Smyrna times., 1900-10-10
NOW FOR THE TRUSTS,
BRYAN DROPS HIS OLD ISSUE AM
CHANGES BASE AGAIN.
Record of the Two Parties--The Republicans
Have Restricted Trusts, aad the Dem.
OcratS Have Favored Them.

the east by the bOgy of imperialism"
did not work in Vermont and Maine.
They are afraid to raise the issue of
new territory among the voters of the
west, so they have started on q new
track. The Republican party is ready
to meet this. as it has the other ques-
tions that they have attempted to push
to the front rs paramount. If there is
one subject about which caution or
any consideration for their record
should enjoin silence. it is their atti-
tude toward the trusts, for their
friendship to the so called trusts has
been repeatedly shown.
Trusts are combinations of capital
formed in every prosperous country to
prevent the destructive waste of COM
petition, make economies in produc-
tiOn and to so increase the output as to
make small returns profitable enough
In the aggregate to pay the expenses.
They have often decreased the cost of
necessities to the consumer, as in the
case of oil. They have often proved a
benefit to the common people, and they
have their reasonable side. But the
Republican party is not defending
trusts. and it was one of the first po-
litical organizations to denounce mo-
nopoly and the restriction of trade It
has been the only party which has
enacted federal legislation against the
trusts. and was the first to specify the
means by which they should be sup
pressed when it demanded their sup
preston.
Republican Trust Legislation.
The first blow against the trusts was
the interstate commerce law, Repub-
ican measure. introduced by a Repub-
lican and put in force by the party.
This has been amended from time to
time and has been approved by the su-
preme court. Under it's provisions the
great railroad pool was declared lille
gal and attempts to restrict competi-
tion in the commerce between states
have been prevented.
Closely following this law was the
resolution in the Republican cOnven-
tion of 1888. which not only attacked
the trusts. but proposed a remedy for
them. The writer of this resolve was
William Mckinley, now candidate for
president of the United States. The
difficulties met in the conflict of the
laws of states with those of the feder-
al law in proceedings against trusts
finally led to the introduction of q
sweeping measure, proposed as q con-
stitutional amendment, under which 1t
would be possible for all the states to
proceed against injurious aggregations
of capital. This was the amendment
proposed:
ARTICLE XVI.
Section 1. All powers conferred by this article
shall extend TO the several states the territories
the District OF Columbia and all territory under
the sovereignty and subject to the jurisdiction oi
the United States
Sec. 2. Congress shall have the power to define
regulate. prohibit or dissolve trusts, monopolies
or combinations. whether existing in the form o
a corporation or otherwise The several state.
may continue 10 exercise such power in any man
ner not in conflict with the laws Of the United
States.
Sec. 3. Congress shall have power to enforce tn,
provisions OF this article by appropriate legisla
tion.
The Democratic Record.
What did the Democrats do, wher
they were faced by this measure. thai
would prohibit the trusts? They held
q caucus and decided that it would b(
a dangerous precedent toward the cen
tralization of government and woulC
violate the sacred principle Of STATE
rights; hence they decided to oppose 1t
and when the vote was cast the meas
ure was defeated. the vote standing
154 in favor and 1872 against, lacking
the two-thirds vote necessary to III
passage. Every Democrat but fou
voted against 1t, while the Republican,
almost as unanimously favored 1t.
This vote was taken on the 1st o
last June. This was done by the Dem
ocratic party in spite of the fact tha
its leader, William J. Bryan, had de
clared In q speech on the 10th day o
September, 1S99 that 'if it" trust leg
islation) SIS unconstitutional, and so de
clared by the supreme court, | am Il
favor Of an amendment to the consti
tuition that will give congress power t
destroy every trust in the country"
From the first cry of alarm agains
the trusts, Democratic action in tn
national government has been friendl
to them. Mr.. Richardson, who is nov
helping manage the Democratic can
paign. tried his best to side track th
Sherman antitrust bill when the r.
publicans first passed the measure
When the Porto Rican tariff was III
der discussion. this Mr.. Richardson II
vored measure that would have pal
to the sugar trust nearly $14,OOO,OC
year. Chairman Jones Of the Dem'
cratic national committee also adv
Gated bill in the case Of Porto Rio
that would have repaid the sugar tru'
about $14,0OO,OOO.
The Democratic Ice Trust.
1t is hardly necessary to point to Il
recent deceit of the New York sta
leaders, who were forced to accept 8
antitrust plank In their platform wni
their n00kata wara bul0iuQ with HtO<