The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-26
TRUST QUESTION
WIND SAYS Lind.
Congressman Defines Political
Issues in an Address Before
Summer School.

'The trust question in the present
campaign is merely7a matter of wind"
So declared Congressman John Lind
before 700 summer school students
and professors at the university this
morning.
IT speak as an American citizen"
he went on, also as a democrat, altho
perhaps not as a prudent democrat
Both parties will seek to use this
question as a rallying cry, but it is not
matter that will be settled by
statutes and court decisions. Yes, the
question Of the merger was definitely
settled in the courts. It may be said
that it was killed, but 1t really exists
as serenely as ever.
1.-THE trusts have grown from the
corporations, most OF which were USE
full and advantageous to the country.
The fact that the formation of the
trusts hasgsbeen brought about thru
the desire to promote economy In
management renders them largely i'm
pervious to, legislation. There Is one
way to lessen the evils of the trust
without direct legislation, and that is
to lower the tariff.
Tariff Not Vital.
"The tariff is not a vital question:
that is, it does not mean life or death
to the country. Nevertheless, 1t is
one Of the most important economic
questions. There is not the possibility
of declaring that high protection is
fundamentally wrong, or that some
other form of tariff is absolutely
right. The tariff Issue is not that the
democratic party stands for tariff for
revenue only and the republican party
for high protection. The issue should
be defined as one Of a low tariff
against q high one. The democratic
party believes that If the enormously
high duties be lowered to a reason
able per cent the government will be
assured Of sufficient revenue and the
industries Of the country will be suffi-
ciently protected. At the same time
the trusts would be forced by compe-
tition to bring their prices down to
a point where the public would be
saved from robbery.
Regulation Of Rates.
Another safeguard against the
| trusts would be Ito have committees
of honorable and upright men who
would see that freight rates should be
the same to all shippers and that one
locality should not be favored at the
expense Of another.
| II have been asked to define the
issues Of the#pending campaign, OF
impending campaign, as you wish
| and Will SpeakG8perSonalIy or Wha1
consider the other issues. beside
those of the trusts and tariff. II
speaking Of the parties refer to the
machines and not to the individual
men who compose the parties. I be.
lieve the republican party has beer
SO long In power that the public
service has become one of profligate
expenditure. Millions are wasted
tW TWEEN str sssl Ping aY supe asi
Eors in the tngt on, no re-
! ceive higher saI arfes than the profes
sors in Sthe universities. What W.
need issa sweeping out, ANEW broom
There are bound to 5be a great many
rasca1s in office. What we 5content
lis that there are too many, and we
4 propose to put as many frascals on
and as many good men in as is posi-
ble."
- Warmed Up On Imperialism.
The last question taken up wal
that of imperialism. Mr.. Lind haG
discussed the previous questions calm
ly and dispassi onately. In speaking
Of the evils Of imperialism he becam,
impassioned and denounced in strong
terms the holding of territories with