The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-27
WARNING TO TRUSTS
PRESIDENT DENOTES ATTEN-
 TON TO THEM IN MESSAGE.
Used Pointed Language-If Laws are.
 Needed to Repress the Greed of Monopolies They Will Be Passed.
Walter wellmans Washington Special

Walter Welman's Washington Special
 to Chicago Record-Herald.
 Certain paragraphs of President Roose- velts message will have a special time iiness just now in view of the recent Western railway combination The Pres ident does not discuss that particular subject, but he has d good deal to say of the trust question in general. His treatment of this topic is said to be the most vigorous part of the message. h plain. terse language. the President sounds d warning to the big corporations. their managers and promoters.
 He tells them that they are on trial at the bar of public opinion. If they show too much greed. if they become too monopolistic. if they offend the public sense of right and reason. they will
 surely have to suffer- If there are no
 laws now to control them. such laws will be framed. If constitutional author
 itv. therefore, does not now exist, it will
 be sought and found. The lecture which
 the President reads these corporations Is sound. sharp and wholesome.
 ! At the same time MT. Roosevelt points
 out that what are called trusts, or great combinations of business. are following
 out natural and economic law, and the
 people should be careful how they at | tempt, by statute law. to interfere with
 the natural law of industrial develop l ment. In this feature of his messa ge
 the President strilIngly shows his ca paclty Tor thoughtful and wise treatm4ni | pI great pupllC questions. Tie ndS WILL
 stood all temptations to play to the gal | leries' by use of catch phrases and rhe- ! torlc which have d brave sound, but
 which mean nothing in the way of sO- l lution.
 1 The chief remedy which the President 1 has to suggest is publicity-publicity S l that the people shall know which trusts
 are monopolistic and oppressive anc
 which are not.
 No antitrust legislation is expected ! during the coming winter.
 Great efforts are being made by East.
 ern high protectioniSts to prevent thu | trust question and the tariff question coming together. They insist that there
 is no connection between them. Bul l Western Republicans of the advanced ] type argue to the contrary. They de- clare that it is the tariff which makes some of the great trusts possible. They declare further, and have the figures to prove their assertions, that tariH-protect- ed trusts sell their goods cheaper Tn Tor l eign countries than they do al nome. | Here is where the trust and tarlH ques tions run together and where, 1t Is as serted. reform must be had if the West Is to be held in line for the Republican Party.
 An Eastern high tariff authority. The Philadelphia Press, has admitted that some articles of American manufacture are today sold abroad cheaper than Tn this country. But it explains that goods sold at low prices abroad arc similar tu he wares which merchant places on the bargain counter and dispOses or at cost or less in order to get rid or d sur plus stock.
 This admission that goods are sold cheaper abro1d thar at home mas at- tracted a good deal of attention. as hith- erto the advocates of a high. tariif. wlth- out any notifications of rates, nave re- fused to make any such admissioh' Already the Democrats are prlcklng mp | their ears. They believe the Republican party is in conrOl of the high tarliIltes and that there will be no rcductloIs ol
 reforms. They further believe that tnls m will give them a chance to come 10 tne front as the champions of tarir reform. l Senator Vest has pointed out a "SS III which, according to his view, the DeILio- mo. cratic party may find that which IL Has so long sought, a winning issue .,a;..
 Republicans don't want tarln reNlsloii
 and they don't want reciprocity tna' | touches single protected item ol tLit tariff schedule. I don't know a hepu9ll- pl l. can leader who dares to stand oenlha specific scheme of tariff reduction @ @oe- signed to enlarge the foreign conliheLct s CT {, of the United States. My beilel ls 'nat M | all of the treaties will be reJecteu ,,n, a,I that the Republicans in the senate VI, q, ] stand firm against any change LII u