Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-10-10

land Administration Treated the Sherman
law-insincerity Of Bryan Talk Appears
a Every Turn-attack on Tariff System
Before u political party undertakes
TO formulate an issue and charge that
the opposition has been guilty of or
ganizing and fostering, in an illegal
and nefarious manner. some enter
prises that are detrimental and dan
gerous to the best interests OF our peo-
pie and institutions, II would be pru-
dent to take n birds eye view of the
situation and ascertain If its own MEM
bers can pose pure and spotless while
the other fellows can be painted ia the
darker hues of villainy. This year.
In their desperation for an issue with
which To scare and delude the people.
the Democrats have blindly seized up
on the fact that our country has nu-
meroCs business combinations, com
monty called trusts. With usual Dem
ocratic foresight arl propensity for
taking hold of the wrong end of a
proposition. they determined TO make
trusts one of their issues. Keen politi-
cal sacacity would have suggested a
facts before arrnigning the opposi-
ton. Cicvcland'S first administration
was healthy period for the organiza-
ton and growth of trusts. Among the
most notable ones there was organized
In 1885 the cottonseed oil trust. in 1856
the oilc,oth trust. In 1887 the envelope
trust the sugar trust and the glass
trust in 1883 the whisky trust. These
and similar combinations attracted so
much attention that the Republican
members of congress caused an inves-
tigation 10 be made concerning their
character and influence.
First Legislation.
Western complaints concerning ex-
,rbitant freight rates brought the first
Regulation curtailing the power Of
combines The Interstate commerce
Till WAS introduced by Republican
senator. Cullom Of Illinois. In 1887.
and became law the same year. The
first antitrust plank put in a national
platform was by the Republicans at
Chicago in 1855. In his first message
to congress In December. 1880. Presi-
dent Harrison wrote as follows:
Earnest attention should be given
nv congress 10 consideration of the
question of how far the restraint of
these combinations of capital. COM
monty called trusts. is matter for
federal jurisdiction When organized.
as they often are. To crush ont all
healthy competition. and To monopo-
tie the production or sale of an arti-
Gle of commerce and general necessity,
.hey are dangerous conspiracies
against public good and should be
made the subject Of prohibitory if not
Seral legislation"
90 July > $500. before that session
Of congress adjourned. the Sherman
anti-trtst law was enacted. \ vigor-
GUS and bitter fight against the meas
are was t@d in the senate by Senator
Vest Of Missouri who raised the usual
Democratic unconstitutional" howl
Tie argued that il invaded the domain
Of right. in the various states 10 leCis-
late concerning the powers OF organi-
cations seeking charters therein Nc
Einley stood for the bill in the house
while the opposition was led by the
present minority leader. Richardson
assisted by Il. T. Bland and \. NJ
Dockery. who aspires 10 be governor o.
Missouri Under that law the Repuh
tican prosecutions knocked out the
whisky trust. the Transmissouri asso
citation on freight and passenger traf
ne Joint Traffic association Ia ths