The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-07-01

Besides 1t is oftentirnes difficult to separate
the consequences and effect of local traffic
from interstate traffic. If the injury which
monopoly can infct were limited to the
state under which it exists and has its seat,
then there would be no harm in leaving it. to
the exclusive control of such state but where
such a monopoly. extends its operations
throughout the entire country; then It is -evi--
dent that the scope of the: relief and pro-
lection ought to be coextensive with the IN
jury and harm; that can be done. : = T.
:: Need of National Control.
A monopoly, national in its scope and con-
sequences, should for the protection of the
entire people. be subject to national control.
Whoever seeks to- enjoy national protection
and national advantages should. also submit
to national inspection and regulation. Pro-
lection In such cases should be mutual.
In the light of these facts and these neces-
stiles, clear to those who have studied the
subject, and with view of giving congress
ampler power to control monopolies' and hos
tile combinations the Judiciary committee OF
the house Of representatives in the ffty=sIxth
congress reported a joint resolution 'propos=
ing the following amendment to- the consti-
tuition Of the United States =. 80 -a.'-- 1..-z
Section /: All powers conferred by this ar
deleI shall extend to. the: several states. the
territories, the District %of Columbia and all
territories under the sovereignty and subject
Sec Congress shall .baYe power to de-
fine. regulate, control, prohibit or dissolve
trusts, monopolies or combinations, Whether
existing In the form: of corporation or other
wise.". :: ::
The several states may continue to exercise
such power in any manner notin conflict with
the laws of the United States. ',@. $3.50.
Sec. g. Congress shall have power to en-
force the provisions of this article by :appro-
pirate Legislation. -. -. -
When this resolution was put on its pas
sage on May 81 1900, nearly every republican
voted for it and nearly every democrat voted
against 1T. It failed to pass. for want OF
two-thirds majority which was lacking be
cause Of the united opposition of the demo-
cratic party. :, -:::: -. -.
- =. Antf-Mereer Legista tion.: -:
Our state legislature when the: republic
cans were in majority and under a. repub-
lican executive for the purpose of preventing
a monopoly in railway transportation in 1874,
passed the following law 80 -:
No railroad corporation or the lessees, pur-
chaser OF managers of any railroad corpora
ton, shall consolidate the. stock, property or
franchise Of such corporation with or lease
or purchase the works or franchise of or IN
anyway control any other railroad corpora
ton owning or having under its control a
parallel or competing line; nor shall any Of
fcer Of such railroad corporation-act as an
officer of any other railroad corporation own
ing or having the control of a parallel or
competing line, and the question whether rail-
ROADS parall61ed competing lines eIoti
when demanded by the party complainant, be
decided by jury as in other civil issues
And in 1881 the following law:
No railroad corporation shall consolidate
with lease or: purchase, or in any way be-
come the owner of or control any otner rail-
road corporation or. stock franchise rights
or property thereof which owns sor controls
parallel or competing line. r. o. 49, ~.
These laws clearly express the public will
and the public demand, and you are all ia
Iniliars with: the factr-and it is now a matter
Of public history that President Roosevelt
has not suffered the federal law. nor Governor
Van SAINT the. state laws, to remain obsolete
or a dead letter. 49, '..~<."-
T. No Hostility: to Railroads.
I am confident, however, and feel fully
justified in saying to you that neither OF these
high executive officials have been actuated
by any feeling of ill-will or hostility to our
railroad or other able and public-spirited
managers, but only by the sense of public
duty to execute the laws on our - statute
books, which laws they have taken an oath
to SUPPORT. -.
The builders and mana gers of our vast rail-
road systems in the northwest have per-
formed great task and rendered most
noble and important service in settling and
developing our great domain. They have
followed with swift pace in the wake Of the
homestead settler and often preceded him.
| They have borne many burdens and encoun-
tered great difficulties. They have brought
good or fair transportation facilities within
the easy reach of nearly all In the farthest
corners Of the state, and whatever may be
| lacking in this respect they are fast supply
ing. In energy and perseverance and ability
our great railroad men in Minnesota stand
second to none Of their kind In the entire
country and as such we are proud OF them
We cherish no hostility. to them and: wish
| them no harm. but wish to live in harmony
and In cooperation with ttem at all times.
= - Dangers of the Merger.
! we are opposed to the Observation-Disclosures
| SO much because we fear that they would
| make: a burdensone or hostile use Of it
as because we know that they are we'll along
| If years and may before~a great while pass
| from our midst and that then we, would
| be; at the mercy of a nonresident corporate
| body, composed of an army Of nonresident
! stockholders, who. will be more concerned
| about high dividends than low rates. Com
| plete consolidation, whatever its purpose
may be, becomes nevertheless, in its essence
| monopoly, and q complete monopoly neces.
sariiy involves absolutism, and this Is re-
| pulsive to the great body Of the people, and
is dreaded by them in the realm Of traffic
no less than in the political world.
| =. The SPANS War. -. =
| Another great chapter. Of republican his
| tory remains to be told
/ When President Mckinley entered upon
1 the duties Of his high Office: the oppressed
| and down trodden people Of Cuba had been
| for many, years with varying success strug-
| Cling to shake the yoke of Spain and tc
secure their independence. Cleyeland's -ad
mfnstration had turned a deaf ear to thei,
appeals for assistance, and had given then
no material or moral aid. But President Nc.
I Kinley,: faithfully representing the feeling
and sympathy of the American people for the
poor Cubans, without delay proceeded through
diplomatic channels to theoretically inter
vene: in behalf Of their independence, and j
have no doubt but what such Intervention
would ultimately have been successful with
! out war, had not the sad and revolving catas
trophe-explosion of the Maine-occurred II
Havana harbor in February, 1898. That crue
i and unprovoked act with irresistible force
= brought on the Spanish war for which w
were but poorly prepared.
dr. But the patriotism Of our people and thu
energy and resources of our government
\ were such that in a few weeks we were i,
i full battle array, both on land and on sea-;
:. And the war, begun at Manila on the nrs
day Of May, was ended at Santiago IN tn
i Sd Of July It was war; glorious short
and most decisive. Spain relinquished he
rights to Cuba and coded to us the Philip
pine islands and Porto Rico. The people o
1T these islands were forever relieved of Span
Eish bondage. tyranny and oppression.
4 More than two years ago we establishe
!. free and stable legislative government il
Porto Rico, giving the people Of the islam
the blessings of a free government akin t
our own and such as they had never enjoye
I or dreamed Of before. Courts untrammele