The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-03

should be limited to the necessities OF
the government economically admins
tered 1t declares for reciprocal trade
as the traditional Democratic policy, and
opposes the system by which a surplus Is
tracing the currency. On trusts and
monopolies The platform says:
1.-THE Democratic party is opposed 20
these gigantic corporate combinations
commonly known as trusts, which prac-
tically establish monopolies, destroy
competition control the raw material and
increase the price of finished products,
thus injuriously affecting both producer
AMI consumer; they lessen the employ
ment of labor, arbitrarily fix the terms
and conditions thereof and deprive indi-
vidual energy and small capital OF their
opportunity for betterment.
eve especially condemn the beef and
coal trusts, which have unreasonably
raised the price of meat and coal to an
extent which threatens the impoverish-
ment and lives of the people
"These trust evils are the legitimate
production of the Republican policies,
they are fostered oy Republican laws
and excused, apologized for, defended
and protected by Republican admins
IraIlOllS,
scriptions and political support.
1--WE promise the people relief from the
exorbitant prices of the necessaries OF
life and from the abnormal and illegiti-
mate increase in the present cost OF
living and particularly Occasioned by
trust exactions. Existing laws against
trusts must be enforced more stringent
ones must be enacted, regulations ana
restrictions should be Imposed before
the great wealth shall be permitted to
combine and virtually monopolize any
branch of industry or the production OF
any article of merchandise; ana the
whole constitutional power OF Congress
over the subject of taxation, Interstate
Commerce, the mails and interstate
communication should be exercised Dy
the comprehensive laws and the vast
legislative powers of the States snail De
invoked to the end that the people may
have adequate relief from present III
tolerable trust conditions. And as an
other means of immediate and practical
alienation the present Republican tariff
laws should be amended by putting those
products of trusts which are essential 10
the life, comfort and necessities or the
people. upon the free list and thereby
prevent the further continuance or
monopoly under the plea of protection.
The platform criticises Republican
remedies for trusts, especially the pro-
posaI for a constitutional amendment
as intended to postpone remedial legis-
lation. 1.-THE diffuse. evasive and con-
Trajectory partisan speeches of the
President in which he criticises every
simple and plain remedy proposed and
hints at redress in the far distant future
by means of an impracticable, danger
| Gus and doubtful scheme of constltu-
| tional amendment-only exhibits the
| grotesqueness of his attempt to ride two
horses upon the subject in his endeaVor
to please the people and at the same
| time not offend the trusts"
1--WE condemn the neglect of the Fed
eraI and State administrations to en-
force the provisions of the statutes
! known as the Sherman antitrust law
the Donelly antitrust law, and the coz
spiracy laws defying crimes against the
| trust combinations violating them.
The platform was adopted and after
making nominations the convention &C
| journed.