Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-10-06

to the republicans, it also brings response
bility to the democrats. Public atten.
ton is now attracted to the free list as a
remedy for trusts. That is the only
remedy the reorganizers have proposed
and its insufiiciency will soon become
apparent on investigation. 1t must not
be put forward as complete remedy for
the trust evil, but as a means OF prevent
ing the extortion now practiced by manu-
facturers who hide behind the tariff and
sell at high price at home while they
sell abroad in competition with the
world.
IT democrats propose tariff reduction as
a complete remedy for the trusts they
will be met by two unanswerable argu-
ments; first, that trust that can export
can exist without a tariff, and. second,
that there are trusts in England, which
is generally pointed to as a free trade
country.
Democrats who rely upon the free list
as a complete remedy or as the only
remedy for the trusts will soon be on the
defensive, but democrats who rely upon
the free list as remedy for trust extor-
ton will put the republicans ON the
defensive.
As The Commoner has repeatedly
pointed ont, trust-msde articles should
be put on the free list for the protection
of the public, but the party will make
fatal mistake if it stops with that It
must attack the principle of monopoly
and present remedy which will make it
impossible for a private monopoly to
exist in the United States.
The Kansas City platform presents
such remedy and it is the only remedy
now before the public. 1t is simple, and
easily applied, and it has the merit Of
striking the evil it aims at without dis
turbing corporations engaged in legiti-
mate business.
The monopolies are here and they are
growing; the republicans are at sea; the
leaders of the party, raised to power by
trust contributions, are impotent to do
anything. They dare not enforce the
criminal law against trust magnates they
dare not offend manufacturers who have
both money ~ the power to coerce
voters. The spGbiicans have talked
about publicity, but they have allowed
six years to go by without even trying
that remedy. Now, the president sug.
gests still more remote remedy. With
out evidence he assumes that congress is
powerless to apply an effective remedy
and proposes an amendment which re.
quires, first, two.thirds OF both houses !;
second, three-fourths of the states, and,
third, federal statute carrying out the
new amendment. Why thus postpone
action for an indefinite period unless it is
certain that present power is exhausted ?
Why not enforce the criminal law now
on the statute book? If they refuse to
enforce that, are they likely to enforce
some future law? If the republicans will
not adopt remedies already permitted by
the constitution are they likely to enact
legislation to be authorized by some
future amendment?
The democrats can charge that the re-
publicans do not intend to destroy private
mon opolies and they can cite as proof
the inaction of republican presidents, re-
publican senators, republican congress.
men and republican judges, and they can
also cite the arguments made by republic
cans from the president down in defense
Of the very monopolies which they prom
Use to attack. They are doing now on the
trust question exactly what they did on
the money question in 1896. Then they
promised international bimetallism while
they made arguments in favor of the
gold standard (Which they called "sound
money'D now they promise to curb the
trusts, while republican editors and
speakers defend them as necessary
evil.
The democrats have great opportunity
they should improve it. Let them urge
the free list as protection from extortion
and let them advocate publicity, not as a
remedy In itself, but as an aid to a
remedy, and then let them demand that
the republicans accept or oppose the
Kansas City platform remedy which laws
the axe ct the root Of the tree and strikes
. blow that will kill. Let the corporation
be shut mp in the state Of its origin and
let it be denied the use Of the mails, the
telegraph lines and the railroads until il
shows by conclusive proof that it lie moi
trying to monopolize any branch of bust.
ness OF the production Of any article d
merchandise.
This 10 remedy, easy in application,
effective and complete. No other has
been proposed.
ADsrica's Famous Beauties
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