New-York tribune., 1902-10-01
BLAMES THE RAILROADS.
GOVERNOR la TOILETTE SAYS THE
COAL SITUATION SHOULD BE CON
TROLLED BY GOVERNMENT.

MiIvya,.kee Wis Sent s0-G Jvernor Robert ~
La Toilette opened the campaign for tne hepuD-
licans OF Wisconsin in this city to-nlsht oeiore an
immense audience The meeting was presided over
'by Major Charles n. AnsOn. Seated on the stage
were several candidates for other State offices and
aspirants for Congress Governor La Fohatte was
enthusiastically received
Governor La Toilette said in part:
Republieans on The tariff issue it would seem 10
arise from misunderstanding rather than disagree-
Mckinley the principle upon which a pro1eeII1SSe prot i've
true measure OF protective duty is the difference
between the cost OF production IN this ana ihs COi
ioweT than nat should not be called a protective
tariff IL II Is higher II Is prohiotory' II II Is lo"
1t is charged that the tariff Is responsible for Tor
trusts This charge Is most s5r4nsS p,'s,s we're
known They ignore the fact that the organizaon OF
and that they are fast gaining the control OF ousi-
ness everywhere They are not cOnnneu 70 aHS iSs
policy They rule the market in free trade products
IN IN this country and In whatever products '"eS
Every writer on protection every tariff leader in
petition between protective industries necessary
complement 70 protective tariff The But ntra neT law "a Of
competition. BY secret agreement, ths P,, P9uuoraS @
OF like articles limit the number or quantity pro-
duced and fix prices. Coordination is desuoS'hs
RSt tbIs Tvsio bon b on the true protective
nrncire ~ rdS5 SnIerican labor from free com
petition with cheaper foreign labor. and yet take
not only all Republicans, but all citizens inde-
pendent q political consideration, would SSaceGe
deed would be but feeble inadeSHhte; aG ucTI M
today The trusts gigantic power. their mastery OF
tn. industrial world, cannot be exagserated- .se
per cent Of The entire coal ieid Is owned and con
these railways furnish the sole available means for
pursuit. OF settled policy these railways have forced
private owners to sell their coal mines 49,, ana eS Gos
rates and by refusing 70 carry the coal for
could not be brought TO terms by the establishment
OF exorbitant transportation rates owning the coal
10 ar exorbftsnf ignre in order TO make consumers
pay dividends the decentralization OF the rail-
d r9ads and coal mines while rates Ior other and
been increased by the railways until they are near
They limit the supply in order to force stropg de-
mand and high market price. As shown by sworn
$29000o0 in excess OF fair market price. has been
This coal trust bears harder upon the unfortunate
helpless labor that mines the products at the wage
Its attitude IF ndifference TO the appeal Of press
ana pulpit suggests utter eSntemP6 for pg9ne
awaits the people OF this country unless the fed
eral government is empowered 70 strip the combina-
AS the magnitude Of the question presented is un-
Side the supreme power Of the land can G eoHtro the
oWnn most f The prode Of o tb ssItb
controlling what they do not own and combining
with the railroads, forget, in their greedy strife
for more. that all men born free and equal and
with certain inaienable rights.
We believe, with the President. that these great
monopoles constitute the foremost Of national
questions. There is probably not an important
trust in the United States which does
the assistance Of railroads in destroying It's com
petttors IL business Ths limitation and control OF
these public service corporations In the legitimate
field common carriers is important element
In the practical solution OF the problem with which
We have - deal
Who will not agree with the President that all
possible control should be exercised and all pOssi-
bic relief afforded the people now; that laws upon
the statute books looking 10 this end tine Sher-
man act the Interstate Commerce law. should
be enforced and should be amended strengthened
and made effective TO the constitutional limit?