The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-27
THE VIEWS OF Mr.. VEST.
lie Says That the Tariff Should Be the
Leading Issue in Next Campaign
BIG TRUSTS THRIVE ON THE SYSTEM
-
Thinks that New York State Can Name
the Democratic Nominee for the
Presidency TWO Years Hence.
BIG TRUSTS THRIVE ON THE SYSTEM

Washington December Is On the eve Of
bis retirement 10 private life, Senator Vest
# Missouri IS in a position to discuss at
fans Of state and legis .atvc policy With
sole relation to his country's welfare.
The greatest menace that threatzns this
country today" said Senator Vest, lis in
combinations Of capital that have monop ~
for their object. That these trusts, as they
came 10 he known, owe their being largely,
II not solely, to the protective tariff. should
be evident to any student Of economic ques-
uons. No monopoly can exist in a great
staple Of commerce where competition is
open to the world
This being the case 1t seems very clear
that monopolles In commcrcil staples are
possible in the United States only because
competition is not open to the world, and
the protective tari6 is convicted of re-
sponsibiity. The first step, then, IN an
honest attempt to correct the evils ( ON
which we suffer is to remove the pro;cc-
ton the tariff gives to monopoly and force
H. into world competition.
But the republican party will not take
this step. The protective tariff is an inter
dep ndent mutually Of greed. Let an at
tempt be made to remove the protection af-
fordcd one industry and every industry thdt
feeds on protection will cry ont IN pain.
Like a dock Of English sparrows that com Il
noisily to the succor of one that has emit d
cries of distress, the entire protection brood
will join in chorus Of protest against any
change in existing tatff schedules.
Refusal to reduce tariff rates leaves con
gress with but weak weapons with which
To night mono, Oily. The act of 1880, known
enormously us the Sherman antitrust law,
represents the limit Of constitutional 1u-
thority of congress TO regulate the u de
between States, and only In the regulation
Of trade between states can congress touch
the trusts
The simple subterfuGe has been resort
ed to OF selling the guous TO Il second party.
and having neither responsihi ity nor
knowledge of what became of thcm after
they lett the factories. Resort 10 this sub
tertulr. under the supreme cuu.t $ ruling,
will ut any time, render the social 81 Sher-
man law insufficient to cope with trusts.
81 read with great interest the fitJsOurg
speech of Attorney General Knox, IN which
he claimed TO he lie To conduct successful
prosecutions under the Sherman law. The
attorney general may have resources OF
which ! know nothing. As one Of the au-
rhor5 Of the act ] do not see how H. can
bo done. The only other hope Of securing
direct legislation to cure the trust evil is
by q constitutional amendment, giving IA
congress q larger Graut Of power and
do not believe tho States are willing "a
surrender tn congress 50 large q measure
of their reserved rights
In view Of the difficulty, II not the
impussibility, of dealing with trusts through
the remedial legislation being established
does IT not seem reasonable that the wise
course would be 30 cut off the nourishment
that has enabled them to grow to such un
g0ycrnlbe siZet This Is the view | think
the American people win take Of II. ana a
a., nd for 81 q n r
attitude of the democratic party. tho deter
mluation Of the republican party not tc
adopt the remedy being apparent.
with this for the paramount issue IN
1904, | confidently believe a democratic
president and q democratic house of repre-
scutatives viii be elected.
'"rhe money question ] do not believe Will
he conspicuous issue In the campaign
The large production Of gold has sufdcct
TO postpone tho inevitable triumph of bi
metaliam, The platform should contain 4
! declaration In favor Of double standard
nut no attempt should be made to fore,
the issue to the front,
"Somc day there will be another politlca
! battle In America between the forces o.
bimctsllism and tho forces Of monomet
allism, and himetallsm viii triumph. Blu
that day is not now.
"As TO who will lead the democra d,
party 10 Its promised victory two year
| hence no safe prediction can now be made
| AS the situation is today, New York coulC
| nominate any man upon whom It's delega
iion was agreed. but many changes ar
possible In two years. Mr.. Bryan will un
; doubtedly have stroug following in t.,
| convention, but he hardly can control It
| his influence Is on the wane everywhere
| seemingly, but IN my own state OF Missouri
and II does not seem that he can agail
! dictate the policy OF the party.
| "Mr Bryan has not the elements o
Great or successful leadership. ! twic
voted FOR him. because he was the part.
| nominee, hut he holds many beliefs wYTl
| which I am not in sympathy and witt
! which ! do not believe the democratic part,
| Is in sympathy