Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
The Merger Decision.

The Merger Decision, which sus-
tains the validity Of the Sherman
Antitrust act, is a legal adjudica-
ton of the first magnitude. This
act became law fourteen years ago,
when Harrison was president, and
the fact that it has remained prac-
tically dead letter upon our statute
books during all Of these years
shows conclusively the power WELD
ed by these colossal, criminal COM
binations commonly called trusts.
During the past fourteen years
the chief executives of this country
have protected these predatory COM
binations from prosecution for
reasons similar to those which in
duce tho corrupt police officials of
some of our big cities to shield GER
tain gamblers and other criminals.
This may seem harsh language to
some, but here are the facts upon
which it is based:
The trusts were displeased be-
cause President Harrison permitted
the Sherman act to become law
during his administration, and they
schemed to prevent his reelection.
At that time Ex-President Cleve-
land enjoyed, and very properly SO,
the confidence and respect Of all
democrats, and also many republic
cans. No president ever left the
White House with better record
than Cleveland did at the end of his
first term. He was worth many
millions to the trusts if they could
have the right kind of an under
standing with him. For years he
had made his home in New York
city, where criminal combinations
nest and center.
In 1892 the common people be-
lieved in Cleveland, and so did the
trusts. 1t is now asserted by those
in position to know, that the trusts
and bond syndicates Of New York
subscribed upwards Of 100000
to help elect Cleveland that year
Be that as it may, he certainly fur
nished the trusts all the protection
they could possibly desire during
his last four years in office. Ii the
trusts had n S4,OO0,O0O mortgage
on his last administration, he Ger.
tainly kept faith with his mortga,
gees. He never permitted the Sher-
man law to be enforced against {
s!.ssch criminal, and democrats be
came disheartened and disguised
He went further, and did the bid
ding Of theiving bond syndicates
and then the democratic masses re
| volted and refused to further follow
| a leader who had so treacherousl,
betrayed them
When Mr.. Bryan was nominated
every trust knew that his election
meant the end of their plunderine
reign, and the fund which the,
placed at the disposal of Mark Han
ma to insure Mr.. Bryan's defeat wa,
the most colossal campaign fmt
ever used in this country.
Ii Cleyeland's second term wa.
mortgaged to the trusts for $4,000,
600, President McKinley's admins
trations were, mortgaged for man,
times that sum.
OF course no prosecutions of these
rich criminals were ever permitted
while Mr.. Mckinley lived. He made
good the actual or implied agree
ments entered into when Mr.. Hann
accepted the trusts money.
But after Mr.. Roosevelt becam
president, it was an open question
whether he would feel bound by an
Of Mr.. Hanna's agreements which Ii
did not approve of. Roosevelt ha'
) been a police commissioner in Ney
York city, and had inveighe'
against the practice of permitting
gamblers ard other criminals t,
purchase police protection by max
ing large campaign contributions t
Tammany Hall. Would he, as pre-
, sident, be party to like practice
on an infinitely larger sea lie?
The governor Of Minnesota force