certain quar-
| ters TO allow the Democrats to enjoy UNI
disturbed all the benefits they may be able
to derive from general arraignment OF
| an the great business institutions and en-
! terprses Of this prosperous country. Many
OF the long-headed Republican managers
| contend that from a practical political
STANDPOINT the Republicans had nothing
to gain and everything to lose by an as
| sauIt upon trusts 1t is but natural how
| ever. for Republicans to pretend not to
be i'm the least alarmed by the attitude OF
the Democratic party in respect TO trusts.
TiIImnn After McLaurin.
When senator Tillman. in his speech
| upon the Philippine question, referred 10
| weak Democrats who made strong and
eloquent pleas ana protests in opposition
to the peace treaty and even gave per-
soual pledges 10 their fellows as to how
they would vote, it was evident 70 ev-
erybody that he had special reference 10
his colleague Senator McLaurin. Down
in South Carolina the impression is grow
Ing tnat senator McLaurin has gone en-
tirely TOO close to the line IN his advo-
cacy Of measures proposed by the admin
isfrallon-so close, indeed, that he has all
most toppled over. The junior Senator
from South Carolina did vote for the rati-
ncatlon Of the peace treaty but he ap-
parently did not know what he was going
20 do until the last minute. He is not in
very good odor with many Of his Demo-
crafic colleagues in consequence Those
q the Democrats who were openly in fa-
vor Of ratification from the start have
never been condemned for their position
by the men who led the fight against rat
incaHon; but Senator McLauriu has been,
and by nobody quite so severely as by his
colleague. Senator Tillman. Down in
South Carolina the Indications are that
1,llmans hold is still as great as ever,