The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-02
LA toilette
FLAYS COMBINE
Coal Barons and Railroad Mag
mates Come in for a Playing.
FOR GOVERNMENT CON TROL
All Possible Supervision Should Be Made
and All Possible Relief
Afforded.

Milwaukee. Oct. 2.-Governor Robert
Republicans OF Wisconsin In this city
last night before an immense audience.
lie said in part:
IT is charged that the tariff is re-
sponsible for the trusts. This charge is
most strongly pressed by those who op-
known. They ignore the fact that the
organization OF trusts and combinations
began but a few years ago and that they
are fast gaining the control of business
everywhere.
They are not confined to any country.
policy They rule the market In free
trade products in this country and in
what ever products they choose In free
trade countries.
"A new law, an artificial law, Is sup
planting the natural law of competition.
BY secret agreement the producers of
like articlel INIT the number or auan-
tity produced and fix prices. Combination
is destroying competition.
II believe that the hour has come when
tariff revision must stand close guard
over tariff schedules But this revision
should be on the true protective princi-
pie of guarding American labor from free
competition with cheaper foreign labor.
and yet take the place of suppressed
competition.
Il believe that not only all Republi-
cans. but about all citizens, independent
OF political consideration, would concede
that tarin revision cannot effectively
grapple with. indeed, would be but a
feeble, inadequate. and uncertain rem
edy for the trust evil. which confronts
US today. The gigantic power, this mas
terry of the industrial world cannot be ex-
aggerated.
THE ANTHRACITE TRUST.
Anthracite coal is not protected by
the tariff. But glance at the problem
IL presents. Ninety-fve per cent of the
entire coal field is owned and controlled
by eight railway companies. The lines or
these railways furnish the sole available
means for transportation OF anthracite
coal 10 market.
I'm pursuit of settled policy, these
railways have forced private owners to
sell their coal mines and coal lands ut
half value: first by increasing the freight
rates and second by refusing to carry the
coal for private owners, at any price
whenever such owners could not be
brought 10 terms by the establishment of
exorbitant transportation rates.
owning the coal and owning the rail-
roads over which the Goals is transported
to market. they raised the freight rates
at an exorbtant figure. I'm order TO MAKE
consumers pay dividends, on the over
capitalization OF the railroads and coal
mines. While rates for other and like
products have fallen. anthracite coal
rates nave been advanced by the rail-
ways until they are nearly twice as great
as on cotton or wheat
They limit the supply In order to force
"a strong demand and L-gh market price.
AS shown by sworn testimony upon trials
and Investigations MORE THAN S2o0. .0oo.-
600 IN EXCESS OF A FAIR MARKET
PRICE HAS BEEN ENACTED FROM
CONSUMERS.
This coal trust bears harder upon the
unfortunate helpless labor that mines the
products at the wage level of q generation
ago. tnan upon the consumer. Its atti-
tude OF indifference 10 the appeal Of press
and pulpit suggests utter contempt OF
public opinion. This is typical OF the
oppression which awaits the people or
this country unless the federal govern
ment is empowered to strip the combina-
Niohs Va Nitii Wiul pOWtT.
MUST BE CONTROLLED.
"As the magnitude of the question pre-
sented Is understood II becomes manifest
that no power outside the supreme pow
er OF the land can control the situation.
These great combinations Of wealth, own
ing most of the material products OF the
earth, controlling what they do not own
and combining with the railroads. for
get, in the greedy strife for more. that
all men are born free and equal and WIN
certain inalienable rights.
I'VE believe with the president that
these great monopolies constitute the
foremost OF national questions There
Is probably not an important trust in
the United states. which does not have
the assistance OF railroads I'm destroying
Its competitors I'm business. The limlta-
ton and control OF these publc-service
I'm the legitimate field as
common carriers Is an important element
IN the practical solution OF the problem
with which we have 10 deal.
"Who will not agree with the president
that all possible control should be exer-
,ised and all possible relief afforded the |
people now; that laws upon the statute !
Dooks looking TO this end, the Sherman !
lct, the Interstate Commerce law, shouIc
Dc enforced. and should be amended.