The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-09-24
ANTITRUST LAW
The Sherman Act the Only
Law Possible.
DEMOCRATS NEVER AMENDED IT.

The Statute Goes as Far as the Grant
Of Power Given by the National
Constitution-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
wears 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 a valuable statute. Some
of the difficulties in it are in the con-
stitution of the United States itself, as
brought out by the United States su-
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
Democrats in the senate and house
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.
Other strong facts in support of the
statement we have just made are given
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 a con-
stitutional amendment that would
require two-thirds vote in the house
| to send 1t 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 1t was overwhelm-
| ing, $50 in all, only two Republicans
| opposing 1t. 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 busi-
ness life of the country. This is the
| plain alternative before the people of
| Ohio 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-
ton. 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
are an evil which must be met by effect
i've legislation. vigorously enforced?"
We believe that the people will heartily
endorse the Republican platform posi-
ton that THE only legislation, ma
tional or in Ohio. on this subject has
been enacted by the Republican party,
and that party can be safely trusted to
deal with this problem"
i Chnre are q great many DemOcratS