Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-07

opportunity IOr an assault upon the
tariff When, it is charged that the
tariff is the mother of trusts it must
be borne in mind that by this express
sion is not meant that the tariff fur
nishes the incentive or the desire for
combination, for cupidity alone would
supply these, not even that it furnishes
the need for organization, for unhap-
PLY we frequently need things it is
not within our power or ability to OBJ
tain. What is meant is that the tariff
supplies the power, the ability, the
means for combination, and that but |
for the tariff such power, such ability,
such means would not exist. During |
all these years in which we have seen
the unexampled growth of the trust |
side by side with the combinations OF
capital have been forming great COM
binations of labor until today it is
safe to say that there never was a !
time at least since the decay of the
old system of guilds when their were
SO many men in laboc unions or when
the unions were SO we'll organized, SO
powerful, or so wisely managed. 1t
must be borne in mind that it is easier
for capital to combine than for labor
| to do so because but few men, COM
paratively speaking, need to agree to
capitalistic combination while vast
numbers must be induced to agree to
a combination of laboring men to.
make it effective.
In view of this tremendous growth
of combinations of labor side by side
with the growth of combinations OF
capital demand to know ii the tarlH
is, the mother of capitalistic combina-
tions, who is the mother of the labor
combinations?
i Laborine Man Protected.
For two generations the democratic
party has assured us that the whole
2 benefit of the protective tariff accrues
to the rich manufacturer and no part
of it to the laboring man. | want the
democratic party now to either ADMIT
that it's contention of over half a cen
fury that the laboring man gets no
, benefit from protection is false OF ADJ
nit that great combinations are pos
sible without any aid from protec-
! tive tariff. We all justify the labor
, unions because the individual laborer
is weak and needs the union to protect
himself against the strength OF capl
, tai, but his very weakness that Just-
/ fies the forming of combinations
= makes the forming of such combina'
lions the more difficult. We condemn
. the combination of capital because II
, is strong and does not need such union
: but | wish to impress upon you once
i more that we are not discussing the
e incentive the desire, need or the JUS
t LITIGATION for combination, but VIVA
v furnishes the power, the ability, the
o means to combine and do it success
t fully. If great combinations are form
d ed under our very eyes without the
Z, benefit of protection, by what system
l. of logic are we to jump to the conclu
e sion that other great combinations de
e rive their power, their ability to exist
It from the tariff? So. again | say, tn
o. democratic party must either admi
e that it's contention for over half cen
e tury that the laborer gets no bench
l. from protection is false, or that grea
o combinations can be, formed withou
re reference to the tariff. AS matte
Y of fact, both of it's contentious are ur
ID true, for the laboring man in this cour
~ try has prospered as never before a
p the result of the wise protective syE
&c TEN, and combinations have ever.
OF where been forming both in Englan
W and America without any aid from pr
~ lection.
~ Antitrust Legislation.
ID 81 want to call your attention TO tn
w history of the antitrust legislatio
We and submit that it convicts the dem
d. cratic party either of lack of sil
at cerity upon this subject or of the mo:
al gross :ncompetency to deal with
CIV In his third annual message to CO..
OF gress on December 6, 1887, Fresidel
he Cleveland abandoned the precedel
it set by all of his predecessors ar
1t. made no reference to the foreign +
he latibns of the United States, and faile
I'M to in any other respect comply wit
to that provision of the Constitutio
nut which requires that he inform co
ST. gress of the state of the union, that
ac- might the more pointedly urge upon
at the modification of the then existi1
mt protective tariff In that message
lin said. 1T is notorious tn
its competition is too often strangled
ne combinations quite prevalent at tn
lel time and frequently called trust
which have for their object the reg
I'D lation of the supply and price of CO..
Nv. modities made and sold by membe
he of the combination 1t must be Dor
do in mind that this message w
Oil sent TO both Houses at the openi
sss of the first session of the flftieth &C
lus gress. The entire life of that congre
on. was before it, embracing two full 81
YER sions, the ordinary, long ones a
18th short ones. A little less than six
vas days after the sending of the MESA
,as the democratic house of represen
raj tives adopted resolution on Janua
It'll 25, 1888, reciting the existence of
to so-called trusts and directing that
an committee on manufactures inqu1
,ay into the name and number of SUI
ore combinations, their methods of co
one bination, their effect upon prices. co
he merce and revenue together with
Oil other matters which might call for
uct suggest legislation by congress and
yer report the same to, the houses W
such recommendations as the comm
sts tee might agree upon.
nus Hypocrisy.
"a year, month and seven di
dragged on after the adoption Of
resolution, the long session of C
nee gress had ended, the short sess
4 aIr To-