Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-14
Governor of the awye State Says He Speaks for Republicans of low
at the Marquette Club Chicago Thursday Evening"
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We are told that something like two
thousand years ago Herod wanted to
get rid of the child Christ and he kill
ed all the babies round about Jerusa--
lem. The democrats propose the same
plan. Herod failed and Christ lived.
Just SO the democrats would fail and
the trusts would live They have for
gotten, nothing: they have learned
nothing.
Tariff Revision No Trust Remedy.
1t has been said by illustrious lead
ers of the republican party that a.
modification of the tariff is not a
remedy for the trusts. 1 take this op-.
portunity to say that the republicans
of Iowa, who have adopted the plat
form which | have read, that they
wholly agree with this view, and have
not proposed to effectually repair the
wrongs that are perpetrated by un--
lawful combinations, by any readjust--
ment or abatement of the tariff sched-
ules.
1t is to be regretted that we have
not found word that will more ac--
curately point out the thing meant
than the term trusts" No thinking
man can doubt that large corpora
lions are absolutely necessary to car
ry on with convenience and economy,
the growing business of the world, and
however great a corporation becomes,
If it develops in natural way,
through the recognized laws of CON-
merce and through the energy and sa--
gacity of its managers against the
competition of others engaged in like
business, it ought not to be the object
of disfavor on condemnation; on the
other hand it should be the subject of
just pride and mark the rising tide of
a better civilization.
Those Which are Harmful.
These are not the corporations
which excite public indignation, and
which, whether We desire it or not,
must be examined and discussed in
this campaign. The corporations or
combinations to which the Iowa plat
form refers are those which have
been brought together, not to outstrip
competition in a fair race but to
destroy competition by the actual OBJ
| litigation of independent establishment
and which accomplish their purpose
either by purchase or piracy. They
are invariably accompanied by the
issuance of vast quantities of stocks
which have no basis save the auda-
city of promoters and which serve two
ends equally Objectionable first, to
enrich beyond comprehension the NOV
ers of the nefarious enterprises, and
second, to cloak the enormous profits
which may be extorted from their
hapless victims. While I believe that
the plan they adopt is as weak as it is
vicious, and that the ordinary opera,
ton of the immutable laws of com
merce would in che course of time
overthrow them. nevertheless, it is
the duty of the government tc hasten
their disintegration and downfall by
every power within the scope of CT
ganizeo society. Personally [ am of
the opinion that the two direct ramed-
lies to be employed are, first, to prevent
the assurance of stock in excess of the
money or the real value of the pro.
Iperty contributed to the corporation
and second. to define more clearly
the crime of establishing or attempt
ling TO establish a monopoly. Along
the latter path the republican party
lis already steady marching. and it
will march steadfastly to the end
But the republican party Of Iowa be
lieves that there is one other thing
that can be done to aid the genera
undertaking. Diminishing from on,
consideration for the moment the mo
nopolies which congress grant.
| through letters patent to encourage in
vention and the Quasi-public corpora
tons over which the government has
assumed control it must be admitted
that competition is and must continue
to be. until we are willing to ente
complete socialism, fundamental
law of industry and commerce.
Competition and the Tariff.
There are but two forces that can b,
trusted to fix prices-competition ant
the regulation of organized govern
ment The latter is totally inadmiss
able, and we must preserve the former
1t is therefore the high and imperativ,
duty of the government to so adjus
it's laws that there will be the leas
possible motive for the destruction O
competition.
With respect to many things, w
have narrowed the field of competition
and confined it TO American territor,
by tariff duties. under the belief s.
well expressed by Mr.. Blaine, who, i,
his Twenty Years of Congress-" wrot
Protection in the perfection OF it's lie
sign. as described by Mr.. Hamilton
does not invite competition from
abroad but is based on the control
ling principle that competition a
home will always prevent monopol,
on the part OF capitalists, assure goo,
wages to the laborer, and defend tn
consumer against the evils OF. ea
tortion.
i Fears for the Future.
The experience of the past fe,