The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-01-19
JAMES A. RICE
AT NORWALK.
Was the Principal Speaker at a
Jackson Day Banquet.
DISCUSSED NATIONAL ISSUES.
Touched On the Conduct of the Admin
istration In waging a war Against
People who Desire


Democracy of Norwalk, Ohio, Hon.
James A. Rice was the guest of honor,
and delivered an able and eloquent ad-
dress on the issues which will enter
into the campaign of 1900. Mr. Rice's
address was frequently interrupted by
hearty applause from the banqueters.
He said, in part:
In the Jacksonian Democracy of the
country does our ultimate safety lie.
Through 1t, and imbued with the spirit
of it, the people will win in the con-
flict for the right against the favor
ed and powerful classes.
Within the present year the body
polite is certain to be thrilled from
center to circumference by the con-
test that will be waged between the
masses on one side, and the favored
classes, with their subsidized press
and willing tools, on the other.
The presidential election of the
year of 1900 will undoubtedly be con-
tested over three questions, viz: the
trusts, the money question, and i'm
perialism.
On the question of trusts / care to
say but little because the greater pOr-
ton of the time allotted to me l choose
to consume in the discussion of the
question of Imperialism. Discussion
Of tariff and tariff legislation in years
past has, l think, been helpful to the
general public in this, it enables the
people to more readily comprehend
the trust question, and prepares them to
discern more quickly the advantages
gained over the toiler and the consumer
by the great combinations of capital.
No sound reasons in defense of
trusts can be put forth. The trusts
aim to accomplish three things.
First: the reduction of cost of raw
material. Second: the reduction of cost
of production. Third: the power to
control or determine the price at which
the products are ultimately sold.
They accomplish the first by combin-
ing under one head all the leading
concerns using certain kind of
material. This forces the producer of
the material to sell to them because
he nowhere else has a market. He is
also forced to sell to them at the price
they shall name consequently the re-
duction in the price of raw material.
The second purpose is attained
chiefly by reducing the expenditure for
labor If it is not done by actually re-
duCing the wages of labor it is done
by reducing the number of laborers
employed. The great advantage gained
in this never has been equalled by in
crease in wages to the fewer still given
employment.
Reduction in the cost of production,
then, is simply taken from the pockets
of labor. Now being able to control
the production, and the consumer
having none other to go to from whom
he can purchase what he desires or
must have the trust, of course. de-
termines the price at which it's product
shall be sold. The one claim in defense
of them that has been urged more than
any other is economy, cheapness, and
public advantage. This is an absolutely
false claim, and is made with full
knowledge of it's falsity. The single
object is the enrichment of their pro-
mOters.
All the economy and savings made
by the combination of capital are made
to accrue to the promoters and holders
Of preferred stock, and even where there
is an alleged occasional lowering of
prices you will find that it is not due to
any good will, or in accordance with any
plan Of the trust, but due to improved
methods and new inventions.
Havemeyer was right when he said
Inc tariff is the mother of trusts. and |
instead of benefitting our American
people it is the foreigner that is benefit |
ted, because trusts are thereby enabled |
to charge a higher price for their pro- |
duct at home in order that they may
sell at a lower, one abroad, and thus
with other nations in the |
foreign markets.
With the enormous production now |
going on, and it is coming to be in ad- |
vance of consumption, there can be but |
one result; that is overproduction and |
a stagnant market. Then the holders |
of common stock in the trusts will begin |
to clamor for some result for their in |
Vestment and their labor. It will not
be forthcoming. Then the man of
small means will be without recourse,
and labor will find itself out of employ
ment, while the trust promoters and
the holders of preferred stock will be
reaping the vast profits from the sale of
surplus stock they have on hand
through the market and price which
they control.
l will also talk but briefly on the
money question. In spite of the admin
istration's burlesque on the Republican
party's international agreement
promise, made to the people in 1896 and
in spite Of the fact that the Republican
congress in absolute violation of that
pledge, has but recently enacted a
measure which, if it becomes a law,
VIII fasten upon the country the single
gold standard, do not believe that the
money question is dead or that the 16
to issue is thing of the past.
With the United States. the leading
republic of the world, carrying on
war of criminal aggression in the
Philippines in an effort to prevent the
birth of a new republic; and Great
Britain, the leading monarchy of the
world, carrying on war of confiscation
and plunder against the two young
republics of South Africa. it looks to
me as though the gold standard lords of
America and Tories of England have
chosen an inopportune time to force
upon our people the gold standard.
l want TO now briefly discuss the