The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-12
Cuts AT The TRUSTS
ERNMENT CONTROL OF
SUCH EVILS
He Says, Unless. 1t II Under Some
System Compatible with Free
dom, and the Trust Does Not aiean
Such - Former Attorney General
Characterizeg as "Driyer' Apol-
egy That Trusts Cheaper Things.

dom, ana the TRUST Does NOT Meam
Such - Former Attorney General
characterized as "Driyer' ApoI-
ogy That Trusts Cheaper Things.
Moses E. Clapp addressed organized
labor yesterday afternoon at Assembly
hall. The occasion was the regular semi
monthly meeting with city ministers.
large audience Following several num-
bers given by the Citizens orchestra,
President Henry Giese Jr., Of the Trades
and Labor assembly, introduced the
speaker. The subject was American
Problems" ~
The speaker said in part that re-
public was like q magnificent building
The edifice might be ornamented most
artistically with beautiful pillars, capt.
tails and freezes But the walls must
rest on stable foundation or it would
topple to the ground Of It's own weight
We may be proud as a nation, but unless
our republic rests securely on hrm
foundation we are unsafe. The founda-
ton of our republic was the citizen.
OF existing industrial conditions today,
the speaker said, he did not assume TO
know more than others. But ne mad
given the subject considerable thought.
The conditions were facts, and as facts
we must confront them. Today the
American people are drifting. We
scarcely appreciated the rapidity with
which this process was going on. Yet
1t had been slow process through which
hod
was created with two distinct natures.
On the one hand were acquisitiveness.
greed, avarice. On the other love OF fa1r
play and liberty These two natures
were in conflict. But together they nave
produced free government.
GLOW did it happen Mr.. Clapp asked,
"that in the early history of the world
few men governed SO large a num-
ber?"
The speaker said it had been by the
law Of force. And force was tyranny:
The evolution Of free government had
been a grand phenomenon. 1t was start
ed centuries ago by men Of the South
land and Ncrthland of Europe. Young
republics had been founded in Italy
and on the shores of the Baltic. But
in these successive struggles for hoerty
II had been demonstrated that there was
much good in man. And this struggle
had always been maintained by the coHn-
mon people ThesGich and powerful enao
never been anxious for changes IN exist
ing conditions. Wherever monarcnles,
empires or tyrannica3 oligarcnies hao
gone to pieces Industrial people had IN
1eriablv had a hand IN their downfall.
I,aboring people had, broken down the
mower of feudalism. Five Thousand
strong 1aboring men of Client had driven
to defeat 10000 of the armed Vassais "
tyranny. The story OF human hpeily
was a story of successes. true, thei
had been reyerses, but, on the Whoie, III
advance along the lines. OF human lipel,
tv The red orffammea of France Hao
stood for tyranny. Two nunoFeu
later William the Silent hao is1io .no
foundations of the Dutcn IepuoI,o
When the American oolonlsts hao ess"o
,isbed their independence it appeared
80 +,a,r liberty was assured But IN
th;s diraction man moves slowly. II
Voc a GRAND step when we; gave 70 .eh re
,',or,d a,,r Declaration of independence.
p,,+ we had not yet reached 1t. Our nag
them waved over millions OF slaves. wv,
- h,f q skeleton of government Inc
1Ha1 If 1861 was an attack on govern
ment From that time the ioea 10 10"
arown The rebellion was an" OBJECT ies-
SON to our people. In TOUR yeats
NiSsnevay a man puts forth some slgah-
A. aepnrt lie afterwards relaxes. 1t Is
1aw If nature. Reaction had Iolieweu
49, yrar of the Rebellion. Since the Gays
- ,aoonstrrction no political caHpaish
hos heen conducted on the ilnes VI
won't Presidential elections nave 80
fought out on the ground OF co,uihs . "a
isro-industrial issues. The genius OIL .'S-
nuisition seizes upon the agencies W -
& w Iohn
viii serve it's purpose. me iaoorlns .al'
NJ tcdav was working against hleInsn.
ical devices. At enc perloa lns Tha+
was complete master OF MS traue'
Lf,d If an artisan hadi.disappeared- he
CON do hut part OF his craft we SPEAK
oe tba wheels of industry. But When they
cease to whir the poor part Oh an ar.is =.
10 THROWN upon the world useless anu III
l5 He canot save himself from
ncyerty or pauperism.l, He Is poWeriess
and helpless. 81 >.
Then. too, there was tendency among
working people to gather III sfea. clln,s'
1,here were thousands OF acres CT uInin-
n,oy cd land between New York ana Phli-
odelnhia. In the cities there was large
number on the point Of starvation. Inc
mn with a. few acres Of land wnicn ne
could till was prince beside sucn peo-
pie. v,s+.d IN
this country was that which seized upon
the agencies of aggregation. we were coh,
frented by the tyranny o. trust. Anu AN
vet it has it's defenders. mere aie opoi
oris+s who saw that trusts cheaper com-
naodities. ORWELL eApplause) There are
times and conditions when it is better
IN nav 81 for an article than 70 cents.
If anation is blessed with prosperity anu
happiness it is far better to pay 81 10,
commodity than 80 cents surrouiiue"
by want, perjury and slavery. Inc qass-
4lon Of price. should never enter INTO
discussion of trusts. Cheapness without
freedom is tyranny. When one nidn 81 ~
combination Of men can place io,VVo'ooo
neople in position where they must pay
him. or them, the price asked, regardless
of competition, the people are but slaves.
We cannot discuss such question from
the paltry platforms of schedules ana
prices. (Applause.) No matter now
cheap an article may be today In the
hands of a trust the time will come When'
with all restraints of competition re-
moved, up will go the price ana away
will go a share of our liberties.
The trust destroys the middle classes
The idea of cheapness is debasing. The
Chinaman and Indian live cheaply. But
the Cbinaman does so in country In
which all his liberties have long since
disappeared In no way does the trust
benefit mankind When competition IS
crushed out the ymant is at the feet Of
a tyrant Applause.) s. The government
must be seized upon as a factor to lift
the burden from the people: This is the
great American problem, The limitations
must be lifted from the people the
citizen Of the United States stands clothed
with heavy responsibility. 1t is ques-
ton lifted far above partisanshfp. You
cannot tax trusts out of existence. They
cannot be reached In that way. There are
three remedies. A prominent citizen Of
st. Paul suggests one-to make trust
stockholders liable for twice the amount