The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-10-20

CoLUMBUs, ONO, Oct. PA large audi
encr attended meeting tonight at the Colum-
bus Auditorium. addressed by Hon. Frank 5.
Monnett, recently the Republican Attorney
General of Ohio; j K. Sovereign, former
general master workman of the Knights of
Labor, aud Val. Fitzpatrick, grand vice chief
of the Order of Railway Conductors.
Mr.. Monnett, it will be remembered, re-
Gently Spraug into national prominence by
prosecuting the trusts in court, as 4 result of
which he was turned down for denomination
by the Republican State Convention. His
speech was devoted wholly to trusts aud con
tlned the first public declaration of his inten-
ton to support Mr. Bryan. Mr.. Monnett
reviewed the prosecutions against trusts and
mouopOlies which he had undertaken while
Attorney General of the State, saying:
at became my privilege and duty to insti
tute upward of "a suits against these trusts as
your sworn officer OF the law, calling upon the
highest courts of the State to punish these law
yiolatorS that pilage your sugar bowl, your
oil can, your tobacco pouch and exact your
excessive freight and telephone charges We
labored to accomplish this AS i: was our duty
TO do. We were badgered and obstructed by
Republican leaders, United States Senators,
political bosses and subsidized press. One
hundred aud ten newspapers accepted Stand
ard uI money TO cultivate public sentiment
wrougtuily ia the cOinpauy'S favor and against
the prosecutors.
''The mu"upolistS sent the briber with his
sedu.uous OF gold aud with his promises of
positions and salaries. They procured the
leading governmental officials to defend them.
Last. hut not least. driven from pillar Ia post.
the came INTO court aud with updtted hands
swore that they did not and could not answer
the lnterrugatories or produce their books; and
lastly, that 1t would incriminate the college
fostering. church erecting, campaign contrib
uiing monopolists. A like experince was en-
couulered against the Salt Trust at Pomeroy
Ohio; the same dodge and skulking from the
avengiBg law WAS adopted there.
Mr. Monneti then went into the subject of
Federal legislation against trusts and discussed
the sherman Anti-frusi law Referring to
the decision of the Supreme Court sustaining
the cnustitutionaliiy OF this law. he said;
''thi, brought ths trusts and monopolsts
% their last ditch IN the contest, so far as the
court and Congress we're concerned 50 far rs
the legislative and Judiciary were called upon
10 act. Az OF Us that had earnestly fought
and cUntended for this principle telt that a
great victory had been won; Republican
from Ohio had introduced the till. u Repubh-
can Housr and Senate had enacted tinto law
a Democratic Solicitor General and an At
tnrnev- General from Ohio had with great
learning and ability sustained the law before
the United States supreme Court.
Pooling ot railroads and ot railroad rates,
Joint traffic associations. the monopohes of
the Standard Ojl Company in its producing
the progress Of the raw product and dIsiribut-
ing the refined product shoald row come under
the control Of this legislative act, So FAR AS
4 a.. t.-s
Thirteen suits had been begun, about two
og tbsm under Cieveland's Administration,
hu, they were delayed awaiting the final
decision As TO the constjiutionality Of this act
I'VE nominated . President from Ohio, who
promised the people IN fair phrases that he
would enforce the antitrust laws OF the United
States, including the sherman antitrust act
Uow has he enforced il? He went 20 New
Jersey. the State % the trust breeding grounds,
the ce>Spoll and the spawn OF all these Illegal
combinations, aud placed AZ the head OF the
A.arncY Generals Department John W.
Griggs, who has under him 20 District At
tornrys scattered throughout the various States
af the Union, the daty Of each aud every Que
Of shigh is 70 enforce this antl-,ru act AccOr-
ding 10 hi. Official report, Nay -, 1900, TO Con
rr,ys. Qua uf l8 suits Instituted under tins law
three have been begun under his admlnislra-
ton One vas Ia the case otthe United States
", Anders9n, begun JuHe :, 1888, decided
against thr Government on the ground OF want
Of Jurisdiction The second vas the case Of
the United States Coal Dealers Association,
decided January y, lS9s, the third, the
United Slaies v. Chesapeake aud Ohio Fuel
Company, not yet decided
'.l'his u the magnificent record Of the pres
eut national Administration and the complete
Il, fasu
The statute books upon this subject since the
beginning of our Government
The trusts utterly failed IN defeating the
sherman antitrust act; they were completely
routed by the judiciary in the final test in the
Suprem, Court, and they have now began
,h.. dangerous policy OF paralyzIng the eNeeu'
tive arm by means that are so palpable that
be vho runs may read.
In conclusion Mr.. Monuett said;
II believe that William Mckinley and Johu
". Griggs, his Attorney General, aud his
executive officers have willfally. purposely
and knowingly paralyzed the executive arm
Of this Government tor the last four years
and prevented the enforcement Of the com
mon law and the statute law, both criminallY
asd ciyily against these law yiolaio:s.
William j. Bryan may not accomplish all
that W. expect, or AL that we hope tor, but
believe him ~ be thoroughly honest, s'n-
ctrc and determined man. While do not
agre, with him in all that he advocates, yet |
An, forced to take one side or the other on
this great question which Tor the masses rs
the paramount issue. In the name OF patriot
i,m. Tor the sake Of our Republic aud to pre-
vent the threatened danger that Senator John
sherman aud the other Nestors in the eoun-
cils uf our government have so graphically
propheSird and which | firmly believe Will
com- to pass il not checked, propose to east
INV vote for that fearless. upright champion
of the people. William j. Bryan