The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16

| Columbus, ONlO, OCt- ia large audi
| ence attended a meeting tonight at the
| Columbus Auditorium. addressed by Hon.
/ Frank S. Monnett former attorney gen.
| eral of Ohio; John r. Sovereign, former
| grand master workman of the Knights Of
| Labor, and Val Fitzpatrick, grand vice
| chief of the Order OF Railway Conductors
| Mr.. MOnnett's speech was devoted who'll
| ly 10 trusts, and contained the first pub
| lie declaration OF his intention to support
| Mr.. Bryan. Mr.. Monnett reviewed the
prosecutions against various trusts. COM
| binations, and mOnopolies. which he had
undertaken while Republican attorney
| general of the State, saying:
Experience with Oil and salt Trusts.
"The monopolists sent the briber with
! his seductiOns of gold and with his
| promises of positions and salaries, and
| procured the leading governmental Off
Gals to defend them, and last. but not
| least. driven from pillar 10 post, they
| came into court, and with uplifted hands
swore that they did not and could not
answer the interrogatories, or produce
| their books. for. if they did il would sub
| ject their corporations to civil death, for
violating the law of their creation; and
| lastly, that il would criminate the college
fostering, ehureh-erecting, campaign-con-
tributing monOpolsts'
Mr.. Monnett then went into the subject
of Federal legislation against trusts. and
discussed the Sherman antitrust law. He
dwelt especially on the evils of combina-
| lions In restrainst of trade" Referring 10
the decision Of the Supreme Court sus
| tanning the cOnstitutionality of the Sher-
man law, Mr.. Monnett said:
Tnis brought the trusts and monopolies
10 their last ditch in the contest so far
| as the court and Congress were concern.
ed; so far as the legislative and the iu-
dietary were called upon to act. All of us
that had earnestly fought and contendei
for this principle felt that a great victory
had been won; Republican from Ohio had
introduced the bill. a Republican House
| and Senate had enacted it into a law.
Democratic solicitor general and an attor.
| ney general from Ohio had. with great
learning and ability, sustained the law be.
fore the United States Supreme Court.
snits TO Test the Law.
we nominated a President from Ohio.
who promised the people in fair phrases
that he would enforce the antitrust laws
OF the United States including the Sher
man antitrust act. How has he enforced
II? He went to New Jersey, the State Of
the trust-breeding grounds, the cesspool
| and spawn of all these illegal combina-
uons, for man, and placed him at Ihe
head of the Attorney Generals depart
ment, his honor. John w. Griggs, who has
under him seventy-six district ATTORNEYS
scattered throughout the various States
OF the Union. the duty of each and every
one OF which Is to enforce this antitrust
act, and, according TO his official report,
gn
suits Instituted under this law three have
been begun under his administration. one
IN the case of the United States VS. An
derson, begun June I. 1888. decided aeajnst
the government on the ground of want of
jurisdiction. The second one was the
| United States Coal Dealers Association
decided January Is, 1898; the third. United
decided Nv wv
says Law Has Been Nuiiifiea.
This is The magnificent record OF the
present national administration and tho
| compete notification of the most import-
AM law upon the statute books upon This
| SUBJECT since the beginning of our GOV
eminent"
In conclusion, Mr. Monnett said: 81 be-
l-eVe mat William Mckinley and John
urges MS Attorney General. and HIS ex-
S+"NNAs nave NillIully. DufpoSelV
ana knowingly paralyZed the executive
/ arm OF this government for the last four
years and prevented the enforcement Of
The common law and the statute Law.
/ both crtminally and civilly, against these
law Violators. And the hour has noyv
come, the only time We viii! have for the
next four years as voters. To legally and
| constitutionally smite them for their
hypocrisy and TO resent this violation of
Official duty, and We should vote against
every eleetor that is pledged on the Re-
publican ticket 10 perDetuate this great
wrong in our repub.n,
william J. bfyan may not accomplish
ali mat we expect, or all that We hone
for in this behalf. but | believe him N
be thoroughly honest, sincere. and = de-
termined man. and while 1 do notsagree
with him in all that he advocates. VET /
am forced 10 take one side or the other
on this great question, which for the
masses is the paramount issue, and IN the
rame Of patriotism and for the sake OF
our republic. and 10 prevent the threaten
ed danger that Senator John Sherman
and the other Sestors In the councils OF
our government have SO graphically
Brophesied, ard which | firmly believe
Will come 20 pass If not checked | mo-
pose 10 east my vote for that fearless
upright champion of the people, William
Jennings Bryan.