The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-06-04
The Republican Trust Bluff.

The lower house of congress is TO
have three days OF trust talk brought
out primarily by the republican joint
resolution proposing an amendment to
the constitution of the United states
comforting power on congress to define,
regulate. prohibit and dissolve trusts.
This resolution is the cheapest kind
OF political play. Ii is showed to the
front in the closing hours of congress
by the republicans. who realize that
the trust question is to be one OF the
great. issues OF the presidential cam
palgn and who see that their party
must mako some sort OF bluff at OPP
position to the trusts in order to divert
the attention OF the people from their
wn/failure to enact even the anti
trust laws which now stand upon the
statute books.
There is nothing practical to this
proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton. emanating, as it does, from the
republican party, unless IL is practical
politics. While this comes ostensiDly
through the judiciary committee OF the
house. It was really prepared by the re-
uublicans OF that committee in consul
'tatlon with other republican leaders.
and tho committee report, instead or
being submitted to the minority as is
tho usual course o. procedure. was hur-
ried into the house with the evident
idea that the republicans in this way
might secure an advantage before the
country by claiming they We're the first
Il advocate the abolition or the control
OF the trusts.
or Course no republican who advO-
Gates the resolution proposing an
amendment TO the constitution has any
thought OF such an amendment being
grated upon that document AS ii is
pointed out in the minority report sub
mitted by the democratic members of
the judiciary committee. il Is quite
easy 10 propose amendments TO the
constitution. but il is worth while to
remember that for nearly a century
that instrument has remained unchang
81 except for three amendments. all of
which came ont OF the throes of the
awful war between tho states. The re-
pubiicons know that there is absolutely
NJ chance for the legislation they are
proposing and FOR that reason they feel
safe In advocating II.
Their other proposition to increase
he penalties for non-obseryance OF the
laws which they and their courts have
consistently refused TO enforce in the
sp rit. Is equally lame and inadequate.
The only people who have ever been
punished under the existing law which
tho republicans claim to have put upon
the statute books have been laboring
uen. and the further enforcement OF
tho law with this increased penalty
would only mean increased immunity
for the real trusts and immense combi-
nations IF capital which are injurious
20 the interests Of the people.
Republican orators may be expected
10 DO q lot ~ talking against tho trusts
during thu three days they are engaged
in putting campaign material into the
Congressional Record in order To Sc
cure its FREE transmission through the
ma L. but nobody is going TO De fooled
by this sort Of stafi. The trusts know
I'm which party Is their reliance. and all
Of the fu.uinations Of the republican
politicians for campaign effect are not
GOING 70 keep trust dollars out OF the
republican campaign fund. There might
have been q day when the people could
have Eeen fooled. but that day has pass
Cd. They know II is the republican
party that is the friend of trusts Just
rs the trusts know II.