The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-10

shall attempt to mOnOpOlize or control
production by allowing discrimination in
prices, ETC., in order to destroy competi-
ton. The able lawyers who drew the
bill, therefore,, admit that, if the public
welfare demands it, Congress has the
power to prohibit all Interstate COM
merce to those offending against the wei
fare of the people. The bill is no doubt
the product of much constitutional re-
search. The air has been full of rumors.
which have not been s~trenuouSiy denied,
concerning the action Of the Chief oX-
ecutiVe in requesting one member Of the
committee to carefully investigate the
trust evil. The assistance of the Attor-
ney-General of the United States has
been nvokcd. So we have the right to
assume that the provisions of section 6
do not exceed the constitutions power Of
Congress.
Now, then, if this be true, you rave
the power to prohibit any corporation or
Individual. which or who shall acquire a
monopoly of any of the essentials Of life.
from engaging in Interstate commerce.
Mr.. Chairman, if our Republican friends
will add a section including this prCyi-
sion and cOnferring this power upon some
designated agency, it Will stimulate some
hope in the breasts of the people. It
viii be some evidence of an earrestness
Of purpose, and it viii tend to contradict
the impression that the Republican party
is really the friend of the trusts and is
simply trifing with this great question.
Mr.. Chairman. Why not resort to some
thing that is practical? This is a great
question, which should bc approached
with absolute candor and with the utmost
r;r ~ r,1r,,Ccn T4e ;p,rorlar .o ic
so great that every statesman in the land
should place its consideration far above
any party advantage. l shall vote for the
pending measure. but l have little hope
that any material relief will be accom-
plished by it. Both political parties haze
promised the people, in the most omphat-
&c terms. that they would do all III their
power to strike from their hands the
shackles of monopoly.
We all know that the wage-earncr is at
the mercy Of the trusts. We know that
the price Of some of the great a~gricul-
tural products of the country is abso-
lutely fixed by the trusts. We know that,
practically speaking, the trust buys at
its own price and sells at its own price.
No wonder that among the favored few
millions are almost as common today as
thousands were in the early days OF tho
Republic. More than this. We know
the trusts are charging the American
people for their goods more than they
i charge foreigners fer identieally the
! same goods. We know that they are
furnishing US for making them rich. And
yet we are protecting the trusts from al
/ outside competition. Our folly has beer
so great that we have put ourselves il
their power. Thank God the party Il
which belong has lone what it could tt
prevent this. but the Republican parts
has shut off competition from the out.
side world. and has said to the trusts anC
| monopolies, Here arc 70, 900. 600 Ameri.
can people. They are your Legitimate
prey. Do with them as YOU see fit. They
shall not buy goods from foreigners: they
must buy your goods. Put your oWt
price upon thcm. The prey is yours; q
with it as YOU see fit" What is the log
zeal answer to all this. Mr.. Chairman
What does the conscience, the sense o
right which God has put in the breast o
every man, what answer does it give
It is this: Remove the protection allow
Cd by law to these great criminals: le
them have the world to compete with
let the American buy wherever he car
get his goods the cheapest"
If in the course of time the trusts shall
monopolize the commerce of the world
humanity may be forced to deal Will
them in an entirely different manner
Why not remove the protection they en-
jov by reducing the tariff upon the arti
+; cles which they manufacture to tina
point which viii force them to sell a