The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-04-20
SYCOPHANTS WHO
OBEYBD BOSSES
And Defeated the Desires Of
The People.
THE TRUSTS WERE FAVORED
By Republican Legislators Against the
Party's Policy rs Announced
In Their Plat
forms.
Cincinnati Enquirer.)

strong protest against the Price bill.
alleged to be against trusts.
incidentally the deceitful and palter-
ing course adopted by the leaders of the
majority party in the general assem-
bly, this winter in dealing with the
trust question was roughly handled.
The protest traces clearly the action
of the Republicans, in sitting every bill
or resolution which was in any way
inimical to the interests Of the trusts,
and then, under the pretense of legislat-
ing against trusts, and by the aid Of
party pressure passing through the
house a bill which is in fact designed to
render impregnable the position of the
Standard Oil company, the strongest
monopoly in the United States.
The Price "anti-trust' bill Is a
mockery. AS originally framed 1t did
not strike at trusts as viciously as 1t did
at the small corporations of the state.
Trusts were only mentioned in the in
tentionally misleading title of the bill.
Before the substitute decided upon by
the Antitrust" committee Of the house
was introduced the bill had been so
amended that 1t would not interfere
with the trusts, as no harmful disclo-
sures were required Of them. The
smaller corporations Of the state, how
ever, would still be subjected to an an
noying and useless inquisition annu-
ally. AS a whole, however, the bill was
laughing stock.
KNEW IT WAS VALUELESS.
The Republicans who voted for 1t
did so with a grin upon their faces.
They believed 1t was a valueless bill,
hoped by it's passage to blind the peo-
a. ~ vi do lNxyf hn H.
can majority in the general assembly
this winter.
At the last moment a clause was dis
covered in the bill whose concealed
meaning gave to the Standard and kin
dred trusts, the right to issue negotia-
BILE receipts in place of certificates of
stock. Those who have followed the
history Of the litigation against the
Standard OIL trust will remember that
when in 1894 the supreme court of the
state ordered the trust to close up Its
business, the trust officials pretended
compliance. They have ever asserted
they were acting in good faith in try
ing to comply with the orders of the
court, but that they have been handi-
capped by the fact that trust certif-
Gates" negotiable, have been issued
and that 1t was impossible to discover
the present holders Of the certificates
and compel them to turn them in, ir
order that the trust business nigh,
be wound up.
The court has ever held that tht.
position of the trust is merely an eva
sion of the mandate Of the court. bu
has found 1t impossible to get behint
their breastworks. 1t has been impos
sible to produce the books and records
of the trust in court, and without thu
aid of this evidence the trust could no
be reached.
LAST POWER REMOVED.
The defeat of the Republican majorit.
in the house Of the Russell anti-trus
bill, early in the session, removes from
the court the power to compel the pro
duction of such books and testimony, a.
the officials have always sheltered
themselves behind the constitutions
clause which protects witnesses from
giving discriminating testimony
Now the Price bill adds the last de
fense to the trusts position, and grant
1t the right to go on indefinitely an
issue the negotiable receipts whicl
are merely trust certificates In dis
guise. The Price bill is the last lin
in the chain of evidence which connect
the Republican leaders with the defens
OF the trusts, especially the Standar
Oil trust, and makes them stand a
sponsors for it's continued existence.
The protest, as signed by every Demo
cratic member of the house. with tn
exception of Messrs Adkins of Aller
and Adkins of Pickaway, father an
son, is as follows:
"In compliance with article 2, sectio
10, of the Constitution of the state G
Ohio, we, the undersigned members G
the house of this general assembly, eS
ercising our right to protest against
certain act known as the Price hous
bill, No. 469, passed this 18th day {
April 1900, ask that such protest an
the following reasons therefor shal
without alteration, commitment or de
lay. be entered upon the journal Of th
house:
VIGOROUS PROTEST.
II. We desire to protest against tn
conduct Of the dominant party, espec
ally its alleged leaders, In promisiIl
antitrust legislation to those who wei
in favor of protecting the people again'
the piracy, plunder and ravishes
monopolies, and in thus delaying, pos
poning and thwarting the efforts of u
representatives of the people In tn
body in their attempts to secure ii
passage Of honest and efficient ant
trust legislation.
"2. For the reason that. a val
majority of the citizens Of the sta
of Ohio. regardless of party, had II
structed their representatives in col
ventions assembled and by numero,
petitions to give speedy relief from Il
grinding oppression resulting fro
trusts and monopolies. That the men
bers Of this house were promised by Il
alleged leaders that they. in good fait
had prepared and would pass an effe
tive measure to bring relief to the in
poverished and oppressed consumer.
'3. That the title of said act does n
in any way disclose the contents of Il
bill, but, on the contrary, express