Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-26


trade among our citizens"
The Democratic party was then in
control Of Congress, and had on jan
uary 25, of that year, instructed the
committee on commerce to investigate
the genral subject of trusts and report |
with recommendations. William L.
Wilson. Clifton r. Breckenridge and
William D. Bynum were among the
members of that committee. They os-
tensibly devoted much time to the sub
ject. Mr.. Haveymeyer, Mr.. Rockefeller,
Mr.. FIagler, Claus Speckles and num-
erous other magnates were before them.
and voluminous testimony was taken.
From October, 1885, to March, 1889, they
employed clerk at Sc day to assist
them in their deliberations. After more
than year of alleged investigation the
committee made a report which closed
as follows:
YOUR i COMMITTEE FURTHER|
REPORTS THAT OWING TO DIFF
FERENCES BETWEEN THE MEM
BERS OF THE COMMITTEE THEY
LIMIT THIS REPORT TO SUBMIT
TING TO THE CAREFUL CONSID-l
GRAFTON OF SUBSEQUENT CON-
CROSSES THE TESTIMONY TAKEN
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE"
The only bill this Democratic COM
| mittee ever reported to Democratic
Congress was bill for 81 ,9eS to defray
the expenses of it's Investigations!
| The next Congress was Republican
and it promptly passed an antitrust
law-introduced by John Sherman of
Ohio, which received the signature of
President Harrison on July 2, 1890. :.
| 1t was a good law, but in attempting
to inforce it, the supreme court held
that under the provisions of the con-
stitution it did not and could not con-
troll manufacture and production except
as they become part of interstate
commerce.
To remedy this and give Congress
power to fully reach the trust evil the
! Republicans of the House judiciary
mittee proposed the following amend
ment to the constitution:
ARTICLE XVI.
Section /. All powers conferred by
this article shall extend to the several
states, the territories, the District Of
i Columbia, and all territories under the
sovereignty and subject to the juris-
diction of the United States.
Section 2. Congress shall have power
to define, regulate, prohibit. or dissolve
trusts, monopolies or combinations,
poration or otherwise.
| The several states may continue to
exercise such power in a manner not
4 to conflict with the laws of the United
States.
Section 3. Congress shall have power
to enforce the provisions of this article
by appropriate legislation.
Language could not have been
explicit than this. The proposition
came up in the National House of
I Representatives, June 1, 1900. A two
thirds vote was necessary to secure
it's submission to the American people.
The roll call of the House resulted,
154 yeas, 1872 nays. OF those who voted
yes, 150-all but 4-were Republicans.
OF those who voted no, 124 were Demo-
Gratis and were Populists.
In a speech at the trust conference
at Chicago, on September 16, 1899, Mr..
Bryan said: 81 am in favor of an
amendment to the Constitution that
will give to Congress the power to de-
stroy every trust in the country" and
yet when just such an amendment was
before the National House of Repre-
sentatives only four Democrats could
be found in that body to vote in favor
Of submitting it to the American
people.
In the face of this record Mr.. Bryan
had the nerve-while Republican adj
ministration is pushing test suit
against the beef trust-to toot
the Democratic party as the true and
only opponent of trusts!
In discussing what he is pleased to
term imperialism" Mr.. Bryan con-
veniently overlooked the fact that he
went personally to Washington and
urged upon his Democratic friends the
ratification Of the treaty of Paris The
Philippines therefore came into our
possession with his active assistance.
If he is disposed to dodge the response
bilities thus assumed the Republican
party Is not. 1t has never outlined any
ultimate policy for the reason that it
had. first of all, to establish condition
of law and order in the archipelago,
and render secure the lives and prop
erty of its people. This work has been
resolutely carried out with gratifying
results. Thousands of schoolhouses
have been erected in communities that
never knew them before; courts of JUS
| tice have been established, and as fast
as possible local self-government has
been instituted. Under it the Fill
pinOS enjoy as much liberty as any