Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-04-16

WASHINGTON, d. C. April ID 1903

WASHINGTON, ~. y. Aprll ID 1913,
The most important question
discussed by every democrat who
comes to Washington is the persona
lity of the next presidential candi-
date. OF course numerous candi-
dates are mentioned and each pos
sible candidate has his friends, but
it is impossible TO secure any gen.
eral concenSus OF opinion on the
subject. Many, indeed, of the most
influential democrats regard it as
entirely too early to select a candi-
date, in support of which PROPOSE
ton they say that boom started
too early invariably results in de-
feat the of candidate for whom it is
started. Judge Parker of New
York, Senator German and Senator
Stone of Missouri all have their
friends, but there are many who
believe the candidate will be a
dark horse : as yet unmentioned.
-
With regard to the platform, de-
mocratic opinion is more nearly
lined up. 1t seems to be the general
opinion that strong financial
plank will be adopted, one urging
the necessity for more money but
with no reference TO ratio. A strong
but conservative tariff revision
will also be adopted and will pro-
badly be the keynote Of the cam
paign, not only because the demo
Gratis have Away stood for relief OF
the consumer from the exorbitant
prices which the republican tariff
permits manufacturers to charge
but because the President and Ills
official family have yielded unreser-
vedly to the stand patters -, Hanna,
Aldrich, ct al.
Speaking of the nominee, Senator
Daniel said today, 1T is entirely
too soon for the democrats to set
tie upon one man. A year and 6
half constitutes a long time in Anne
rican politics and many things NAV
happen between now and the con-
vention to alter the whole aspect oil
affairs. The next Congress will
discuss the live issues of the day
and the attitude of the two parties
will then be clearly defined. Tariff
reform will inevitably enter into
the campaign. The merchants and
manufacturers as well as the farmers
and the consumers are interested
in having the tariff judiciously re-
vised. Such revision should be
made and the democratic party
should appreciate that such a re-
vision should be made on lines
which will not carry ruin to any
industry. Ii is, however, conceded
that American goodsare sold cheaper
in many foreign countries than at
home and it is obvious that we are
building up foreign countries at
the expense of our own consumers.
This must be remedied."
From the standpoint of the con-
sumner, the Northern Securities
decision is great victory. II
clearly defines the limits to which a
corporation engaged in interstate
commerce may go and affirms the
contention that all combinations
which not only do, but which have
1t In their power TO restrict COM
petition are contrary to law. The
next important question is whether
the Attorney General can bring him
self, to take advantage of this de-
cision and deal sumnarily with
other trusts which are as clearly
violators OF law as is the Northern
Securities Company. The Penn
sylvania Railway, for instance.
comes under this category. 1t is
operating the Baltimore and Ohio
railway so as toprevent competition,
in fact, only in name are there two
companies. In the opinion of many
able democrats, the Attorney General
has succeeded in demonstrating his
power not only TO secure convictions
but TO expedite cases and there will
be ample opportunity for him 10
prove within the next year whether
even good antitrust law can be
trusted to a republican administra-
ton to enforce. So far reaching is
the Sherman antitrust law as con-
strued by the Circuit Court of
Appeals that Mr. Knox can remedy
at least half of the evils of which
the consumers have complained
within the past few years. The
other half can only be reached by
tariff revision.
That the abundant prosperity
which the coantry has recently en-
loyed viii continue is augured from
the Government crop report Just