Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-11-28
RELIEF FROM TRUSTS
People Can't Get It Through
the Republican Party.
IT Is TEE FRIEND OF MONOPOLY

All the Branches of the Governments
Have Been I'm the HandA or the Re-
DubIicnns For Six Years. and Dur
ing That Time Trusts Have Flour
ished as Never Before.
For six long years the Republicans
have had control of all branches of the
goyernment-eXecuti legislative and
judicial. During this period the or
ganization and growth of the trusts
have been most prolific. and their eNtor-
tons from the public have been en-
larged and extended to most of the
necessities Of life. The coal combine
and the beef trust are examples of the
growth of combinations during this pc
riod of Republican administration
The opening of this era Of Republic
an rule was emphasized by the enact
ment of the Dingley law. many sched-
ules Of which were not only intended
to protect the combines. but were &c
tually prepared by attorneys of the
trusts and therefore were entirely i'm
their interests. The trust magnates
finding themselves securely intrenched
and protected, then began series of
great combinations that staggered the
commercial world and have gradually
raised prices of most necessities to the
highest notch ever before known.
Naturally the voters began to kick at
these eXactions, and attempts were
made by the Democrats in congress to
reduce them. The present executive
in his first message to the congress
recommended publicity as an antldote.
but no notice was taken of this recon-
incubation by the Republicans I'm con-
grcss. 1t remained for a Democratic
senator to propose an amendment to
the census bill on the lines of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's recommendation. A
vote was taken. and all the Republic.
ans present voted against it and all
the Democrats for ii. but II was de-
feated for the Republicans were in
command OF the situation.
The political situation became more
acute, and upon the close of the first
session of the Fifty-sevcnth congress
the president determined to take the
stump and try to stay the tide that
was flowing In favor of controlling
these vast corporations. 1t appears
from his speeches that he has no rem
edy to offer other than publicity of
trusts transactions unless an amend
ment to the constitution can be had.
but this would only he available to n
future generation. and the voters are
clamoring for immediate relief To
change the constitution requires two
thirds OF congress TO vote 10 propose
ii and three fourths Of all the states TO
~
an impossible achievement If the pres
ent temper Of congress Is continued.
besides the further obstacle of all but
one-fourth of the states agreeing TO
the same. The corporations control
over one-third OF the senate. was stat
cd by Senator Morgan. and ii tx doubt
full If they do not control greater Der-
centage Of the present house of repre-
sentatiYes. Under these circumstances
can the Republican party be relied on
TO control the trusts? Ii would seem
to be unlikely and improbable. Grant
ing that President Roosevelt is sincere
III his trust batting. will he be able to
bring his party to the same frame Of
mindi Unfortunately. there are strong
indications that the president himself
Is but lukewarm in his antitrust fight.
IL he were sincere, would he be silent
on the principal remedy for stopping
the extortions of the principal com
bines by saying not a word about re-
vising the tarif and thus cutting off
the protection these combines now en-
joy and which allows them to fleece
the people to the tune of from 30 to
100 per cent?
Nor does he say a word about the
coal strike or lift a finger to stop it.
yet there would seem to be n way
open. The law of PENNSYLVANIA for
bids railroads to operate mines or man
ufactories of any kind, and the fed
eral antitrust law provides that COM
bines can be punished by fine and i'm
prisonment, and the judicial arm of
the government could enforce IL.
The miners PENNSYLVANIA have
behaved with wonderful moderation
but no word OF praise or encourage
ment has been vouchsared them bv
the president, though he enlightens the
public on much less important matters
ut great length and minuteness.
1t Is therefore useless to look for re-
lief from trust eXacticns from Re
publican president or a Republican
CONGRESS- They are bound to their