New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-23
THE CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
REPRESENTATIVE LIVINGSTON SPEAKS
FOR SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS.
WOULD DESTROY TRUSTS THROUGH TARIFF
Observation-Disclosures AND FREE
SILVER IGNORED.
THy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

member Of the House Committee on Appropria-
tons. would be chairman of that great commit
fee in the event Of Democratic success in the
forthcoming Congress elections and who is
recognized leader Of the Southern Democracy,
came 20 Washington to-day and submitted some
extremely interesting observations the issues
that should divide the two parties. Mr.. Living
sion Is completely at variance with the other
leaders of his party in Congress, well S
chairman Griggs and the other managers Of the
democratic Congress campaign the con-
,tuued paramountcy of Imperialism the chief
democratic issue. He thinks the trust question
Is the Issue Of overshadowing Importance
which the Democrats should go before the coUn-
try, and as he is scheduled for extensive tour
of the country under the auspices of the Demo-
cratic Congressional Campaign Committee,
which will begin in Maine the last week in
August and end in Indiana the first Of Novem-
Der II is supposed that he will play long and
hard the trust string of his party's fiddle and
sing low both Imperialism and free silver In
other words Mr.. Livingston in his campaign
work intends utterly TO ignore the Kansas City
platform, about which the Democrats every
where are making such a hulabaloo in
their State and Congress conventions. and which
was specifically Endorsed only a few weeks ago
by the Democratic State Convention of Georgia
RADICAL VIEWS ON TRUST QUESTION.
Mr. Livingston takes a radical view of the
trust question and declares that the difference
between the Democratic and Republican parties
on trusts and combinations is that the Demo-
Gratis would destroy all trusts and combinations
while the Republicans would regulate them by
law. His remedy. although possessing the viz
tue OF novelty, also contains the fatal weakness
of unconsttutionality. He would abolish the
tariff on raw material coming into this country
used in the manufacture of trust goods. propo-
sition that is violently antagonistic TO the old
Democratic contention for protection to raw
products, and also would levy export tax on
trust made articles going out of the country.
which, Of course, could not be done by Congress
until the constitution amended so as to per-
nit this new and startling Democratic doctrine
to become a law. Mr.. Livingston said to-day:
What President Roosevelt needs is Democraue
question, the trust question and the advocacy of
an economical administration Of the government
party ought to try to handle at this time The
financial question is practically settled The great
control the government? Can the State legislatures
or the Congress accomplish anything, will they
have TO lie down and submit TO the dictation OF
combinations and corporatiG9GnsE II President
tives he might be able TO accomplish his desires
opportunity furnished last winter. which was wan
tonly thrown away it is evident that the kepuoh-
can legislators not with the President on the
To regulate trusts one Of two courses must be
followed-uniforrn State laws must be passed, or
the States must concede the right TO regulate
trusts to the United States Congress this right TO
be conferred by amendment to the constitution,
after which it will be the duty Of congress 10 pass
such laws as may be necessary Tor this purpose II
believe the men who form that party really IN
tend TO- do either Of these things The pTesqe d
however. want TO say that he is not in earnest
but do believe he has his party behind him
The Democratic oontention-to abolish trusts-caf
re Is me diioe9 agd sufes May out OF this
trust trouble For instance we can WIN taS so!e
the tarn on raw material coming into this country
used in the manufacture Of trust goods ana levy
of the country MANUFACTURED by trusts. This would
ing It would disnantle every manufacturing COM
bination in the land through the medium OF COM COM
up gradually, and I have doubt that in the
e bofh siSes o were honest In their efforts to build
I'd the country and better the conditions OF the
Gt h and PeG dRombes have taken the a
vantage Of that tariff, and they are he ones mat
deed they do not actually control the government
TWO KINDS OF TARIFF REVISION.
DO YOU make distinction between tariff re-
vision in order to destroy trusts and a general
tariff revision to accomplish the Democratic
idea of free trader" Mr.. Livingston was asked
He replied:
Decidedly. Outside Of the question of taking the
rrotection off the articles Of combines, would
favor a general revision Of the tarln to make II
bear evenly upon all industries and all sections OF
the country; make it d tariff simply and solely for
revenue only, but ample to support the government
Vision Of the tariff as this should be made for the
benefit of the masses of the people 1heh "olid
handle the trusts and combines as nave lndl-
Gated by abolishing all duty on the imported raw
material and evying an export tax on an InaIt ~,
featured articles sent out of the country by the
I do not see that the foreign powers. under the
lead OF the Gar Of Russia, can 90 anything e-Se
bTt erect tariff barriers against the encroach-
roents Of foreign trusts. our own combines and
trusts are getting into these foreign markets and
they are enabled to sell low enough 10 90 TINS Dy
reason Of the enormous profits thgy MAKE , on Ine
diction two years ago that the time "3ula c1ine
when these countries would proLec' IieIi9'iHeS
against this very thing
Discussing the Philippine question, Mr.. Liv-
inggton said that his position was defined as
an expansionist, but not an imperiallst- he
oontended that after all. there was only O.
slight difference between the bill OF the ma
jority and the bill of the minority on the Phhlp-
nine ouestion. The majority bill provided
system of government without making any dec
laratfon or promise as when lf-governmeht,
if ever. would be granted 20 the people or the
islands The Democratic measure which was
urged provided A system of government ana
provided also that in eight gears the people Oh
the islands should be free to govern themselves
Mr. Livingston said, however that ne was uh-
alterably opposed 10 an imperial policy OF gov
eminent. our aim in the islands. he thought
should be TO fit the natives as rapldlS do P'S
sble for the RESPONSIBILITIES of citizenship. Grad
nal su,boritv and a form of government like the
Territories should then be given to them until
they develon and are ready TO go step further
FAVOR ELECTION DISTRICT As INIT
Alta meeting Of the Liberal Republican Club heid
On Monday night in the X1IIId Assembly Dlstic'
resolutions were adopted in favor OF tne election