Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-19

said Hammond, after moments
pause, 81 suppose Williams wrote it,
II sounded like his stuff. Williams is
a good writer, and there is no better
man on local issues, but | am afraid
the trust problem is beyond his
depth. He denounces trusts. He
might as well denounce the Galveston
disaster. lie has treated The Record
readers TO an entertaining but not
novel bit of trust nvectivc. pre-
sumo it is what they want. but what
good does it do? lie proposes no
remedy"
"Ccrtainly he proposed a remedy"
said Hestor, rallying to the support
of the editorial star. "He demands
the enforcement of the antitrust law
which. if put into operation. will re-
suit in the disintegration of criminal
trusts
'Nou talk like a political platform,
Walter" replied Hammond. You be-
lievc nothing of the kind. You are
perfectly well aware that no effective
antitrust law will be affirmed by the
the various courts pronounce such
laws unconstitutional Twenty states
have passed antitrust enactments.
and all have met the same fate. ! do
not believe it is possible by law to
prevent any two men, 20 men or 100
men from consolidating their inter
ests and thereby saving and increas-
Inn l,..,;,. 4 l,.~
inevitable result of revolutionary
forces. 1t possesses certain advau-
tages. These must be conserved. On
the other hand. the trust of to-day
possesses certain features which
menace oar very existence as pco-
pie. A remedy must he found: but
it must be Il natural remedy. You
know my views on this subject. and
do not propose to abuse your hospi-
tally by inhicting anew on YOU the
details of my pet theory. which may
or may not be worthy OF considora-
ton"
'If we could but devise some plan
to bring about a national or intcrna-
tional congress of such men," said
lIestor, taking out his pencil and .iot-
ting down "A list he had in mind. 81
can imagine the headlines. college of
Financial Giants 'Millionaircs as Re-
formers. 'Syndicates to the Rescue,
Trusts Trcmble.' Wealth Willing to
Compromised II would he great. If
we could get some foreign fnanciors
with titles to stand sponsor for the
idea. our home product would be
more likely to follow their lead. II Is
worth thinking about. am going to
cable Van Horne and suggest it to
him"
NO. | do not think it possible to
bring such n body of men into n con-
ference" continued hammond, as
Hestor remained silent, with far
away expression in his eyes. "ln the
first place they would not meet; in
the second place. they would not talk.
They are not willing even to defend
their methods. to say nothing of tax
ing the initiative towards reforming
them. We must possess our souls in
patience; do the best We can. and let
the sequence of events work out its
destiny. It is orr good fortune that
we can better afford to wait than
most of those who think they have
reason to complain. \ millionaire
lawyer with a good practice. and the
millionaire correspondent ana special
envoy of Il newspaper, should he able
to withstand the onSlauehtS of trust
magnates for Il considerable period"
II am going to form trust" said
llestor suddenly.
"Ies?"
"Iou need not laugh 7 am ] am
goin" TO form a newspaper trust
"All right. Walter" rejoincd Ham
mond, who was familiar with Hes
tors moods. at is too late for YOU
10 begin tonight. Let me know
when You are ready to draw up the
papers and will render YOU my best
services as your attorney. Thus far
l have been more successful in or
ganizing trusts than fighting them
Il will need your services in short
time" said Hestor. with some excite
ment. which Hammond attributed to
the wine. 81 am not testing. Of
course this is confidential"
"Certainly. l am going to Chicago
tomorrow, and VIII be back in about
i week"
Let me see you when you get
back. | shall wish to talk with YOU"
II will do so. Olive. by dear" said
Hammond. addressing his sister. lit
is time your aged brother was on his
way home. ! shall ask the permission
of the ladies, and of our excellent
host to depart, as | have Il long jour
ney ahead of me to-morrow--or more
properly to-day--it now being past
two O'clock"
you and Walter are as ungallant
as you can be-" pouted Miss lie Roy,
as Mr.. hestor gave the signal for the
party to dispense. "Just because YOU
have talked all you wish, we must all
run along home like good little girls.
l am going to give supper party
soon, and it will last until everybody
has talked as much as they care to-"
And with this awful threat Miss lie
Roy was captured by Mr.. Ilestor and
led away to her carriage, nor did her
smiling face show that her resent
ment was deep or lasting.
CHAPTER TIT.