The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-04-15
GIN UNITE MASSES
Hearst Fights Trusts
. For Plain People

plOn OF the fe0pi6 S Rights, Wn0 IS
a Platform In Himself, Says For
+; mer Governor of California.
BY JAMES H. BUDD, Former Govern
or Of California.
William Randolph Hearst should be
nominated for president of the United
States by the Democratic national con-
vention because he is the only candi-
date who typifes opposition to Grim
inal Trusts and On whom the toiling
masses will unite.
William Randolph Hearst is the
ONLY ONE of the many good Demo-
Gratis mentioned for the nomination
whose life work stands for opposition
to and a continuous fight against COR
porate exactions and trust eXtortions,
and who has increasingly striven for
tariff reform and to better the condi-
ton Of the toilihy masses. Others may
have fought nob,y in some of these
matters. but non a equal him in
devotion to them all. and the ques-
ton who is the greatest champion
Of the peoples rights against trust
oppression" finds but one answer
Hearst.
And il we are sincere as Democrats,
and platforms are not molasses with
which to catch flies, we should give a
guarantee OF that sincerity by nomi-
mating the man whose name on these
issues is a tower of strength. The
people believe in him, and they know
he would enforce the laws; they could
but hope this of others. Mankind
judges by the Biblical rule, "By their
works We shall know them,' and OF
this mans works there can be no ques-
ton.
Whatever may be the fundamental
causes of criminal trusts, they have
come into existence under Republican
administrations, and they look to that
party for assistance and support in
return for open Golfers during holly
contested elections.
The sister iniquity, the present un-
equal and discriminating tariff, is in it.
self a direct creation Of the Repub-
lican party and has been SO scaled by
repeated legislation as to fatten favor
ed industries.
No better evidence could be had of
the close relations between the GRIM
inal trusts and the Republican party
of today than that disclosed by the lat
ter's repeal of the punishment of i'm
prisonment for violation of the anti
trust laws. When Hearst commenced
his fight against the trusts, in court
and before officials, violations Of these
laws were punishable by imprison-
ment. He insisted that there should
be, no distinction between big thieves
and little thieves, but that all should
be treated alike. And he could not be
bought or bullied or turned aside. The
trustsoperarors saw neuG tine prison
door ajar and Hearst as an avenger
of the outraged law behind. Pursued
by Hearst, the trusts fed to q Repub-
lican congress as to a city Of refuge"
and they found a haven, for that con-
gress passed, and the president Of
these United States signed, a practical
pardon for the past crimes and an Inn
muntty for the future offenders by re-
pealing all provisions of law which i'm
posed Imprisonment as punishment for
the criminal violation OF certain anti
trust legislation.
This was in effect licensing viola
lions OF law and fixing the license fee
at such sum as might be imposed
from time to time for conviction.
1t is absurd to urge that the men
criminally guilty Of robbing the people
would be deferred from SO doing by a
comparatively small fine.
Protected from arrest by such re
peal, the coal operators when brought
before the. interstate commerce com
mission on the petition Of Hearst re
fused to comply with the orders of
that body, and the cause now drags in
the. courts, while Hearst Is endeavoring
to have the effective penalty restored
by congress.
During the proceedings before this
commission one Of the trust operators,
Baer Of Pennsylvania, chief of them
all, was forced to admit when pressed
by Mr.. Shearn, Hearst's attorney, that
during a recent presidential election
the trusts which he represented had
been urged, by the managers of the Re
publican party to juggle their affairs
10 as to assist in electing a Republican
president, and they had done SO.
On this answer wonder at the repeal
Of punishment for their acts ceased.
The. Republican party owed the trusts
this pardon and paid Its debt, and
Hearst was temporarily checked. The
unrelenting fight by Mr.. Hearst against
the coal and meat and other trusts and
the vigor he has infused therein, cou-
pied with the fact that congress could
be moved, but he could not, is n oil
the strongest Endorsements OF the man
4 TITS a matter of history.
A hundredth part Of the energy dis
played by him would Gave enabled q
president to crush every criminal trust
In the land.
The persistence Of Mr.. Hearst in the
interest Of te plain people and his
man. efrerx In their behalf are toe
well known to reqnirs a recital In de.
tail. And his devotion is not Of re
$3.50 Hp 49, $500