The independent., 1903-04-02
APRIL ?. 1908.
MOrgan's Interview

papers, but suppose 1T was too cutting,
and too independent to suit the par
tisan editors. Under the following
double column headlines is what the
Constitution says of it:
"BOTH GREAT PARTIES BOW IN
TERROR BEFORE COMBINES.
Il cannot see," says Senator Nor
gan, "that there is any great differ
ence between the lead Of the demo-
cratic and republican parties ON the
question of trusts; whichever party is
out of power, cries out against the
octopus; whichever party is In power,
hugs the octopus to its breast.
Senator Morgan says that in his
opinion, neither party is more anxious
than the other to find and apply
remedy. He says cure will be
found, but fears before that is done
the chastening rod will be laid heav-
lily upon the American people.
"a political revolution that may
sweep out of existence both OF the
great parties as they are now organ
lied, he sees among the possibilities OF
the future. How soon the solution
comes depends on how soon the Amer
lean people are awakened to their
peril He inclines to the belief that
there will be dark days before the
awakening. The president and con-
gress he continues ARE figures COM
pared with the strength corporate
wealth has attained in the United
States democrats and republicans
alike rave and shout and profess to
engage in mortal combat with the
giant.
''The Alabama senator considers a
graduated tax upon the capital stocks
of the corporations, the rate increas-
ing with the size Of the corporation,
as the most PLAUSIBLE way to start
the fight He says reduction of tar
iff schedules might afford relief, but
would not cure. He thinks the trusts
will be much discussed in the cam
paign of 1904, but cannot be a real
issue as both parties will illuminate
against trusts, each charging the other
with insincerity. The crisis may not
be reached in the next two years, but
no man can tell. He adds: The ex-
listing order of things may be up
turned before the presidential cleo
tion.'"
| have quoted at length from the
Constitution, some of the sayings of
this grand old man, because | agree
with much he says, and because tie
plutocratic press of both old parties
instead of giving publicity to these
grand truths, seem, rather, to want
to suppress them, and to critieise Mr..
Morgan for saying what he did.
Could populists say more than he
has said? Yes! We can say we have
found a remedy and are willing to ap-
ply it. We agree with him that neith-
er of the old parties are willing 20
apply the remedy, for have they not
both had a chance? Our remedy,
which is the only solution for the
trust evil is public ownership.
We say that what would pay cor
poration to do, would pay all the peo-
pie to do. | agree with Senator Nor
gan that reduction of tariff rates will
not cure the evil. How would tariff
reduction affect the great banking and
money trust? How could it even touch
the great railroad, or transportation
trust? Or how could it affect the oil
trust? When we know that this coun-
try produces an abundance of oil?
Over seven millions of gallons per day
for the year 1901, with great in
crease SINCE which runs it to about
half gallon per day for each family
in the United States. Is not that
sufficiency? Who can think of any
trust except the sugar trust, that
tariff reduction would affect much?
To put sugar on the free list would
hurt the American sugar grower. II
tariff tinkering is the remedy for
trusts, why has not one of the old
parties cured the evil? Have they
not both had a chance? But, says
somebody, 'old Grover was in the
way of the democratic party, when it
had it's chance. This excuse will not
do, for when they had both house and
senate, they passed the Wilson bill
without his help 1t is true when old
Grover refused to sign it, he said it
contained party perfidy and party dis
honor.
We all learned, by dire distress,
that the passing of this law, and
throwing the balance of trade against
IJc and tha oJ1t-1o uiuu of cilvaT hy