The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-23
CURRENT COMMENT.

Senator Beveride insists that the
tariff Ices not help the trusts. Senator
Lodge admits that the tariff does help
the beef trust; and, of course, II the
tariff helps that trust, il helps others.
The tariff-trust question is likely to
develop a serious split in the republi-
can party.-Norfolk Landmark.
Senator James K. Jones of Arkansas
is as persistent an optinist as Govern
or E1well S. Otis used to be out in the
Philippines. Senator Jones, fresh from
his own defeat at home, sees demo-
cratic victory ahead in Pennsylvania.
When the Quay returns are in senator
Jones can compare notes with Senator
Carmack, who saw fine chances for
democratic success in Maine just a few
days before that state gave its usual
republican majority Columbia State.
The hope that the present eXorbitant
prices of meat will soon be reduced can
no longer be reasonably INDUCED, in
view Of the fact that the mel ger of the
meat-packing interests will 60 into eff
feet on September 9th. The effect will
be to place the public more completely
than ever in the hands of the meat
trust, as the prospect of competition
will be further removed that ever.
Some months ago the National Butch
ers' and Retail Meat DealclS' ~associa-
ton began a movement for the repeal
Of the tariff duties on beef. These men
were in a position to understand that
the advances in the price of meat made
by the packers were utterly unjustifa-
BILE; that the explanations and excuses
offered for these eXtortiOnS were false
and hypocritical; that the best and
about the only chance of relief which
the public and the retail meat dealers
could find lay in the removal of the
prohibitive duty On beef. The attempt
was made in the right direction, but it
drove the meat packers to a consolida-
ton of their strength in defense of their
plot to hold up the peCple.-Atlanta
Journal.
The strike in the Pennsylvania coal
regions has now lasted eighteen weeks
and the end is no yet in sight. Mr..
A. S. Hewitt, of New York, who is a di-
director in one of the coal companies,
is quoted in a dispatch as saying that
the strike is breaking up. The opera
tors realize it, and there will be no con-
cession offered. nor will. there be any
arbitration" On the other hand, Mr..
John Mitchell, the president Of the min
ers' union, declares that the mine-work-
ers have no intention Of giving up the
fight, that mo mines are being started
and no members of the organization are
returning to work" Whatever he
facts may be as to the situation in the
coal regions, there is very little comfor
for the public. The country's supply of
anthracite is apparently short by about
20,0 100000 tons, and even if the mines
should resume operations at once with
full force it would be almost impossible
to make good the deficiency. While
famine prices for fuel may not prevail
throughout the winter, there is every
probability that the COS. of anthracite
nnol will ha Oroo for fhon Ivhnr nnrpoo oil
conditions prevail.-Baltimore SUI
Apparently a determined effort is in
progress here to create sympathy for
former Alderman King, accused of ac-
cepting brides as a member Of the
street committee to award paving con-
tracts. All the newspapers have print
ed articles telling us how devoted his
friends are and that their confidence
and affection for him are and
the public mind is being prepared for
a verdict Of accquital as soon as he
goes before a jury. Mayer Taylor is
criticized because he said that other
members of the street committee must
have been implicated with the man who
is on trial. On the other hand we hear
talk to the effect that King is the VIC
tim of wicked and designing persons
and a proper object for respectful pity.
All this is waste of breath and good
ink. We cordially endorsed the sug-
gestion that this case should rot be
tried in the newspapers, but the former
alderman'S friends and supporters ap-
pear to want to try it that way. We
do not believe, however, that they can
make fools of the people of Richmond.
The proposition submitted is too clear
TO be confused. King is gritty or the
three contractors who swear that he
is have ~conspired for no known reason
to ruin him and perjure themselves to
do it.-Richmond News.
Ex-Justice Gray of the United States
supreme court. who died, was undoubt-
edly a man Of ability and vide learn
ing in the law. But with all respect
for his m and while conceding
to the fullest the honesty of his con-
victions, we earnestly trust that his
successor, whom President Roosevelt
named not long since will not catch
up his mantle. As much, cerhaps. as
any other Justice who a sat on the
supreme court bench since rhe founda-
his decisions tended to virdicate Thorn
as Jefferson's fears OF = supreme court.
He stood prominently for centraliza-
ton of power in the federal govern
ment. One of his most celebrated
opinions illustrative Of this fact is the
opinion he delivered in the case of
Ju1lliard VS.. Greenman, and to which
all the other justices except Mr.. JUS
tice Field assented. Some years back.
one Of Mr.. Gray's ardent admirers de-
clared that in that opinion The placed
n capstone on the majestic column
representing the national power, at
tanning a height to which The boldest
architect of the constitution had never
raised his eyes" 1t depends, howey-
er, upon the point Of view whether this
Will be considered a eulogy CT the con-
trary. The case of Juilliard VS.. Green
man had to do with the legal tender
question, n the extreme doctrine pro.
mulgated by Mr.. Justice Gray, was FORE