Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-09-28
Bryan Handles the Trusts

Bryan Handles the Trusts
The following extracts from the great
speech made recently by Mr.. Bryan, Al st
Louis, should receive the attention OF our
people:
"Durug the present Administration no
honest effort has been made To protect the
people from these monopoes. The he
publican party controls the executive ahd
the legislative departments of the Federal
Government 1t can enforce the laws which
now exist; 1t can propose and enact new
laws, but IL does neither. No persons can
watch the conduct of the Republican party
and read the speeches OF Republican leaders
and still believe the Republican party sill
cere in its declarations against the trusts.
"rhe Republican platform on this ques-
ton and the Presidents letter OF acceptance,
taken in connection with the party's record,
prove concusvely that no relief can be
hoped for from that party. Instead OF point
ing out the evils OF trusts the Republican
leaders spend their time in exulting over
present conditions. The trust is part OF
present conditions, and Mr.. Flint, from
whom have already quoted, declared that
the formation OF large corporations was one
Of the important features of what he de
scribed MS present business activity.
at Republican leaders really regarded
private monopoly AS an evil II they really
intended to apply an effective remedy, they
would not hesitate tn denounce trusts and
suggest means Tor their determination, but
they express tar more soicitude for the cor
poration than for the people At large. One
Is reminded of the picture which a mother
O hn In hnr hNu IN mi ruaa his |
youthful mind the suffrrings of the christian
martyrs, who were being thrown into the
arena and torn TO pieces by the lions The
boy looked at the picture Tor u moment, and |
then his lace frightened up as he thought |
he caught the idea. Pointing down into |
one point OF the picture, he said, why, |
mamma, there is one poor little lion that |
isn't getting bit
at is even so with the Republican leaders |
Their sympathy goes out freely to any cor
poration, which Ia their oponon is not get !
ting its share, but they are not moved by
the hardshlps imposed by monopolies upon
all who are outside Of the charmed circle.
Three sessions OF Congress have convened
and adjourned since the Presidents inaugu-
ration, and yet he has never recommended
specific measures looking toward the over
throw OF monopolies.
PAPER MONEY TRUST
AT the opening OF the last session of Con
gress the Republican leaders pressed through |
the House and Senate a bill creating u paper |
money trust and surrendered into the hands
OF the national banks complete control of
the national currency. Just rs Congress |
was closing iarccal and hypocrltcal at
tempt was made to deceive the public by |
the introduction OF an antitrust bill. The |
"a
tended to deprive the States OF the power
which they now possess, rather than to
confer upon Congress new authority.
."rhis vicious amendment was defeated in
the House by the Democrats. The Repub
lican leaders then confessed the amendment
unnecessary by introducing an antitrust
bill, which was supported by the Democrats,
but which died in the Senate, Just as II was
expected to die. The Republican majority
in the Senate referred the bill 10 the Judi
ciary Committee against the protests OF the
Democrats. who urged its immediate passage.
The Republican party draws its cOntribu-
tons from the trusts during the campaign,
ami pays back its obligations by leaving the
people at the mercy OF the trusts between
campaigns.
"Let us note briefly the effect of the trusts
upon various classes. Reference has already
been made to the commercial traveller, the
hotel keeper, the railroad the liVeryman,
and the newspaper.
THE EFFECT oP TRU.Ts.
"Ibe lawyers are finding that with the
growth OF trusts the business IL gravtating
toward the offices OF the big corporation at
torneys, while less fortunate practitioners
are becoming law clerks.
"'Hhe actors suffer from the theatrical trust.
"rhe small manufacturer is constantly
menaced by the trusts.
"lle does not know at what moment some
large corporation will attempt to monopo
lie the business in which he is engaged and
give him his choice between bankruptcy and
participation in an industrial conspiracy
against the rest Of the country. Many have
been driven into the trust organization by
the larger corporations engaged In the same
business, or by trusts formed TO control iron,
steel, tin plate, or some other product used
as basis for further manufacture. In what
business can your son safely invest small
amount of capital to-dayp II he starts into
any independent business he will find 1t
difficult, 1t not impossible, to compete with
a large organization II II attempts 10 under
sell him In his territory, because 1t can sus
tain itself by collecting high prices in other
parts OF the country II he suppresses his
moral objections and takes stock in mo-
nopoy he does not know how soon those
10 charge may attempt 10 freeze out the
smaller stockholders.
"The merchant is losing his independence
The trust fixes the terms upon which he
shall sell and often binds hin by contract
not to sell competing article When the
monopoly is complete credit will be shorten
ed, and the merchant will be compelled 10
a -. q
raises prices the merchant usually has 10
divide the advance with the customers, 80
lar N stock on hand Is concerned, but when
the trust overstocks tho market and lets the
price fall the merchant must bear the loss
on accumulated stock. When, for instance,
the American Steel and Wire Company
closed several of its factories few months
ago and threw some six thousand employees
out of work II dropped the price of nails
and barbed wire In order to work off a sur
plus stock which had accumulated because
the high prices had lessened the demand.
Every merchant lost money on the nails
and wire on hand
"There Is already overproduction In many
lines. The supply OF common chairs is now
considerably In excess of the demand, but
lest the Republicans may try TO explain this
upon the theory that the people are too busy
10 sit down, | may add that there Ia also
dulness In the shoe trade The Iron Age,
in recent issue, pointed out that the pro-
duction Of iron was falling off, the decrease
then amounting TO more than 10000 tons
per month. Dun's report of July 81 stated
that the wooden mills were running at less
than half their capacity, and even recently
the cotton manufacturers have been threat
ening 10 either reduce wages or shut down
temporarily. According TO Dun's report,
the business failures have been greater dur
Ing each month Of 1900 than they were dur
ing the same months Of last year, and this
occurs in the midst Of good crops, and when
two wars are In progress"
He Fooled the Surgeons.
ALI hnctnra inld Renick Hamilton Of WeaL