The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-14
VEST SAYS CRISIS
HAS BEEN REACHED
Believes America Is AT the Dividing
Point Between Capitalization
and Pure Democracy
SENATOR'S EYES ARE BETTER.
j. Now Able 10 Redd-Takcs
Keen Interest in the Coal
Strike and the Trust
Question.

,,. The Re1ae Bureau
Washington. oct lI-Senaior Vest ha- re-
tuDivd from Baltimore whore lie went 10
consult an ocalist .n regard TO an aIeetim
OF tEe r-,,ni of his eyes
The Senator was benefited by his treat
ment ANA returned go IA, capital i'm order
To have the comforts Of his OWN home Tire
Senator can read. although his physician
has cautioned him against overstraiuiug hi
eyes,
he was sitting IH his library when The
Republic correspondent oIl!cd Jlis morning.
lie - disposed % hts mail ANA read the
papers and chattei freely anogL his aflic-
lion and about the ail-ansorAinE Question
of settling the anthracite coal strike.
The senator does not believe that Con
gress or thu Federal aimili tratiou can iH-
~teryene i'm this matter in amy practical way
GAREYrS STATEMENT.
AIR Vest said 10 The Republic CORE
u went to Baltimore for ,he purpose Of
cvuscltinS Doctor CAREY. % Whose great-
mert l had heard a great d,ai from S-uatuS
Money and other frltu1s- / wanted To in
NesUgate his mode OF treatment. and. like
all persons similarly afflicted. WAS ANXIOUS
70 set relief in any Way possible. dl
not remain IN Baltimore long enough 10
IT, AalEa treatment A4HNE aiA. Naht NfhNA NHA
20 Washington IN order 10 have the com
forts OF my own home. and with The hope
that ! can continue the treatment here az
Understand now the details fully. There
Is no such radical change IN my health as
To Justify the apprchrusiouS OF my .LgcndS.
and thar Is all I desire 10 say on she sub
Ject"
do you look for Federal intervention in
the coal strike" the Senator was asked
Il do not see how Congress can 90 any
thing for immediate relief 81 the matter.
was the reply II called together at once.
we might remove the tarid duty On coal
and adopt a resolution proposing an amend
mcnt t. the Constitution giving the ma
tioual Government CAutrul over trusts ans
combinations in the limits Of each state
But before any or these measures could
have practical effect the supply ~ coal
would be exhausted and the severity OF win
ter would be upon the country.
All the facts now so well and. - freely
commented upon by the people OF the
United states have been before them Tor
years Every Intelligent man has known
that the railroads and coilcrleS were IN
der the same control This has been the
case In regard 20 the meat Product. which
has been absolutely in the hands 81 the
Chicago packers since 1SS The trouble IS
that until the matter comes personally 10
on the subject. and tho cry OF let well
enough alone aiiuys the apprehensions OF
everybody.
sORDID DEsPoTIsM-
The trusts arc compact. ably directed
and always watchfui while Tho consumers
are Indifferent until they begin 10 teel
cold and hunger. This coal strike has
given the country an object lesson which
may result I'm some good. II Is "a striking
illustration Of that sordid despousm q
wealth OF which Justice Brown OF the
United States supreme Court spoke IN his
! dissenting opinion on The ~inccTne-taN case.
] The coal barons have simply acted us all
The other trust magnates VIII at unGer
similar circumstance. They are Tor them-
I selves. ami delanuy say IS much TO the
President and his Calinet
I spent the whole sumner u ls9l inyes-
/ IlEafNf.E the meat trust AZ fnaCEEn. anu
made a report o. more than COO pages. CIV
ing unquesuonable proof that the trust eN-
I listed, and that Il controlled the price paid
for beef cattle and the price paid by the
consumer FOR meat The committee ot
which I was chairman reported I'VE bills,
and but one Of them vassed the Senate.
II was never even considered by the House
The other four bills died IN the Senate. "a
the trust was strong enough TO prevent
their consideration.
Just before the last presidential election
the House q Representatives. passed. with
hut one dissenting vote. q bill making more
] drastic the penal provisions Ok tire law OF
$50. ana II came over 10 the Senate three
weeks before the end OF the nrst session OF
the Ffty-sfxth Congress. Republican lead
ers refused TO consider the hill. and. by q
Committee. Soiemnly pledgiHg themselves
that Il should be taken up al the beginning
OF the next session. which WIS never done
After Congress met IN December. following
the presidential election, the Democrats
tried vainly 10 have the bin considered, but
It died in the judiciary Committee.
DOMAIN.
wow the Republicans are alarmed over
the probable results II the elections In New
York and Pennsylvania. due 20 the coal
strike, and they are lahoriug earnestly TO
/ November election.
"As to the proposition to seize the suthra-
cite coal mines under the right OF eminent
domain l have only to say mat u would
be a most dangerous p~roccedirg. and would
raise questions or the most perpleNinE
: character. As I understand TIE decisions OF
I the supreme Court the Tlunt tE eminent do
main can ONLY be exercised where the Gov
eminent needs private property for govern
mental purposes. as. for instance. when the
United States was compelled 10 have coal
for It's war vessels and Tor its puhlic buid-
ment can seize the mines IN order 70 fur
nAsh coal 60 the people AT large II may
be unfortunate that this is the law. but !
50 understand the decision az the supreme
Court. II the coal mines can BE- taken IN
order TO put coal upon the market Tor sale
to the people al reasonable prices. then The
( same thing can be dcne as to lead. copper.
timber lands and any other private proper
~: IN other words. tile Government could
Interfere IN any case where the people were
suffering Tor any c~rmmpdltE ana Inc r.
suit might be that the UritCd States would
control every interest in the country abso-
lutely. This ceTt1lriv was not intended by
] the trainers OF the Constitution. and is cs-
peciaily in opposition 10 the doctrines
\ taught by Mr. jefferson. which We're an
taEonisttc 10 Capitalization OF power In the
general Government
The fact Is. we are approaching that era
III AAA AaHHANaN AAfA II AANNNm NHNE AEaAH
reached az 10 whether AIr. Jenersun's the
] CRY OF government which was based
upon the idea that the pecpic were CAPABLE
! OF Eelf-COverument and that the riEbt7 Of
the States shouid be respected, is correct. or
the doctrine that the Government should he
q strong. centralized one. controlled by force
rather than ly puhiic opinion.
This may he stating the case CTufely,
but the general proposition is as I have uut
H. The statesman who can originate some
legislation which viii compromise justly
the present autaEonism between labor and
capital VIII live in history as the greatest
benefaCtOr Of our country.
III partisan success IS 20 govern the mat
ter no compromise - possible, for both PAR
ties viii look entirely 10 The effect OF leEis-
| lation upon-Comiug elections. and. with the
enormous money power on one hand ana
the vote or the wage earneUs on the other.
the pendulum Will swing In the direction
deemed necessary TO obtain success at the
polls"
Birth-sionth Rings for October,
Set with opsfs, sirHifying Hope" Ks TO
"a and with or.fe -rH diamonds Sit. %