New-York tribune., 1902-05-28
THE PROBLEM or THE TRUSTS
VIEWS OF \ CORRESPONDENT WHO
BELIEVES THAT THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY MUST GRAPPLE WITH
1T AT ONCE.


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: When combinations of capital attempt to
arbitrarily raise the prices from motives OF mere
greed. or unjusty reduce wages merely to increase
dividends they must be prevented, punished. But
apply remedy; do not administer medicine of
death" Senator Albert J. Beverdge is reported
to have addressed these words to the recent Indi-
ana Republican State Convention. The platform
adopted by the convention declared: We OPP
posed to all trusts combinations of capital whose
purpose or effect is 10 restrict business control
prices, and especially denounce those whose
tendency is to increase the cost of living and the
necessaries Of life. We favor legislation to pre-
vent such abuses" 1t then commends the Presi-
dent for his attitude toward the trusts de
mands the enforcement Of the laws against them.
Here is open acknowledgment of the fact that
combinations or trusts have the power TO infict
great harm upon the people of this country. and
that such power may be exercised and has been
exercised. Here IS demand also for a remedy
and offer OF one But what is offered? Enforce
the present laws and make more laws but don't
kill the trusts" The speech OF Senator BeVeridge
and the Indiana platform represent the position Of
the Republican party generally Attention is called
to the injury done the public by trusts. Trusts
denounced. and the cry is sent UP for the
forcement OF the laws and for more legislation
Does this represent the official position OF the
Republican party on the trust question? Is the
party to enter upon most important Congress
sional campaign, and then upon Presidential cleo
ton. with mere denunCiations. call for the n
forcemcnt OF law that has time and again proved
Intellectual, and for more law OF kind
other? Is that all the Republican party has 10 say
the trust question? Has 1t nothing more tC
offer a question which agitates the public mind
5 other in domestic affairs? The Repub-
lcan party, with wisdom and patriotism. has
courageously faced every great national problem
since 1850, and it has the confidence and sup
port OF a majority of the intelligent American
people; but the Republican party cannot. with
safety itself and its reputation and the busi-
ness interests OF the country, much longer delay
the framing of a definite, comprehensive and sat
isfactory policy trusts 1t has come pretty close
to the point where vague. equvocal and general
declarations must give place to words with mean
ing. The time has arrived for a positive, con-
structive programme
But the trust problem, 1t Is said, is difficult. The
trust itself is not yet understood. The country
presents widely different views TO what should
be done; and the legal aspect of the ia
yet clear. Even So OF what great national
question may the same not be said? They have
all been difficult Views their and
solution have widely dverged. Their legal aspects
have been confusing. Secession, the Civil War,
reconstruction. currency. the tarif and expansion
these all the same; but did the Republican
party take negative position. did it fail to formu-
late constructive policies?
POPULAR PREJUDICE AGAINST TRUSTS.
No intelligent reader well escape the
vction that the general and irresistible drift
opinion and temper Of the people is In the drec-
ton of suspicion, opposition and hostility to trusts.
1t must be plain, also. that unless n conservative
solution Of the problem is offered radical pro-
gramme will be accepted The people will prefer
to see things SMASHED than to see nothing effec-
tive done. The people hold the party in power
responsible for Industrial and social conditions.
This may not always be reasonable or just, but
It is inevitable and, III the long run, right How.
therefore, the Republican party escape the
necessity of formulating an intelligent and effec
tive policy on the trust question? The party has
been in power continuously for about six years.
During that time the organization of the business
and capital of this country under the trust form
Of operation has been such as TO astOnsh the en-
tire world Economists, statesmen and hnanciers
have looked on with amazement at the rolling up
Of stupendous aggregatons of capital and indus
trial power. and the concentration of control.
Many of most conservative business men have
great fear for the future. Social reformers have
grown apprehelsive Revolutionary agitators an
archists and socialists have predicted the disin-
tegration of society The vast majority of the peo
pie of course. have gone about their business and
have not been greatly excited but they have been
reading thinking and observing. and many, very
many of them, quite sure in their own minds
that the trust is a dangerous organization and
should be extinguished All political parties
whether sincerely or as a matter of politics ii
matters not. have voiced popular sentiment. and
have hastened denounce the abuses of the trusts
to declare their opposition to them and to promise
to procure remedial legislation. The Industrial
Commission, created by the Republicans to in
vestigate trusts, worked four years and reported
its findings TO Congress. And yet in spite of all
this the Republican party has up to date offered
no intelligent solution. The Democratic party is
not to be mentioned for it's function is solve
problems but to oppose their solution. TO confuse
and confound, to Irhame popular prejudice and TO
incite class feeling. In other words, il Is the
Democratic rarty that will undertake to SMASH
trusts unless the Republicans soon discover how to
deal with them.
The function of craftsmanship is TO find a solu-
tim for public questions before the country has
drifted into a crisis Statesmen should be leaders
not Iaggards behind public opinion. waiting To see
what 1.-The people will say and do. If party
.readers" can't lead. what they there for? Rut
II NAV be said statesmen and party leaders
yo further or faster than the people will follow?
THAT is not the question. The question is Are
-aen chosen to supreme command and leadership