The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-20

No Trusts. Says Hanna.
There is grave reason for fearing that
the thing most needed by Senator Marcus
A Hanna is a commission de lunaieo in
quirendo His recent troubles are tc blame,
We suppose The modification of his per-
sonal invasion of Indiana against the pro-
test of Governor Mount. the alarming re-
ports of his agents in the East in cennec-
tion with the New England elections. the
dangerous political conditions in New York.
the exposure of negro colonization schemes
in West Virginia. and the great Pennsyl-
yara coal strike-al these had combined
and cumulated to fill him with combustible
thoughts and excite angry passions. 1t only
needed the cold-blooded letter of Mr..
William ]. Bryan, in which that gentleman
said that, if elected. he would secure an
Attorney General who would obey and en-
force the law against the trusts, to set
Mr.. Hanna of. He accordingly exploded
in a speech in Chicago on Tuesday.
After saying to his hearers: you will
find my text in the letter of acceptance of
that great apostle of free silver. William
Jennings Bryan" Mr.. Hanna, in a remark
able burst Of oratory which brought down
the house-with hisses-said: 81 wish l
could have together on this platform. Will
liam Jennings Bryan and Senator George
F. Hoar, who says: I would tear the mask
off the face of that hypocrite, William Jen-
Rings Bryan " We pause to remark that
Senator Hear fatty denies ever having
made the offensive allusion to Mr.. Bryan
ascribed TO him by overexcited Hanna. But
that is a small matter. The point and hu-
NOR OF the harangue is contained in the
Republican National Chairman's answer
to the pointed challenge in Mr. Bryan's
letter regarding the trusts. Mr.. Hanna
said:
81 would like Mr.. Bryan any other Democrat
70 tell me what . trust is | believe there is nslt
trust in the entire United States. There i
national law. and in every State there is a Law
against frusts- They cannot exist, and every law
against trusts. national State. has been the
product Of Republican lawmakers and the credit
Is due TO the Republican party"
This is rich indeed.-when did Mr.. Han
ma reach the pleasant conclusion that
there is not a trust in the United
states:" 1t must have been since his
speech in Ohio last year, when he cham
pioned them and declared they were be-
neficent institutions. His declaration viii
be news indeed to people who understood
that there are such organizations in ex-
istence as the Standard OIL Trust, the Su-
gar Trust. the Steel Trust, the Leather
Trust. and a long list of other trusts. But
he says there are no such things in the
United States, because laws enacted by
Republican Congresses make it impossi-
BILE.
We cannot commend the logic of the re-
ply. The popular opinion is that trusts do
exist and in spite OF the law. Two trust
lawyers have occupied the office of Attor-
ney General during the Mckinley Admin
istration. Both were imposed upon will
ing Administration by the trusts which
have enjoyed a suggestive immunity from
the law they continually evade and vio-
late, because the Department OF Justice
has not been active against them during
the past four years. Mr.. Bryan says that.
il elected. he will secure an Attorney Gen
eral who will obey the law. That pledge
appears to have maddened Mr.. Hanna,
who naturally could conceive of no worse
attack upon the interests of his cherished
friends and contributors But if. as he as
sures US. there are no trusts, then
Mr.. Bryans Attorney General will make
water haul. and find nobody 20 punish
The forte of Marcus Alonzo is not public
speaking even when in the enjoyment Of
his full mental health. With the most
amiable feeling we earnestly recommend
him. when again tempted to mount the
platform, 10 visit a sanitarium instead