The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-17
THURSDAY, MAY il, 1900.
WHY DO DEMOCRATS OBJECT TO

On Tuesday last the judiciary Committee
of the House of Representatives determined
10 report the following as an amendment
TO the Constitution of the United States:
article ", Section AL powers con-
ferred by this article shall extend to the
several States, the Territories, and the
District of Columbia.
Section 2-Congress shall have power
to define, regulate, control, prohibit, or
dissolve trusts, monopolies or combina-
tions. whether existing in the form of
corporation or otherwise. The several
States may continue 10 exercise such
power in any manner not III conflict vita
the laws of the United States.
Section 3-Congress shall have power 10
enforce the provisions of this article by
appropriate legislation
Tae news that goes out from Wasting
ton is that all of the Republican members
OF the committee voted in favor of report
ing this as an amendment to the Constitu-
ton, while al of tae Democratic members
voted against it.
1t is perfectly obvious that if this were
q provision of the Constitution of the
United States the Congress of the United
States would have complete power TO break
up and end any trust in this country. The
proposed amendment confers upon Congress
power 10 determine what are and what
are not trusts, wlether existing in the
form of corporations or not. and it then
authorizes Congress, after determining that
n particular organization is trust, to dis
solve ii and scatter the parts of it to the
wind 1t would appear strange. therefore.
10 find a person wao looks upon trusts
as the great evil from which society now
suffers refusing 10 vote for this amend
ment 10 the Constitution. For some time
those VINO control the organization of the
Democratic party have been complaining
that the great social evil of the day is the
trusts, and NE do not quite understand the
refusal of Democratic congressman to vote
for this amendment therefor.
For ourselves we ere utterly opposed to
II. but then we are not CT those who re-
gard trusts as unsniigated evils In our
opinion the trust is tae natural product of
evolution. and when it has become adjusted
10 The actual conditions Of the world we
expect it to become the greatest Of all
agencies lpI tSNtiSAh44S N-''-4s>N-S'N
bringing the greatest good TO the greatest
number That being 50. this journal can
consider the proposed amendment upon its
pwn simple merits. and not as part Of
plan for uprooting trusts tilat we do not
think should be uprooted.
Our objection to this amendment is that it
would wholly change the nature and cha
racter of our government and convert it
into a centralized organization that could
easily be turned into aespotism. As our
government was planned. and as il exists
to-day. all such matters as fall into the
domain of trusts are ander the control Of
The state governments. Now, if the juris-
dlction and authority Of Congress is to
extend TO all the matters that pertain to
trusts. then Congress Will legislate upon
all the AFFAIRS of the people, State legisla-
,ton VIII be In effect wiped out. and the
centre of all authority and influence Will
be al Washington We fear it would be
but a short time after that until we were
a aesnotls.a in all respects like the Russian
despotism.
we cannot think the people of the'United
states Will pay any serious attention to
,s.s proposed amendment, but the death
lnen of our republic will DE sounded the
asy IT becomes part Of our Constitution.
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