The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1902-11-20

first providing some other mode of
taxation, we would not only destroy
the trusts but everything else.
The true remedy for the trust evil
is strict enforcement of the Sherman
antitrust law. This the people are
beginning to see. If President Roose-
velt had used this law against the coal
combine, as he did against the meat
combine, we would soon have had
plenty of coal. The insolence of the
coal barons taught the president les
son he will remember; and IL he fails
to remember the people in 1904 will
elect president who can read the
Sherman law. | have no doubt now,
latter our bitter experience here in
the east), that the law will be strictly,
enforced. l think the judges of the.
supreme court will see more power in
this law than they have been able to.
see heretofore. The strike and coal
question will open their eyes.
The recent strike did more to open
the eyes of the people here than the
meat trust. We could do without meat,
but we couldn't do without coal.
No coal meant famine. Until the
strike was over, we didn't know who
to blame, whether to blame the strik-
ers or the coal monopoly. But after the
strike was over, we found that the
coal barons were in fault-that they
were wrong, because they wouldn't ar
bitrate. We saw, at the conclusion,
that they wanted a strike; and that
they wanted it for an excuse Of put
ting up the price of coal. 1t Is now
quite certain that the people in this
part of the country will not stop, un-
til the president orders a suit to be
commenced against the coal trust,
which will go to the very bottom OF
the whole matter, and show that there
! has been an Illegal combination,
which may send some of the offenders
to prison AS soon as this Is done
and l have no doubt that 1t will be
done before 1904-and if it is done, the
trust evil will be taken out of poll
| tics. and we will hear no more OF
trusts in connection with the. tariff, or
of the tariff in connection with trusts.
The recent election has Its lessons.
For instance, the republicans in New
York can see that they must break up
the monopolies, without fear or favor,
or there will be no more republican
governors elected in New York, and
no more United States senators from
New York. 1t must also be evident to
them that Mr.. Roosevelt cannot carry
New York in 1904, unless he enforces
the Sherman law against the trusts
in real earnest
David B. Hill has learned that "tar-
if reform" with the Pennsylvania
coal mines thrown in, will not carry
New York. Bird S. Coler was good
nomination, but he was heavily loaded
with Hill and tariff reform" He
nevertheless comes out of the contest
with honor and will be heard from
2reafter. The only difficulty with
Coler is that he believes in tariff re-
FORM" which means not free trade,
but tarifr-for-revenue-only-a worse
doctrine than free trade, because, IL
we undertake to have free trade, we
will very soon learn that we must
have an income tax or some kind of
an equitable tax that will fall upon
wealth instead Of consumption. Bird
s. Coler. will make good candidate
for mayor of New York city next year,
but he will not do to spread all over
| New York state, because the state will
not support tariff for revenue only.
Mr.. Coler, if he wants to get further
than the mayoralty of New York city,
must believe in either free trade or
protection. He received larger plu-
rality in New York city than any can
didate has ever received, but the large
pluralities outside overcame his plu-
rality in the city. The farmers OF
New York didn't want any of David B."
Hills tariff REFORM" Besides. the
farmers of the state didn't know Coler
as well as the people of New York
city knew him, and therefore he
couldn't run as we'll in the state as in
the city.
Fowler, in the Fifth New Jersey
congressional district, was elected, but
this was no Endorsement of his bill.
He was elected because he advocated
protection as against Grover Cleve-
lands tariff reform" which meant
tariff for revenue only. 1t was not
necessary for Fowler to say one word
in favor of his bill in order to be