The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-04-24

pOSlllOn proposes. l0ey suggest no
better methods. They propose no rem.
edy for admitted evils. They denounce
the whole twentieth century system Of
organization. If they are logical and
honest, they propose that the big
Four" Railroad system shall go back
to the condition of a quarter of GEN.
tury ago; the great establishments
that furnish markets for the farmers
livestock shall cease their operations; !;
that labor organizations shall be dis
banded, and that each workingman
shall act independently Of his fellow
laborers along the old principle of
competition. Dare they deny that this
is their purpose? If so, their cause Is
NIT that this Is their purpose? If so.
their cause is condemned by its own
folly.
The Republican party always stands
for liberty of thought and action
stands for the forces that build, stands
against the forces that destroy. We
stood for protection that labor might
be free; for honest money that the
people should not be defrauded. We
stood against Reputation that the re-
public's honor nigh: be saved; against
secession that the nation might be pre-
served. And just so we stand today
against the destruction of organized Ia
Dor aud capital that this goth century
civilir alton may continue, and that the
American people may march on to yet
nobler achievements and win richer
blessings still.
Remedy for Evils of Trusts.
But while we are in harmony with
the times, we are not blind to the evils
which cling to the great trunk which
| itself is sound. But we in sist that the
tree shall not be felled because of the
evils. When combinations of capital
attempt to arbitrarily raise prices
from motives of mere greed or un-
justly reduce wages merely to increase
dividends, they must be prevented,
punished. But apply remedy-do not
administer a medicine of death.
Twelve years ago a law concerning
trusts was drawn by a Republican
statesman, John Sherman, adopted by
a Republican congress and signed by
Republican president; and now a
Republican president puts that law
into operation. The only other law
regulating combinations of capital is
the interstate commerce law, which is
in daily operation; and that law, too,
is Republican.
Is 1t not q serious thing to lock up
by inflexible statutes the ceaselessly
changing and improving methods
which grow out of the thought of those
thousands of minds and the activities
of those millions of hands? Such eco
nomic legislation requires invest;ga-
ton, prudence, thought. What mad.
ness, then, to seek not even to super
wise but actually to abolish all of this
progress and to prevent all future pro.
gress, by the American people work.
1 ing unhindered along the lines of nat
ural development! And yet this is
the folly of the opposition. This is the
demagogue's inflaming cry with which
they will go to the people in this cam.
paign. And this is why they go to
defeat. For the conservative among
the American people are more numer.
Gus than the destroyers; and in this
truth resides the republics safety.
President Roosevelt has recommend
ed and congress is constructing de-
partment of commerce which will final
ly supervise every trust that does bus
mess throughout the nation. 1t will
gather reliable statistics, lay before
congress the facts, inform the people
of real conditions; take out of discus
sion all Imagination, falsehood, con
lecture. Is not this the reasonable
way of proceeding with this mighty
problem? Is it not the method a bust
ness man or farmer would apply to his
own affairs? Is 1t not better to search
out with reasons light the weak places
and the dark than to apply the torch
of destruction to the whole fabric oi
our industry? Conservative progress
or annihilating re-action-this is the
alternative before the American peo
pie.
The opposition's policies would par
alyze the business of the nation; Re
publican policies would aid the bust
ness Of the nation. Unler Republican
administration the productive forces
of the republic-aided where neces
sary, let alone when pcssible-have in
creased the output of factory, farm and
mine until our own people can no long
er consume them. Therefore the
great problem of the hour is to find
markets where the American people
can sell their surplus. All over the
world, therefore, we seek new mar
kets-seek to increase existing mar
kets. One market for part of our sur
plus Is at our doors; and to seize thai
market the Republican party will es
tablish reciprocity with our wards IL
Cuba. If it is said that our reciprocity
with Cuba Is not broad enough, we an
swer that there must be a beginning
and from its results we can extend tn.
policy If uccessful-modify it where
detective; abandon it If advisable
The problem of reciprocity with the
world is as delicate as the problem o.
supervising the commercial and indus
trial developments within the republic
itself. All business is adjusted to oul
system of protection. But protection
exists for business, not business fo1
protection. And, as 1t ceases to ait
and begins to fetter the nations in
dustry, our tariff must be modified
hut the change must he made witt