New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-30
BRYANTTE HYPOCRISY.
DEMOCRATS DO NOT SUPPRESS TRUSTS
IN THE STATES THEY CONTROL.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In the discussion OF trusts a political
issue it seems to me Republicans have overlooked
fact which demonstrates the hypocrisy of the
Bryanites in this matter. So far as l know, no
Republican orator or newspaper has called atten-
ton to the fact that trusts" are created by and
flourish in those States wholly under control of
the Democratic party just the same as in every
other: that they flourish in North Carolina, Geor-
gia and Alabama quite as well and meet with no
more opposition there than they do in Connecti-
cut, Ohio and New-YoTk
II this and what it shows could be made clear to
citizens part of them could be longer fooled
into the belief that the Bryanites the anti
trust party and the hollowness of their claim to
superior virtue in this regard would be apparent.
II the question of trusts" is legitmately a po-
tcal question, then appropriate legislation is all
that is required In every Southern State the DEM
Ocratc party can leeslate as to 1t with per-
fectly free hand The sovereign State can practi-
cally prohibit any all corporations from doing
business within its borders, create only such as
1t fit. and, far such thing is at all pos
sible, regulate them it fit Here then, is the
demonstration of the hollowness of the claims OF
the Bryanites this very important point. For,
Notwithstanding they are IN possession of these
sovereign powers in those States trusts of all
kinds flourish there just the same they do all
over the business world. II the harm trusts
doing in those States can be prevented, then
Bryan's party is permitting that harm to be done.
If the Republicans responsible for 1t in Repub
lican States, then are the Democrats equally re-
sponsible for it in the Democratic States. The
trusts riding ahead in both
The Bryanites attempt to place the responsibility
on the Federal Government, and promise to crush
the trusts if the people forgetting the past. will
hand over, Congress and the general Government
to their tender mercies. They have the effrOntery
to promise this, though those of them who know
the provisions Of the Federal Constitution and
cent Congressional action touching trusts know
Congress and the general Government are power
lacc
position to the amendment to the Federal Consti-
tuition proposed by the Republicans for that very
purpose. They know that without such amendment
they themselves killed last Juen the power al
ready delegated to Congress are insufficient.
1t may be of passing interest to know the
writer's point of view. He is heartily opposed to
all private monopolies OF necessaries of life and
would leave his party in moment If he could
suppose 1t was fostering them But his study Of
both great parties, only confirms him in his Re
Bryans latest cure for trusts. namely, to place
all articles dealt in by them on the free list is
articles IN common use are subjects Of trusts. To
give up the enormous benefits all classes Of
an opportunity to try his nostrum would be quite
to know that free trade England is honeycombed
with trusts just as
The record find as follows: A Republican Con-
gTess passed the Interstate Commerce act es-
passed and a Republican President signed the ect
against c4nsplr{aGiies against the Interstate Com
publican Congress attempted so TO amend the Con
Stituuon to give to Congress power to deal
effectively with trusts; nearly every Republican
State has passed drastic laws in the cearest and
strongest terms against restriction of trade and
private monopolies in necessaries and a Repub-
lican Legislature urged by Theodore Roosevelt the
Republican candidate for President passed
the FRANCHISE Tax law. by which $1,000. 900 an
nually will it is thought, be collected from GER
tain corporations and trusts hitherto exempt
On the other hand, find the record as to trusts
Of the Democratic party apart from its specious
promises) to be as follows, and only as follows:
In of their States drastic laws have been
enacted Of character the same those in Re-
publican States. they defeated the proposed amend
ment to the Federal Constitution, above referred
10, and they have utterly failed refused TO re-
press trusts in those states where they are in an
soute control for they created and flourish
there just the same elsewhere. To make this
latter point and emphasize it this letter written
If the Bryanites succeed it will in my judg-
ment, be solely because they have fooled enouFb
voters this subject of trusts. The Opportunities
they have had, and the record they have made
in their own States should be known. There is
no reason to suppose they will do any more to
suppress trusts II they secure the general Cow
ernment than they have by their State Govern
ments. GEORGE L. CARIISI.T
New Rochelle, Oct % 1900