Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-09-17
ANTITRUST LAW
The Sherman Act the Only
-. Law Possible.
DEMOCRATS NEVER AMENDED 1T.

The Statute Goes as Far as the Grant
of Power Given by the National
Oonstitution--An Amendment Voted
Down by the Democrats.
The record of results already secured
through the Sherman antitrust law
is considerable when they are all
grouped together and proves it to be
a practicable prevention for many OF
the evils of trade combinations. Some
years ago United States supreme court
decisions showed some of it's weak
points, and yet, with all that, this Re
publican enactment has developed
strength in restraint upon oppressive
and inequitable trade combinations,
and makes 1t q valuable statute. Somo
of the difficulties in it are in the con-
stitution of the United States ITSELF as
brought out by the United States SUI
preme court decision upon the matter
rendered by Chief Justice Fuller. These
points might be- made better by con-
gress. But these points to be strength,
ened might have received the required
amendment or action long since if the
of representatives had been willing to
do anything. They have had plenty of
opportunity, but did nothing whatever
when in power themselves, and when
the Republicans proposed action the
Democrats still refused to take the
steps that were in their power. p a5c
Other strong facts in support Of the
{a+ +a, !,
by the record of congress on the first
day of June, 1900. TO meet and to
cure the defect in the Constitution in
regard to these matters as shown by
Chief Justice Fuller's decision that
congress has no power over trade COM
binations except in interstate COM
merce, the Republicans offered con-
stitutional amendment that would
require two-thirds vote in the house
to send it to the senate. One would
think that this proposition was so
plain, simple and reasonable that all
would agree to it. yet it was voted
against by every Democrat and Popu-
list present except four, the Repub-
licans giving $50 out of 154 votes in
it's favor. The Democratic and Pop
ulist vote against it was ovorwhelm-
ing, 130 in all, only two Republicans
opposing it. This is the record not to
be denied or blotted out or covered up.
| The Democrats are bound by it, and
can never escape from it, Until they
actually do something to strengthen
| the Sherman antitrust law, wholly
Republican in its preparation and en-
| actment, and something to correct the
| constitutional weakness that hinders
further action, all the Democratic pro-
| fessions in Christendom amount to
| nothing at all.
In place of these practical ways of
meeting the evils, the Democrats have
nothing new to offer in their Ohio plat
| form of the present year, except free
| trade. They would destroy the indus
tries rather than do anything to reg
ulate any possible evils in connection
Herewith, that would at the same time
preserve such industries to the bust
ness life of the country. This is the
| plain alternative before the people of
kOhio and of the country at large, dis
tinctly drawn by the Democratic plat
form now before the people of this
state. The Republicans offer regula-
ton, the Democrats demand destruc-
tion. Which is the more reasonable,
the Democratic demand for free trade,
or the Republican declaration that
combinations which create monopo-
lies, control prices, or limit production
nre an (which must be met by effect
I've legislation, vigorously enforced?"
We believe thatthe people will heartily
endorse the Republican platform posi-
tion that THE only legislation, ma
tional or in Ohio, on this subject has
been enacted by the Republican party,
4 and that party can be safely trusted to
deal with this problem"
|