Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-09-06

Promise or performance, which will
the people prefer in dealing with trust
combinations? The Ohio Democratic
platform demands "The suppression of
all trusts and return to industrial
freedom whatever that last may
mean. 1t sounds very much like free
trade, and looks like free trade, and
the very next clause in the Democratic
platform confirms the free trade view
by saying that "as means to that
end g. e., industrial freedom) all
trust products should be placed on the
free list" That is to say, free trade
Is the only possible suggestion after
all its study, that the embodied wis
dom of the Ohio Democracy has to
offer for the evils it magnifles. This
is characteristic as we'll as correct, for
in four years of full political power.
from 1898 to 1896, both president and
congress, the Democrats did nothing
against the trusts. Not one official act
against the trusts by either the eXecu-
tive or the legislative departments is
party in power in all those four years.
save the sugar trust schedule of the
Wilson progressive free trade bill, by
which S4,000000 was turned over from
the people to that trust.
And yet at that very time, the Demo
cratic congress- had the best chance in
the world to do something worth while
in this matter John Sherman, that
great Republican, was author of the
law which has been used effectively
against trade combinations. In it's
5hree years of operation, the test Of
The courts had shown where it might
be bcttercd, but the Democrats did not
one of these things in all their four
years of power.
1t was Republican president, Ben
'amin Harrison, who suggested such
legislation il his message of Decem-
Der 3, 1889. 1t was John Sherman, the
Republican leader, who framed the
necessary bill. 1t was a Republican
congress controlled by that party in
10Th senate and house, that enacted
Harrison who signed 1t July 8, 1890
This was actual results in Republican
legislation, as contrasted with the do
policy of the Democrats in
their four years, OF power in both the
executive and legislative departments.
Ths Sherman law has proved to be,
and today constitutes. the only prac-
teal federal legislation on the sub
ject of trusts, monopolies and combi.
nations of capital. 1t has been tested
In the courts by a number of suits
brought in the name of the United
States, and prosecuted with greater or
less success, according to the merits
Of each case, but proving the statute
strong enough to make trouble for the
trusts wherever the testimony would
a conviction.
Experience has since demonstrated
the need for more radical action be-
cause Of the inherent weakness of the
law, largely because of
the decision of the United States Su-
preme court given by Chief Justice
Fuller (himself in politics Demo
crat) that the congress, except In in
.erstate commerce, is without consti,
.utional power to repress or regulate
he trusts. To meet this difficulty, the
Republicans in congress submitted and
a constitutional amendment
giving to congress the power to fine,
'egulate, prohibit, or dissolve, trusts,
or combinations, whether
existing in the form of a corporation
)r otherwise. This was voted upon in
he house June !, l900y and failed to
'eceive the constitutional two-thirds
yote, because the Democrats opposed
t. OF 154 votes in its favor, all were
by the Republicans but four; of 1872
1otes against it. all were by Demo.
rats and Populists but two.
Here was something practical and
practicable, and the Democrats did
lothing for it, opposed it in fact. In
'lace of it all they have to offer after
Ill these four years of discussion is
rarely and simply bald free trade. In
rider to destroy the possible evils that
nay have grown up In connection with
'ur industries, the democratic remedy
S to destroy the industries themselves,
:reate idleness for employees, and uni
yersal panic among the people.
This Is not ancient history nor old
hings that we are talking about, but
he Ohio Democratic platform for the
present year; the ideals of Democracy
down to date. Every Demo
ratio vote is not vote against trusts
lnder this plank of their platform, so
much as it is vote for free trade.
What a contrast there is between
he clamor kept up by the Democrats
lpon the stump and in their press
lpon the trust Question, and the abso
ute absence OF any achievement by
hem as party, either in legislative
II administrative action,upon the evils
'ver which they raise such disturb
nee. 1t has been well said that when
is out of power, the Democratic
'arty is against trusts when 1t is in
'ower it is in favor of them"
1t is a favorite Democratic pretense
hat the trusts have some mysterious