Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-03
The Democrats and the Trusts.

In the Democratic platform is a
declaration regarding the terrible
things which the party would do to the
trusts II it could get into power. but
the platform is eloquentiy silent about
what the party did do when it was in
power. During the last Democratic
administration trusts were reaching a
period of greatest activity, moreover
at that time, they were more or less
novelty and the country was seriously
alarmed by the menace they presented.
The call for action was general ana
loud. since the public had the idea that
trusts were going to absorb everything
What did the Democratic administra-
ton and the Democratic Congress do
to curb their power? law wa
passed which was utterly incapable of
being enforced, and to enforce it no at
tempt was made. The popular demand
was absolutely ignored and instead OF
making any effort to curb the growing
power of the trusts, Democracy de-
voted it's energies to putting an end to
the Industrial prosperity of the country
and to causing financial crashes.
The Democratic party is great on
promises. when it is out Of power. but
when it had chance to fight the trusts
it did nothing and worse than nothing.
Even the New York World. only few
weeks ago, in a burst of honest EN-
thusiasm over President Roosevslt's
great service to the American people in
checking the illegal and oppressive
trust power, printed the following
editorial for the consideration of its
readers.
|. The Antitrust law was framed
by Republican, was passed by
Republican House and Republican
Senate. was signed by Republican
President.
2 The law remained a dead letter on
the statute books during the entire
second term of Grover Cleveland.
Democratic President. Through those
four years of Democratic administra-
ton all appeals and all efforts of the
world to have the law enforced were
met with snecrS, jeerS and open con-
tempt from IA Democratic Attorney
General, Richard Olney. who pretended
that the law was unconstitutional. and
who would do nothing toward prose-
cutting violatOrs of it.
1o In W
was made by Theodore Roosevelt. Il
Republican President. The first At
tornev General to vigorously prosecute
offenders and to test the law was
Republican Attorney General, Phian-
der G. Knox.
4. The decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States. given as
finality from which there is no appeal.
upholding the law as perfectly consti-
tutional and absolutely imprcgnabe in
every respect. as the World for twelve
five Judges. every one of whom Is
Republican.
5. the dissenting minority Of the
Court included every Democratic Judge
Of that tribunal. 70 wit: Chief Justice
Fuller Of Illinois. Mr.. Justice White Of
Louisiana. and Mr. Justice Peckham 0f
New York. All these distinguished
Democrats not only voted against the
constitutionality of thu law but de-
nounccd it as n danger to the Republic.
s. Under these circumstances it does
not senm probable that tho Democrats
can make great capital in seeking to
monOpoliZe the antitrust issue and
charging the Republican Marty with
the crime of being owned body and
soul by the trusts
II is just as well to record some pla i'm
truths. however unpleasant or surpris
ing.
Since printing the above editorial tho
World has decided to support the Dem
ocratic nominee rather than Mr. RoOse
welt. and So is not likely to have more
editorials along this line. but this one
embodies tho plain. simple facts of the
case and they are facts by which tho
American people arc not to he deceived.