Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-01
WISCONSIN CAMPAIGN
Gsvsrnsr La FOllstte speaks to Rspub-
licaAS in MilWaukss.
HANDLES COAL TRUST WITHOUT GLOVES
Declares that In Present Distressing
situation IT'S Attitude Of IndIf-
ference an utter Con-
tempt for Public Opinion.

MILWAUKEE,, Sept. Ex-Governor La
Toilette opened the campaign for the repub-
licans OF Wisconsin at the West Side Turner
hall here tonight before an immense aud
fence. The meeting was presided over by
Major Charles Hanson. Seated on the
stage were several candidates for other
state Offices and aspirants for congress.
Governor La Toilette was enthusiastically
received. He spoke, in part, as follows:
Though there may appear to be differ
ences among republicans on the tarin II
would appear to arise from misunderstand-
ing rather than disagreement. From Ham
llton to Clay, and from Clay to Mckinley,
the principle upon which a protective
tariff has rested for support has not
changed. Tn true measure of a protect
i've duty when Hamilton wrote his great
report on manufactures In 1871 and the true
measure OF a protective duty TO-DAY Is me
In this and a competing country. A tarin
which is either higher or lower than that
It is higher it is prohibitory, IL It is lower
II is not protective.
1t is charged that the tariff is RESPONSE
strongly pressed by those who opposed
protection before trusts were 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 nor are
they the offspring of any tarin policy.
They rule the tarim in free trade products
n int this sb6 G0gntry and nnd in trs %ha r6'Te sodq Rns
the fact remains that combinations of cap
ital great enough to master the, price Of
schedules brings on thai system the pop
ular disapprOval of which the public en-
tertains toward the trusts generally.
suppIanting National Competition.
A new law, an artificial law, is sup
planting the natural law of competition.
AZ aaaRnN anFannnnnf tho nEnnlanrG nf limo
articles limit the number or quantity pro-
duced and FIX prices. Combination is de-
hour has come when tariff revision must
But this revision should be on the true
labor from free competition with cheaper
foreign labor and yet take the place of
suppressed competition.
tariff, but glance at the situation-y5 per
cent of the entire coal field Is owned and
controlled by eight railway companies. The
lines of these eight railways furnish the
sole available means for transportation of
anthracite coal to, market; In pursuit of
a settled policy these railroad companies
have forced private owners to sell their
coal lands at half value, first by increasing
ing to carry the coal for private owners at
any price whatever. Owning the coal and
owning the railroads over which the coal
Is transported to market, they fixed the
freight rates at an exhorbitant figure in
order to make consumers pay dlY1dends on
the OF the railroads anO
coal mines. While rates for other and
like products have fallen, anthracite Goa
rates have been advanced by the railways
until they are nearly twice as great as
cotton or wheat. They limit the supply
IN order 20 force q strong demand and
high market prices. AS shown by testi-
mony in trials, more than 5000. 10000 In ex
cess of a fair market price has been ex-
acted from consumers.
The coal trust bears harder upon the
unfortunate, helpless laborer who mines
the products at the wage level of a gen
Grafton ago than upon the consumer, who
In these days. must purchase, hat in hand
Its attitude of Indifference to the appea
of press and pulpit suggests utter con
tempt for public opinion. This Is typica
of the oppression which awaits rhe peo
pie of this country unless the federal gov,
eminent is empowered to strip these com
binations of their legal power.
Who will not agree with the president
that all possible control should be eXer'
, cised and that all possible relief offered thu
| people now; that laws on the statute books
looking to this end. the Sherman act. the
interstate m law. should b.
amended. strengthened and made effective
to the constitutional limit.