The independent., 1903-04-30

the speaker returned and promised 10
grant roll call. This performance
was anarchy. If it had occurred in
democratic or populist legislature, the
great dailies would have filled pages
with their denunciations and they
would have kept it up for years. This
performance of the republicans an |
several others like it In different states
during the last winter shows con-
clusively that they are utterly unfi.
to govern.
TRUST BUSTING
There are other men who entertain
the same idea concerning what the
republican party will do in regard to
trust busting" that have been ex-
pressed by the editor Of The lndepen-
dent. The Springfield Republican
says: at is quite probable that the
administration is as much appalled,
over the merger decision as are the
combinations and trusts; for II logi-
cally followed up, as the government
is morally bound to do, tremendous
ly upsetting effect upon the financial
and industrial adjustment would be
produced. But the government will
not follow it up. There will be wait
until the United States supreme court
has passed judgment, which will not
be until near the end of this year or
the beginning of next, and then, IL the
Judgment affirms that of the lower
court. one or two other prosecutions
would probably be instituted, chiefly
for effect on the presidential canvass
then about to begin. The merger de-
cision, in the full logical reach and
consequence, will never be applied
Congress will first amend or repeal
the antitrust law of 1896"
~rSSSSSS
1t looks to The Independent as
though these new primary election
laws that make man promise in ad-
vance to vote for the candidates nom
mated by his party would give the
bosses" new power. 1t is legal
force brought to bear to make the
party member vote 'er straight" ev-
cry time. The government has no
right to come into voluntary asso-
citation, such as political party is,
and dictate in that manner. The in
dependent voter, the man who refuses
to vote for the yellow dog candf-
date, though he is regularly nomi-
mated has been the only saving ele-
ment in American politics. These new
primary laws. will eliminate him en-
tirely. He has been the only thing
that the ''boss" feared.
....S. &SSS$SSSS
The development of electric rail-
ways has advanced to point in
some of the eastern states where they
come in direct competition with the
steam railroads in both the carriage
of freight and passengers. What will
happen next? All railroad magnate5
are fundamentally opposed to compe-
tition and if it is within their power
they will destroy competition between
the electric and steam lines, in fact,
they have already begun that work in
Massachusetts. Having failed in their
efforts to defeat the legislation grant
ing the electric roads the right to
carry freight, they are now going in
for "a community of interests" and
propose to get control of enough stock
| to control the electric lines. Such a
merger as that would be much worse
| than Jim Hills deal.
&S$S&S&
London howls for more money"
and the prophecy is that consols will
| go still lower Berlin still suffers from
the industrial depression and the be-
lief grows general that it will not be
relieved until the ''stock of money is
increased. Wall street is in the
dumps and liquidation goes on. They
all say they must have more mon
ey" The question is: What shall be
done to supply more money? Shall
the country 60 upon a rag money
basis?
&SG&$&S$
Rev. Robert E. Lee Craig, pastor OF
Trinity cathedral, Omaha, was ar
rested and bound over to court last
week at Thedford, Neb., for the un-
lawful shooting of meadow larks.
When the sheriff arrested the rever-
end gentleman, % meadow larks were
found in his hunting bag. When the
! clergy get down to that kind of buSi-