The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-01-09
HOAR ANTITRUST BILL.

SllCS COll5lCS9 oOJOuA " III
Christmast recess Senator Hoar has
given to the public through the press
n m of the bill drawn by him.
which he will introduce on the re-
assembling of congress-. for the coz
trol and suppression of trusts. From
The synopsis, published . few days
ago, the bill seems to be quite i
lengthy one. The chief feature OF the
measure appears to be TO make public
all those facts about the ~present-day
big corporations which their managers
and m~anipuIators are most desirous
Of keeping secret. The senator seems
to lay much stress upon this feature.
Were this measure to become a law
and it's provisions be inforced in this
respect a great deal of the underhand
york, often amounting to fraud on the
public and the smaller stockholders in
the corporations wOuld be checked. This
much OF the measure is directly in line
with the position frequently taken by
President Roosevelt. although we are
told that this bill is not an administra-
ton measure.
ne Dir TS-eIldclS the cileTIildN lit
trust and the Interstate m
laws. Instead of simply re~-enacting
these, had it gone further and amend
ed the latter so az to give force and
effect to the DEGREES of the Interstate
commission 1t would have
been much more beneficial to the cOun-
try as a law. But, as it is, it is an
Sro nnrt.n+ nDOvo in tho 1irestinn nF
controlling the gigantic combinations Of
capital and will place such concerns
under the public eye and in UGH man
ner that the people can see whether the
federal officials on whom are imposed
the duties are carrying out the re-
suirements of the bill.
This is all, of course, if the bill be
comes a law. There is the rub. Can
che friends of antitrust legislation
secure the passage of this or any like
measured? Senator HOar evidently does
not expect his bill to become a Ian
during the present congress-. because
he has postponed for such a long time
the date when it shall go into effect.
Under the bill as drafted it is to be-
come q law July list of next year.
We are afraid the Massachusetts
senator has had his abors in vain.
We do not expect to see this or the
sext congress adopt any such measure.
However much in earnest may be Sen.
ator Hoar and the advocates of this
or any other similar measure, they
have not got the strength to over
come the power and influence of the
big corporations and trust combines
with their party to secure such legis-
lation.
There Is only one way to put a check
TO the growing evil and to BRING the
powerful combinations under the law.
and that IS by a political change in
the administration of the government.
In both the executive and the legisla-
tive branch. Notwithstanding Senator
Morgan's views regarding the atti-
tUde of the democratic party. as now
composed. toward trusts and COmbiE2-
TONS. we believe the only relief OBJ
tainabl is through that party. and it
will come through them because of the
demand of the people for relief from
the exaCtions Of the trusts and the
hardships of the protective tariff. Dur
ing the last campaign the people of the
great northwestern states become so
FESTIVE under the hardships OF the
Dingley tariff that the republicans be-
came alarmed and secured success at
the polls only by the cry revision of
the tariff by its friends" This averteu
their defeat last November. But ere
the next election these people will have
learned that his was q false cry and
a promise made without any Intention
o. its being carried out. The people
will find out by that time that they
have been fooled-sacrifced to the In
terests OF those who profit by the high
tariff and the trusts. You canno fool
all the people all the time" The feet
ing of absolute security Of the republi-
can party in maintaining it's position
by false promises. as it has done IN
the past, will work its downfall. Tn.
people are long suffering 4 patient.
but they viii not stand this oppres-
sion for ever. and when the tide does
turn IT will go with a rush. and thar
party which stands for reform in tn
administration Of the government Az.
for the rights OF the people will SWEEP
the country. The action which we look
for the party IL power in this and thr
next congress to tax upon this bl
of senator HOar'S and other s.mil3;
measures viii strengthen the demo
cratic party before the people. if in nC
other way. by showing them that they
can expo. 10 relief from the republi
cans no matter what solemn protesta-
lions they Elk