West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-06-11
FAT FRYING PROGRAMME.
Trusts to Contribute Record
Breaking Campaign Fund.
REAL OBJECT OF THE NEW LAW.


The Trusts WIN Protect Their In
terests by Lavish Contributions.
Republican Campaign Managers
WIN Attempt TO Again Debauch the
Voters.
There is one feature OF tho so called
antitrust Legislation that has been
passed by congress that may lead to a
greater debauch OF tho voters OF tho
doubtful states than has ever before
been attempted, even by tho Hanna
record breaking campaign fund OF
1896. Those who have carefully exam
ined the new laws have doubtless no.
ticed the powers that are given tho
president, the attorney general and tho
bureau OF corporations.
III n radical antitrust administration
should be elected. the workings OF tho
trusts could he investigated very thor
oughly and proof obtained that tho
tnrlfr shelters certain trusts. With this
evidence presented TO congress by tho
president, accompanied with recon-
mcndations TO place the products OF
such trusts OH the FREQ list, or 20 re,
duce the rate to revenue bnsis, lt
would be very difficult for even Repub-
licnns 20 Justify the present tarlfr sub
sidy the trusts arc receiving. How nee.
essary II In, then, for the trusts and
combines 10 provide nil tho funds nee
a 10 lon lao. lkn-
licves IN tho theory and practice OF
paying tariff subsidies to favored corr
porations.
IL all the trusts and corporations
that will be under the new bureau OF
corporations would pay TO tho Repub-
llcan campaign managers I'm 1904 even
1 per cent of their earnings, tho
amount would be so stupendous that
Il would stagger even Hanna md
those who are trained In debauching
the voters.
A close estimate OF the amount that
these trusts would pay Is S120, 100000.
These staggering figures Will doubtless
look inconccivable To Democrats. who
know that the managers of their party
have rarely been able 10 secure enough
funds 60 pny for postngc and printing.
But honest Republicans and honest
Democrats. who hate corruption In pol
tiles, know that only the Republicans
have such generous subscribers 10 call
upon as the trusts and corporations
have shown themselves 10 be. And
yet this vast sum would hardly he no
ticed by the stockholders OF tho trusts.
The Standard oil company would pay
about $3.50, 900. Yet what inrond would
that make on the $l5.00O,oO0 or $780,
100000 OF profits that Il pays 10 It's
stockholders every Year, Other trusts
could pay IN somewhat the snmc pro-
portion. The steel trusts share would
be s1,320,000, this being per cent OF
their boasted profits OF last year,
which are less than those promised
this year.
III the Democrats win the election In
1904 and should succeed I'm placing Oh
the free list or reducing the tarim on
trust products 90 n revenue basis. say,
OF 10 or 10 per cent, the trusts would
have To reduce the prices at which
they now sell from 20 TO 80 per cent to
prevent foreign competition. Trust
products would have to be sold nj Just
about the same reduction as was made
I'm the tariff rates.
What an enormous premium Is thus
offered the Republicans 10 insure tho
trusts against the reduction of the
tariff. and how necessary II Is for the
trusts TO pay ~ All the Insurance the
trusts Will ask is that the Sherman
law and the other antitrust legislation
shall be allowed 10 remain as dead let
tcrs upon the statute books. Does any
one doubt that whoever IL nominated
by the Republicans will permit his
campaign managers 10 write the poll.
Cyl The past and present history OF
the Republican party shows that It's
leaders VIII jump NJ the chance. And
II is as certain MS such matters can be
that II Will be done
Frying the fat out Of combines and
corporations Is one Of the chief accom-
plishments OF the Republican leaders
who have managed campaigns I'm the
past, and II is not likely that the com
Ing campaign VIII be conducted on any
other basis. Docs not this explain
why the antitrust legislation was
passed so unanimously and with 10
trust opposition7 The trusts are will
ing TO pay for protection.