Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-20

result OF the popular demand for some
further legislation to correct and restrain
tho trust evil in this country.
More than twelve years ago the Sher-
man antitrust law was enacted and, al
though we have been repeatedly informed
by the distinguished gentleman from Ohio.
General Grosvenor, and others on the Re-
publican side of the house that this law
afforded an adequate remedy against the
existence and growth of those monopolies
which the people by common consent
have denominated trusts. the president and
this Republican congress admit Its inade-
Quacy and propose at this late day to sup
plement the provisions Of the Sherman
law.
take 1t the Republican party Is pro-
ceeding upon the idea better late than
never" This construction of Republican
action Is more lenient than the conclusion
that the Republican party has been forced
to abandon Its inaction by the fear of de-
feat and the rising storm of popular in
dignation at Its policy of favoritism to-
ward and liberation Of the combinations
of capital which Cypress the masses. de-
stroy competition and endangcr the free
institutions OF the greatest republic In all
history.
Whatever may be the motive for franz
ing and presenting this legislation to this
congress 1t Is true either, first that the
Sherman act OF July 2. 1880, and the SUBJ
sequent amendments thereto in the Will
son tariff act of Aug. Is, 1894. expressly
preserved in the Dingey act of 1897. have
not been enforced by the Republican adj
ministrations since their enactment, or.
second. that they are ineffective, in whole
or in part. to curb and restrain monopoly.
Additional legislation is necessary and Is
demanded by the people of the country.
~,1,, ~@k l,> - L., .y.l,~, IT.
cuss the economic questions involved in
the formation and growth of trusts or the
legal aspects of the Sherman law and
pending measure of the committee.
I am sure these matters have had the
full and careful consideration of the ju-
dietary committee, and the whole subject
as ad1udicated In the courts and from the
standpoint of political economy presents
vast field OF thought, study and investi-
cation. The national and state antitrust
laws. the decisions of the United States
supreme court and the recommends lions
Of the president doubtless have received
; the consideration of the committee.
The interstate and foreign commerce
clause of the constitution of the United
States (article l. section 5. clause 81,
! and the decisions of the United States SUI
preme court, enumerated in the reply Of
the attorney general. dated Jan. 3. 1903. to
the communication of Senator Hoar,
chairman of the senate judiciary commit
| tee. from the Knapp case down to and in
Guiding the Addystone Pipe and Steel COM
| pany case. show that the power OF con-
| gress to legisate upon the question is
| ample so far as interstate commerce IL
| concerned. Invoking this power at the
last session of this congress, Democrats
introduced many bills. among others bills
| providing for
| First.-Publicity.
| second.-Placing trust made goods on
| the tariff free list.
Third.-Making trust made goods liable
| to state antitrust laws when they enter
| the states having such laws
| Fourth.-Placing upon the free list trust
made goods sold cheaper abroad than at
home. at less price to the foreigner
than to the American citizen.
| None OF these measures was adopted
by the Republican majority, but all were
buried in the committee One Republican.
the distinguished and able gentleman
from Maine MIR. Littlefield], introduced
one bill to amend and strengthen in q
| very mild form the Sherman law.
| But since the election and since the Re-
publican party has had some greater man
Hesitation of the popular opposition to
trusts and the feeling OF the people upon
| this great question at this late day and
| hour they now propose this measure of
| slight relief to the people, which will
| doubtless meet the usual fate of all Re-
i
| house-namely, lingering death upon
| the senate calendar
But, Mr.. Chairman does this legislation
yet go far enough? Does 1t strike at the
| root of the evil? Does 1t eradicate and
cure the trust cancer upon the body
polite? VIII 1t do more. If 1t does that
than to alleviate Temporarily the evil and
restrain the cancerous growth while mo.
nopoly still exists? The real danger tc
the country lies In the formation and tho
DISQUALIFICATION of the PSI corporate
trusts Of the country. 200 of which are
benefited by and owe their formation tc
the tariff laws of the Republican party.
Henry o. Havemeyer. president of the
sugar trust, said on June H. 1892
1.-THE mother of all trusts is the customs
tariff BILL 1t Is the government through
its tarir laws which plumbers the people
and the trusts are merely the machinery
for doing It,"
The national Democratic platform Of
1900 declared:
I'VE condemn the Dingley tariff law as
q trust breeding measure skillfully devised
to give the few favors which they do not
deserve and TO place upon the many bur.
dens which they should not bear
Mr.. Babcock chairman of the national
Republican congressional executive com.
mittee, in 1901 said
rBy the aid of the tariff manufacturers
can fix exorbitant prices In the domestic
market.
And as has been tersely said. 9Th.
pingley law ties the hands OF the Ameri
can consumer while the trusts pick hi;
pockets"