New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-26
BRYAN'S TRUST NOsTRUMs
EX-MAYOR HEWITT SHOWS THE POPo.
CRATIC CANDIDATES IGNORANCE
or THE PRINCIPLES OF
CORPORATIONS.

Reasons for his support Of Mckinley ana
Roosevelt were given in letter by ex-SIavo-
Abram s. Hewitt which was published {.
"Oesterreichisch-U ngarische Zeitung' on Sen
TENDER 26. 1t was addressed 10 Marcus schnttz-
er. the Editor Of the newspaper. who requested
another letter from Mr.. Hewitt dealing with the
question OF trusts. Mr.. Hewitt yesterday sent
to Mr.. schnitzer the following:
New-York, October u. 1904
Dear Mr.. Schnitzer: You ask me 10 supple
ment my previous letter TO you by the expression
of some opinion the question OF trusts which
since your original letter 70 me has assumed
considerable prominence in the speeches roade
both by Democratic and Republican speakers
have heretofore made no answer 70 your r.
quest. because I desired to see the precise Do
sition which Mr. Bryan would finally take upon
the subject He dealt with IL extensively In his
remarks at Madison Square Garden and he has
made frequent references TO the subject in his
itinerary speeches delivered since ne left New
York. His Utterances clearly show that he does
not understand the nature Of the question which
he discusses with many words. but with few
ideas. His arguments, il they may be so termed
can be summed up in the brief statement that he
does not believe in the principle and right Of as
ISOLATION upon which is based the extraordinary
industrial progress Of the present age. In order
to show how shallow he IS il is only necessary
10 restate few fundamental principles Of social
science.
SOME FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.
Ffrst-Every man has a right 70 work or II,
refrain from work. If he works he IS entitled tn
the fruits Of his labor In other words. priTa-s
property is the logical and inevitable result oc
individual liberty.
second-The right of men to associate with
each other for any lawful purpose is indis-
pensable to social progress This right carries
with it the same security for associated can't
tai belongs to individual property
Third-The association OF men together nay
be either by partnership or by what is known
as cooperative organizations. In these Organi-
cations society has not yet limited, and proba-
bly, cannot limit, the amount Of capital which
- ~fraFa TwHr Hrr-
pTlses. In popular parlance, a large amount %
capital thus associated under a corporate char
Ter Is caIleo trust, aIIhOush Ile original sig
nificance of the word was very CtnerenL Bryan
uses the word. however, in its present popular
sense. and in this letter will accept his defni-
ton.
In attacking trusts therefore. he attacks tho
principle of the association of capital But as
ISOLATED capital cannot be attacked without
sailing the correlative right of association on
the part of those who depend upon their daily
labor for their support. This right OF assO-
citation on the part of labor is one which thu
workingmen or this country nave StrenuOusly
asserted under very great opposition, and
which they will never yield. and never can
yield without the loss OF all that they have
gained through years of struggle for increased
wages and greater comfort 1t amazes me.
therefore. that Bryan should in his speeches
attack the right Of association, which is abs0-
lutely Indispensable to the welfare OF the work
ing classes. He does not seem TO be aware that
in his efforts to set class against class he IS
attempting to destroy the very principle upon
which the hopes Of the WOTkingmeu OF this
country for future betterment must be founded.
Every trades union is. according 70 Mr..
BTyans definition. trust equally with the
ISOLATION of capital for the purposes of prOduc-
ticn or distribution. The principle which under
lies both is precisely the same, and neither one
can be surrendered without RELOCATING society
TO an intOlerable condition of confusion. OF
stagnation and Of warfare between the sew
eral classes Of which il is constituted How
Bryan can expect to get the votes OF the work.
ingmen Of this country in favor Of the Gestruc-
ton of the very principle of association upon
which their welfare depends passes my cOEpFe-
hension.