The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-14
WINDOWS Prophetic Words.

men were listened to with more considera-
ton and respect than We're accorded to
those proceeding from him. 1T is, there
fore, matter Of peculiar interest In con-
nection with the general discussion of the
question Of trusts and monopolies, and
particularly appropriate, following the re-
cent merger decision Of the United States
circuit court, to note the substance of a
letter written by William Window. while
a senator, from Washington, Feb. 10. 1881
to L. E. Chittenden, president of the Ma
tional Autobiography League, which Mr..
Window was invited to address at Cooper
Institute. Mr.. Window expressed his re-
gret at being unable to attend the meet
ing. although up to the date of this letter,
two days prior to the date Of the meeting,
he had expected to be present.
Speaking of the objects Of the league,
defining them as q movement to demand
full protection for the rights Of the citi-
zen against the abuses and aggressions
of corporate power, and to insist upon the
enforcement of those principles of law and
natural right defined by the supreme
court" he expressed his hearty sympathy
with the work Of the league. He advised
them not to underrate the power or skill
of their antagonists. warned them against
the agrarian or cOmmunistic spirit and
assured them that constitutions, natural
rights and the spirit Of our institutions
are on their side. Mr.. Window says fur
Their:
Corporate power has done much to de-
velop our country. For it's good deeds I
freely accord it full credit. AS an instru-
ment to execute the will and serve the
interests of the public, 1T Is Of incalculable
value: but as the imperious ruler of the
people it is a most cruel and relentless
tyrant. Kept within the limits of. proper
restraint it is an invaluable servant of
the public. Unrestrained by the forces Of
law and public opinion, it will prove a
most dangerous master. The individual
citizen is impotent to contend against this
gigantic and rapidly growing power. Gov
eminent authority, state and national,
alone is competent to restrain its aggres-
sions and correct it's abuses. l have long
foreseen that the time would come when
the people would be compelled to invoke
the exercise Of that authority for their
protection. I repeat o-day in substance,
| words uttered seven years ago, that there
are in this country four men who in the
matter of taxation possess and frequently
| exercise powers which neither congress
! nor any of our state legislatures would
| dare to exert-powers which, if exercised
in Great Britain, would shake the throne
| to it's very foundation. These men may
at any time and for any reason satisfac-
tory to themselves, reduce the value OF
property in the United States by hun
dreds of millions. They may at their own
will and pleasure disarrange and embar-
rass business, depress one city or locality
and build up another, enrich one individ-
ual and ruin his competitors, and, wher
complaint is made, coolly reply. What are
you going to do about it?
The channels of thought and the
channels of commerce thus owned anC
controlled by one man. or by a few men
what is to restrain corporate power OF
| to fix limit to it's exactions upon the
people? What is then to hinder these
men from depressing or initiating the
value Of all kinds of property to suit thei
caprice or avarice. and thereby gathering
into their own Golfers the wealth of the
nation? Where is the limit to such poWe
as this? What shall be said of the spiri
of a free people who will submit without {
protest to be thus bound hand and foot
The practical question is, what ar
you going to do about t?' TO my mine
the answer is easy. This organized. gi
gantic corporate power can only be KEEP
u1QeT proper restraint ny Tie OlSdIlAc'
} power of the people, expressed thro thei
state and national governments. Tina
such governmental power exists and ma
be exercised | have not a particle o
doubt. 1t Is plainly written In our con
stltutIons, and has been unequvocaIiy de
7 ciared by the supreme court of the Unite
States.
I am aware that it will require niue
care, labor and skill to frame laws whic
:. | x1,in full 1at 70 i'm
action of the great transportation com
panies, without unnecessary injury t
them, and without emitting the essentia
elements of protection to the public, bu
have no doubt it can be done. When tn
= people demand it. they will find the me
to do it. I believe the time has com
when this great work should be under
e taken.
1t will be far better for the corpora
e. tons themselves that it be done now, b
. conservative but thoro and judicious leg
i isla ton. rather than to postpone it unit
= the people, no longer able to bear tn
tyranny of corporate power, shall rise
their wrath to humble and destroy thei
Oppressors.
This letter was written twenty-five
years ago. and yet it reads, in the ligl
of the merger decision, as if it had bee
I
:, past warning to-day against the en-
croa chments of the power Of organize
wealth, guided only by human selfishnes
and hampered only by the limita ton {
, human intelligence. This letter wa
written before the day of trusts and mo
, nopoly as we know them at this time, br
how prophetic. how discerning as to tn
= future, how wi se and Instructive. .Th
- things which Senator Window foresa
6 have come to pass in a larger degre'
, proba bly,, than he ever anticipa ted.
: William Window was no crank II
rabid trust buster. Trusts and monopc
Z lies were compare lively few when thos
6 words were written. But he was a sd
: gacious man.; he could read the signs
the times, and such words as these CON
=, ing from such a man as he, are still time
s ly and worthy Of serious consideration.
! p The Difference. &C.. RI. ::