The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-25

executive encroachment upon the leg
islative or judicial department.
This is a general plank that says
nothing definitely. 1t is probably in
tended as a condemnation of the pres
ident's pension order. but the idea is
SO vaguely expressed that those who
support the platform can deny that
any criticism was intended if they find
that such criticism is unpopular. The
second plank reads:
We must keep inviolate the
pledges of our treaties; we must re-
new and reinvigOrate within ourselves
that respect for law and that love of
liberty and of peace which the spirit
of military domination tends newt
ably to weaken and destroy
s'This is probably intended for a re-
buke to the president for his action
in the Panama matter, but this, too,
is so indefinite that the supporters of
the platform can repudiate any such
intention if it ever becomes convenient
to do so. The third plank reads:
Unsteady national policies and a
restless spirit of adventure engender
alarms that check our commercial
growth; let us have peace, to the end
that business confidence may be re-
stored, and that our people may again
in tranquility enjoy the gains of their
toll
This possibility is intended as a.
criticism of the rashnesS of the pres
ident and his emotional temperament
and yet it is so imperSOnal that those
who support the platform can very
plausibly insist that it has no partic-
uIar reference to any person, but is
intended as a very broad statement of
a very general principle. The fourth
plank reads:
4" Corporations chartered by the
state must be subject to just regula-
ton by the state in the interest of the
people; taxation for public purposes
only; no government partnership with
protected mOnopolies.'
This plank might find a welcome
place in any platform. 1t would be dit
ffcuIt to conceive of a, party that would
object to just regulations by the state
in the interests of the people, nor is
there any party that is likely to de-
fend taxation for any other than a pub
lie purpose. Even the Republican par
ty has never declared itself in favor of
government partnership with protect
ed monOpOlies.' The plank, therefore,
has no meaning at all as it stands, I'M
less there is a secret suggestion that
the regulation of corporations must be
left entirely to the states. This is the
position that is taken by the trust mag
mates. Whenever congress attempts to
interfere with a, trust, the friends Of
the trust at once insist that the state
must do the regulating-that is the po-
sition taken by the dissenting members
of the supreme court in the merger
case-and if this plank means anything
it is an Endorsement of the minority
members of the court rather than an
Endorsement Of the decision of the ma
jority. The fact that the platform is
silent about the merger decision lends
color to this construction. The fifth
plank reads:
Opposition to trusts and combina-
lions that Cypress the people and stifle
healthy industrial competition
This is the antitrust plank of the
platform. At least, it is the only plank
in which the trust is mentioned Ivy
name. The plank contains IA words,
and it will be noted that the opposition
is not to all monopolies or to all trusts,
but simply to those which Cypress the
people and stife healthy industrial
competition That is the position ta-
ken by Justice Brewer in his separate
man law was not intended to prevent
all restraint of trade, but only 'unrea-
sonable restraint and so Mr.. Hill and
the other New York friends of Judge
plank as to make their meaning IN
certain. They have so worded the
plank as to present the trust view Of
the question rather than the view en-
tertained by the people at large In
order to excite the opposition of the
friends of Judge Parker the trust must
be shown as oppressive It must be
shown that it is not only sitting in
duStrial competition. but that ii is
sitting a healthy industrial competi-
tion.' The trust nagnates claim tn At
the obiectof the trust is to stif1e un-
healthy industrial competition and to
promote healthy industrial COMPETE
ton. The qualifying words used IN
this very brief and ambiguous plank de-
stroys whatever vitality it might have
had without them. The Kansas City
platform declared a private monopoly
to be indefensible and intolerable. 1t
not only arraigned private monopoly as