Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-18
WILL YOU REBUKE THE TRUSTS

i h the last six months the American
 people have been twice confronted
 with a startling proof of the far reach ! ing effect of monopolistic influence.
 sThe Trusts have been used as I political issue in several campaigns
 now, but the average man looked upon l them as upon other issues He be- lieyed that in some vague, uncertain 1 way great combinations were to be I watched with scrutiny by the govern
 ment He accepted s.the trusts as an l issue as he would accept any other l political issue, believing that in order that the two great political parties might meet it was necessary to have some real cause of contention. But I it can safely be said that the Amer
 ican voter did not give much credence l to the argument, that "the trusts' af-
 fected him in any way as an individual
 The sudden rise in beef, however,
 startled the whole American people
 into a realization that the evil influence l of unjust combination was being felt in the life of every man and woman 1 in the country. The whole people rose 1 up in just anger and the beef trust became q target for the f1ercest pos-.
 sibIe kind of denunciation. But the question was asked, What can be I done?" How can this grasping com bination of beef barons be reached ?''
 To these questions no answer came l back. Some towns organized indigna- tion meetings, others gave berth to
 vegetarian societies, but these two and other methods did not appeal on the 1 whole to the sensible citizen He felt 1 that such methods of dealing with an
 enemy were futile in lacking direct | ness and force. Hardly had our citi- zens recovered from the stunning eff | feet of the rise in beef when coal famine with all it's untold horrors was thrust upon them. And again the question was asked, "What can be donew The answer this time was evident. The American voter realized that his only weapon was his ba1lot that when conditions arose within the government which were hurtful to him he had but the one remedy which his suffrage gave him. Every voter in this state and country must realize, if he be a thoughtful man, that the one way to secure law which will safe guard his interests is to see to it that by his ballot the administration in power whatever that administration may be, which permits these vicious conditions to grow and flourish to see to it that, that administration is re- buked:
 It is but tenab1e position for the republican party to take to say that they. will try to regulate .the trusts. They are at bar and must make bet ter defense. The only way that the American citizen can make his citizen ship count it to use it against an ad- ministration which has failed to safe guard his rights. The republican party has made a conspicous failure when that party has permitted condition to grow whereby six or seven men can, by their stubborness entail upon millions of our citizens a severe and narrowing famine. If the voter could prevent this reckless disregard of hon. esty in government, he must not ac- quiesce i'll it. The democratic party offers5to every eitizdn at this time, no matter what be his politics, the re- lief that isialWays afforded by strong Ghealthy opposition party. A man who will pass by the opportunity to give this weII-merited and well directed re- buke is not doing his full duty to his state or country. If he becomes so partisan that his party affiliation is stronger than. his Americanism, then the time is short when any administra- tion. whether it be republican or demo- cratic, will find it necessary to make an accounting to him. The right to vote which is enjoyed generally is a fine check upon ayarice and greed, and corruption of men in power, if these men in power find that they have tos make DO accounting, that there is no reckoning day that they can pro- ceed on their way with impunity, we will have as result even more 1n- tolerable conditions than the condi- tions which are springing up from the beef and coal famine. m
 A vote for the democratic ticket, be it state or congressional, at this time is a rebuke to the coal and beef trusts. Are you willing to give these combina77 tions this rebuke? If so, the path IS pointed out to you, the way is clear and failure to make the most of this advantage will mean that you must fume and fret under additional wrongs for two years more before chance comes to you again to express your disapproval.