The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-02-25

trust annie tree and the culpritS have
gone right ahead in plucking the pub
lie. There are plenty of stones at
hand under the criminal clause of the
antitrust law, but Roosevelt SO far
has shown no disposition to make use
of them in dislodging the predatory
band proving upon the fruits Of the
honest toll of the overburdened and
long suffering people.
Through very shame for this failure
to enforce the Sherman antitrust law,
Foraker in the senate and Grosvenor
in the house. both recognized SpOkeS-
men of the administration, have intro
duced a bill proposing the repeal of
all the essential provisions of that law.
Under the Foraker GrOSVenOr bill COM
trade" would be legalized and that
section of the Sherman law imposing
fines or Imprisonment for violation of
the law would be stricken out.
This bill has undoubtedly been in
trOduced to propitiate the favor of
Wall street and it seems to have had
the desired effect. The president is
evidently on the most friendly terms
with the Rockefellers and MOrgans
and they will gladly raise Il campa ign
fund of $4,000. 900 or more to give
him four years more in the White
House.
Roosevelt is playing the role of
good Lord and good devil on the
popular favor by hOt-air campaigns
against the trusts. While he entertainS
the plutocratic violators of the law at
luncheon and assures them that there
is no intention to do them any harm.
He knows that if he should enforce
the law these men would be wearing
prison stripes instead of basking in the
favor Of the White House.
1t is growing palmer every day that
the only hope of the people in their
fight against the eXtortiOnS of insOlent
and defiant monopoly is in the demo-
cratic party. 1t is true that the trust
magnates are trying to republicanize
The party of the people, making it only
another instrument for the accomplish
nent of their selfish purposes. but il
the rank and file of the party are vigil
liant. Ibis cannot be done.
The democratic national convention
should declare unequivocally for the
enforcement Of the antitrust laws. and
for the amendment of the interstate
commerce law SO that the transporta-
ion companies shall no longer be able
~ determinations in rates and by
system Of rebates to favored shippers
90 build up and support such mOnop-
pieS as the Standard Oil trust and the
anthracite coal trust. 1t should de-
hare for an income tax that the bur
len of government may be shifted to
poor or moderately we'll to do to the
shoulders of the rich. 1t should de-
rlare for a national currency issued
direct by the government. and thus
DbViate the necessity of perpetuating
the public debt in order to maintain
the national banking monopoly. In
every word and in every line the demo-
ratio national platform should breathe
he spirit of democracy as expressed
II the JefferSOnian motto of equal
lights for all and special privileges for
lone"
On such a platform with candidates
whose records must be in harmony
with its underlying principles, the
democratic party will deserve an old
time victory. and if it should be again
defeated, il will be stronger in defeat
than in victory on an evasive coward
ly. plutocratic platform.