Fergus County argus., 1902-10-22
'SPOONER BE-
GINS BATTLE
His Opening Address in Wisconsin
Campaign Devoted Largely.
to the Trusts.
SPOKE TO THREE THOUSAND
Says Roosevelt Talks Straight, Shoots
Straight, Acts Straight,
and is Straight.

Milwaukee, Wis, Oct. 13.-(Spec.
iaD States Senator John c.
Spooner made his first speech OF the
Republican campaign in Wisconsin at
Schlitz park in this city tonight, speak
ing under the auspices of the nation
al Republican congressional commit
tee. A crowd OF 5000 people turned
out in a drenching rain to hear him.
Touching upon the coal strike, the
speaker said;
THE coal strike is an element which
disturhs the people of this whole coun-
try. 1t is a menace which frightens
almost everyone. Does any man at
tribute it to the Republican policies?
Who does?
In Sympathy With Miners.
1T is a quarrel between the opera
tors. the coal mining companies. and
their men, in which | sympathize with
the men (prolonged applause). The
coal combination is one which exists
in violation of the constitution of the
state of Pennsylvania. which prohib-
its any railroad company from own
ing or operating coal mines. If that
constitutional provision has not been
enforced ii is not the fault of the Re-
publican party in the United States.
1t is the fault of the commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
"No man can contribute the found
ing and continuance of the so-called
coal trust to national legislation. 1t
cannot be attributed to the tariff, for
until duty. and small duty. on
anthracite coal found its way somehow
Il have yet to find the man who
knows how-into the Dingley law,
there had been no tariff on anthracite
coal.
Operators Are Wrong.
"The government of the United
States cannot enforce the constitution
of a state in a state. You do not
need to be told That. II is obvious to
any man of intelligence. The coal
operators had no right to stand out
upon a difference of that sort with
their men till the verge of winter,
and until there was forced upon the
apprehension of our people coal fam
inc which would affect detrimentally
not simply industries but men and
women and children, their health and
life.
IF they had accorded the increase
of wages which the men demanded,
you and would have been obliged
to pay ii. for they would have added
II to the price of coal-and We would
have gladly paid 1t to avert this
trouble.
. $50 it was that; but when a combi-
nation of capital like that of the coal
trust refuses to recognize a combina-
tion of labor it reaches the dizzy
height of impudence.
Labor Also Has Rights.
Labor has as much right to COM
bine as capital. Capital has as much
right to combine as labor. Both must
keep within the law. But, bad as it
is. it will pass away. There are some
men who can settle it-and they must
settle it. And | may say one thing
here tonight, that never before with
in my recollection has a president of
the United States. not speaking for
the employe. not speaking for the op-
erators-he had no right to do eth
er-but speaking for the people Of the
United States. done as much to COM
pose a difference and protect the peo-
pie as has President Roosevelt"
Trusts Useful Servants.
Speaking of trusts in general, Sen
ator Spooner said:
Trusts are the outgrowth. and the
inevitable outgrowth. of modern pro-
gress. They are evolution. and men
may talk about them as they please
they are here. They are here to con-
serve the public interest, II they will.
1hey are corporations. They are SER
wants of the law and of the people.
AS servants they are inexpressibly
useful. AS monsters in any field of
industry they are not to be tolerated
at all. for the American people will,
have no masters. either in politics
or in business. They do not ALWAYS