New-York tribune., 1900-05-14
COLER'S VISIT TO JONES.
CONTROLLER THINKS HIS TRUST SU-
PERNISION PLANK WILL
BE ADOPTED.

Controller Coler. fresh from his conferences with
Senator James X. Jones. chairman of the Demo-
cratic National Committee. and other conspicuous
leaders OF the Democratic party at Washington
yesterday evening by a Tribune reporter
al his home, No. 2A Hancock-st.. Brooklyn. The
Controller believes that his well known political
tenet of State supervision in trusts and corpora
tions will be embodied in the next Democratic Ma
tiona platform and in the Democratic platforms of
the various States.
The Controller believes in sidetracking the money
question in the next National campaign and paying
mere attention what he calls ''the danger of
commercialism in politics"
He believes that trusts can be controlled rather
than destroyed. and that the worst corporations
can be abolished by system of negative legisa
ton through State inspection and supervision
which would. he declares, put one-half of the
trusts out of business because they could stand
the light Of publicity
Mr.. Coler contends that the proposition Of Mr..
Bryan for National supervision would infringe on
the rights of the States and therefore is not prac-
teal. and that the idea OF Governor Roosevelt TO
compel the trusts and corporations 10 file detailed
reports would be productive of no good, as the
corporations could easily evade The law He
pointed to the Third Avenue Railroad as an in
stance of this. The Controller believes that the
State could prescribe the form of bookkeeping
which the corporations should use. and that their
books should be open the public and State
officials.
The State should give up the control of a
thing ii cIeates.' said the Controller.
did you discuss the silver issue with Senator
Jones at the conference in Washington" asked
the reporter of the Controller
Il did not was the reply.
when left Mr.. Jones'" Mr.. Coler continued 'it
understood that l to draw up in the form
Of an argument my views on the question of State
supervision. l will submit this argument some
time In the latter part of this week
The argument, the Controller said. would show
that in the present unsupervised methods of cor
porations and a premium placed on
manipula instead of the development of legiti
mate business.
To show the tenor of the argument which the
Controller will send to Senator Jones ond The line
on which Mr.. Coler would like plank of the next
Democratic National platform to read. he dictated
the following statement to The Tribune reporter:
While currency is a great problem. nearly 90 per
cent of all business transacted is done without lts
The real danger of this Republic is the com
mercialism Of political organizations and men N
office.
The Controller then expatiated upon this idea
saving that men previously in public Office have
due advantage of the public when afterward placed
al the head of big corporations
The Controller continued by saying:
Notable examples of this condition of commercial
ism exist In the Republican NATIONAL organization
and the men in control Of il. This is only eX-
ceeded by State organization of the same party
in New-York, and only equalIed by portions OF the
Democratic organization and politicians in our own
city.
Controller Coler was asked by The Tribune re-
porter ''Will you support Mr.. Bryan if he is NOM
inated?"
port the nominee of the Democratic National Con-
Vention.