Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-04-29
Jan UNITE MASSES.
Hearst Fights Trusts
] For Plain People

Democrats Should Give Guarantee OF
Sincerity by Nominating the Cham.
plon Of the Peoples Rights. Who Is
a Platform In Himself. Says For.
mer Governor Of California.
~ 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-
yention because he is the only candi-
date who typifies 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 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 toilihg masses. Others may
have fought nob!y in some OF these
matters. but none can 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 If we are sincere as Democrats,
and platforms are not mOlasses with
which to catch flies, we should give
guarantee of that sincerity by nomi-
Mating the man whose name on these
issues is 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 or
this mans works there can be no ques-
Aon.
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
xs4aan fer open Golfers during holly
contested elections.
The sister iniquity, the present I'M
equal and discriminating tariff, Is In It.
self a direct creation Of the Repub-
lican party and has been 80 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
trust operators saw ahead the prison
door ajar and Hearst as an avenger
of the outraged law behind. Pursued
by Hearst, the trusts fed to Repub-
lican congress as to ''city Of refuge"
and they found a haven, for that con-
gress passed. and the president Of
these United States signed, practical
pardon for the past crimes and an i'm
nunity 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
tons Of law and fixing the license fee
at such sum as might be imposed
from time to time for conviction.
It is absurd to urge that the men
guilty Of robbing the people
would be deferred from so doing by
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
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 q recent presidential election
the trusts which he represented had |
been urged by the managers Of the Re-
publican party to juggle their affairs
80 as to assist in electing Republican |
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 |
fight by Mr.. Hearst against
he coal and meat and other trusts and !
he vigor he has infused therein, cou.
)led with the fact that congress could
Do moved, but he could not, is one of
A.