The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-06-12
Con1nlofle Comment.
Extracts From W. }. Bryon's Paper.

TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

SOASpAA dSy Al ICoIIdlkl Va ana
names a penalty therefor. You will
notice that the law reads: EVERY per-
son who shall monopolize or attempt
to monopolize, or combine or conspire
with any other person or persons to
monopolize any part of the trade or
commerce among the several states or
with foreign nations, shall (not MAY)
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and on conviction thereof shall be pun
lshed by a fine not exceeding $4,000,
or by imprisonment not exceeding one
year, or by both said punishments, in
the discretion of the court
You are the chief executive If this
nation and as such are not only en-
powered, but are required, to enforce
the law. By commencing civil ac-
ton against the members of the beef
trust you declare that the members of
that trust are in your opinion guilty
of violation of the law. Why do you
hesitate to commence a criminal ac-
ton? The penalty fixed in the statute
is Insignificant compared with the pen
atty prescribed for violation Of less
important statutes. When man vio-
lates the internal revenue laws there
is no hesitation about prosecution, al
though the license fee is small and
the fine for selling without license
heavy in proportion to the crime. If
the members of the beef trust have
raised the price of meat one cent per
pound, they have laid tax of millions
OF dollars upon the people of the
United States, and it means an enor-
nous profit to themselves. A fine Of
$4,000 is insignificant, and a year in
the penitentiary would be small pun
tshment compared with that which is
given to man who steals a horse
or hundred dollars Why do the
members of the beef trust escape GRIM
inal punishment? Is it because of
their respectability? If the doctrine
OF equal rights to all and special priv
lleges to none applies to the adminis-
tration of justice, there can be no such
thing as responsibility amcng those
guilty of VIOLATION of the laws OF the
country. Does their wealth thield
them? Certainly no one will justify
the mild treatment of rich criminal
and the harsh treatment of poor one.
Are they favored because of the polit-
1cal influence they exert? Surely the
republican party has fallen from it's
first estate If rich trust magnates can
violate the law with impunity and defy
the authority of the United States.
Imperialists have placed the dollar
above the rights of the Filipinos, but
will your administration show partial
ity in the enforcement of the law in
the United States because of the bust
ness interests or, political contribu-
lions of those who conspire against
the welfare of the public?
1t is publicly stated that some Of the
capitalists have condemned you for at
tempting to enforce the antitrust law
even by civil process; it is even hint
ed that they threaten to oppose your
denomination If you show the strenu-
BUSINESS in this direction that you have
shown toward the Filipinos, but can
you be scared by such threats? You
have shown physical courage and BRAY
cry upon the battlefield-you were not
afraid of bullets when any one of them
might have taken your life; will you
now fear to face concentrated wealth?
Civil suits may annoy the captains Of
Industry" but if you are going to
"shackle cunning" you will have 20
shackle it with criminal laws. A
prison cell will prove more effective
In the prevention of monopoly than
judgments or DEGREES for the payment
of money. You have chance to show
that you were in earnest when YOU
made that Minneapolis speech-so far
you have not convinced even your
friends. The section Of the federal
statute quoted above has already been
referred to in The Commoner, and is
reproduced for emphasis. It will be
reproduced again and again, not only
That you may know the law, for YOU
are presumed to know 1t, but that the
people may be reminded of it also.
Ihey have no reason for feeling more
kindly toward the members of the beef
trust than they do toward other yio-
lators OF the law, and they will not
accept any excuse which you may giya
for dealing tenderly with a few rich
packers who conspire against the
whole people.
In his message to the Cuban senate
President Palma stated: "Together
with our own heroism is the attitude
OF the great people, impelled by their
own love Of liberty, to put themselves
on our side in our tenacious fight for
the independence of the country. Their
motive was sprung from a generous
sentiment, pure and disinterested in it's
origin. Impelled by this sentiment
the powerful republic Of the north rec.
ognizes through its illustrious presi-
dent, the republic of Cuba. The prom
Use formally made has been carried out
IN this moment, when we feel our right
as an independent nation, it is impos-
sible to suppress our gratitude to the
United States. To recognize this debt
OF gratitude to the great nation is an
act which exalts us and which makes
US worthy of the consideration and re-
spect OF the other nations Of the
world" Every time a tribute ia maid
by the Cubans to the United States
because of the attitude Of this govern,
ment toward the new republic, the
American people are reminded of their
humiliation with respect to the Philip-
pines. Would it not be gratifying 70
the American people If the Filipinos
could pay us the tribute which the
Cubans do at this time?