Evening journal., 1900-10-23
nlsroRY vs. AssnRrIoN.

HISTORY ". AstEAIlON.
'S In seeking balance between the
|Nalms of two political parties on this
ueston. business men surely cannot do
Better than to appeal again to history,
That It may shed It's guiding light upon
Bare assertion and heated challenge Of
'Inolive Democratic control Of some Of
be most formidable trusts Is. as we have
'#lready suggested. a matter Of public
ecord and Of history
II Is n matter of history that a dozen
tears ago a Democratic Congress first
tsltated this question and entered upon
|H thorough trust Investigation through
he House committee on manufactures
|EShcse Investigators held back their re-
|hori tin the day before final adjourn
|Ineni. and then recommended no legisla-
Zion. despite the fact that they had been
ested with full power and had examined
|nore than a hundred witnesses.
il IS a matter Of history that the Demo
fats IN the Fifty-second Congress again
|4leveloped a trust agitation and trust in
slniry and finally did nothing.
M IT is a matter of history that in 1894
P Democratic Congress placed a rider on
S De fatal low tariff law then passed. IN
4 be form Of provisions purporting TO au-
horize the regulation OF trusts; but
Whether the Democratic Executive nor the
Democratic officials made any effort, so
nr as recorded history shows. TO render
hese provisions effective.
'N It IS a declaration Of the party now in
honirol OF the government that. so far as
'Nrusis are injurious. they must and will
3 I3e regulated and restrained by law. That
bis position is in the best interests OF
4he business Of the country should be
haient to intelligence. How far does his.
Tory demonstrate or deny the good faith
..,f the declaration?
# The constitutional embarassments at
.endlng effective legislation Of this char
'Iacter have. from the first, been general!
.fecognized. But where there Is a vii
Where can be found a way. The Sherman
'4anti-trust & law enacted In 1890 was ridi
uled by the party Of unfulnlled pledges
but recent decisions by the federal Su
nreme Court show it TO be the only legis
iafion ever had which at all approache
Reflective power TO prevent or punish com
binations IN restraint Of trade or produC
ioe. Leading decisions proving this wer
fhose in the case Of the Joint Traffic AS
.soclation. a great railroad combination
Rendered IN October 1898. and in IA
Famous case Of the Addystone Pipe an
3teel Company against the United State
fendered in December 1899.
THESE cases affirmed the power Of Coz
<fess to regulate interstate commerce
and all trusts are more or less dependel
#npon Interstate commerce-and declare
fIthe agreements Of these combination
sseomplained Of TO be illegal agreements.
where is there room for doubt betwes
these two records-one all agitation, Il
other action?
BAD FAITH EXPOSED.
But the bad faith OF the would
synchers Of all trusts is further indicat
Ar history-by the story Of deeds, as O
posed to the story OF protestations. T
s.oIesent Administration went again up
record. last December. as unequivOcal
al favor OF further and more RESTRICT
.sS,eRlslation. if this should be found D,
sIble. The Administration majority
zhe House supported this view The
uas every reason TO expect the suppo
2z.HfsO. OF the minority in any plan n
sm|eht agree with its declarations.
Isl September OF last year the nstioi
<eader Of the minority. after repeal