The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-10-31
ISSUE SQUARELY MET
DEMOCRATS HAVE DONE MOTH
ING TO CONTROL TRUSTS.
Richard O1ney, When Attorney Gem
eral, Refused to Acknowledge the
Validity of the Sherman Law and De-
clared 1t to Be Unconstitutional.

Chicago Correspondence:
At Republican National Committee
headquarters the trust question is be-
ing handled without gloves. Not only
is Senator Hanna making trusts the
principal feature Of his speeches, but it
is understood that nearly all of the
other speakers acting under the aus
pieces of the Republican National Com
mittee, are devoting much attention to
trusts.
ments at Washington during the terms
of President Cleveland and the records
of various Democratic States, as well
as Republican States. have been search
ed for any evidence that the Demo
cratic party has made effort to restrict
the operations of trusts, and to enact
or enforce antitrust laws. Secretary
Heath, of the Republican National
Committee, stated that not trace of
evidence could be found showing that
during the two terms Of President
Cleveland anything was done in the
direction Of restricting trust operations.
"On the contrary" said Secretary
Heath, ''President Cleveland had as
Attorney General Mr.. Richard Olney,
of Massachusetts, who, according to
the New York World of Jan. g. 1894,
declared the Sherman antitrust law to
be unconstitutional and void Mr.. Oh
ney further said quoting the New York
World Of date given, and the World
declared it was quoting from Attorney
Oiney'S report, but as all ownership of
property is of itself a monopoly, and
as every business contract or trans
action may be viewed as a combina-
ton, which more or less restraints some
part or kind of trade or commerce, any
literal application Of the provisions of
the statute is out of the question:
THE World declared, and the World
this year is supporting Mr.. Bryan, with
Mr.. Olney, that accordingly Mr.. Olney
concludes that the law, if it is to be
considered as constitutional, must be
regarded as applicable only in those
cases-which never occur-in which the
conspiracy Of greed against need backs
itself by imposing some legal disability
upon others from engaging in the same
trade or industry The World also
said editOrially in its issue of Jan. 3,
1891 The simple fact is that this man
Olney, while serving as Attorney Gen
nj iS on hn oil 10 80
in all matters affecting the trust con-
spiracies. 1t was an affront to the peo-
pie to make him Attorney General It
is disgrace to the administration to
continue him in office
1T is refreshing to note" continued
Mr.. Heath, that the New York World,
as far back as 1893, and as late as 1894,
praised the Sherman antitrust law,
which was proposed by a grand old Re-
publican from Ohio, and passed by a
Republican Congress, and sharply crti-
cised President Cleveland's Attorney
General for not enforcing the law,
when the World and other Democratic
newspapers, now favoring the election
of Mr.. Bryan, are parading Mr. Olney
as a great modern Democrat, and one
whose influence will do the Bryan cause
much good.
'"The World Of Aug. II, 1893, edito-
rally stated that Richard Olney, acting
for j. B. Greenhut, president of the
Whisky Trust, and under indictment
for violating the Sherman antitrust
law, declared in his pleadings that the
Sherman antitrust law is not within
the power Of Congress, and is uncon-
stitutional and void;' and then the
World inquired in the same editorial:
Is 1t not an embarrassment to have as
Attorney General one who, in prosecut-
ing trusts, will be confronted with his
own contention that the law under
which he proceeds is unconstitutional
and yOid-one who, in prosecuting the
monopolists, will be forced to send his
own best clients to Jail?
1.-The New York World, Jan. 3, 1894, |
contained special telegram from
Washington, commenting upon the at
tltude Of Attorney General Olney, |
which stated that the Republicans are
quick to seize the opportunity to score |
the Democrats on the ground of bad |
faith;' and that the antitrust law.
which bears Senator Sherman's name. |
was drafted by that able lawyer. ex-
Senator Edmunds, Of Vermont "a Re- |
publican), who had no doubt that it's |
provisions could be enforced and that |
Mr.. Olney has not given the law fair
construction
Support of the Old Soldiers.
Since 1867 the amount paid for the |
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