Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-07-12

UeSn pefmlIted, through congressional
favor to draw a heavy tribute from
the American people. This monstrous
peryersion of those equal opportuni-
ties, which our- political institutions
were established to secure, has caused
what may once have been infant in
dustries to become the greatest COM
binations of capital that the world has
ever known. These especial favorites
OF the government have through trust
methods been converted into monopo-
lies, thus bringing to an end domestic
competition, which was the only al.
legged check upon the extravagant pro-
fits made possible by the protective
system. These industrial combina.
lions, by the financial assistance they
can give, now control the policy of the
republican party
We denounce protection as a rob-
berry of the many to enrich the few,
and we favor tariff limited to the
needs of the government economic.
ally administered and so levied as not
to discriminate against any industry,
class or section. to the end that the
burdens of taxation shall be distribut-
ed as equally as possible.
We favor a revision and a gradual
reduction of the tariff by the friends
Of the masses and for the common
veal and not by the friends of it's
abuses, its >extortions and it's dis
ordinations, keeping in view the ulti-
mate ends of equality of burdens and
equality of opportunities" and the
constitutional purpose of raising a
revenue by taxation-to-wit: the sup.
mort of tho fnInro1 H., III
Its integrity and virility, but in sim
plicity.
Trusts and Unlawful Combinations.
We recognize that the gigantic trusts
and combinations designed to enable
capital to secure more than its just
share OF the joint products of capital
and labor. and which have been fos-
tered and promoted under republican
rule, are menace to beneficial COM
petition and an obstacle to permanent
business prosperity.
A private monopoly is indefensible
and intolerable. Individual equality of
opportunity and free competition are
essential to healthy and permanent
commercial prosperity, and any trust,
combination, or monopoly tending to
destroy these by controlling produc-
ton, restricting competition, or fixing
prices should be prohibited and pun
ished by law. We especially denounce
rebates and discrimination by transpor-
tation companies as the most potent
agency in promoting and strengthen
Ing these unlawful conspiracies against
trade.
We demand an enlargement of the
powers of the interstate commerce
commission, to the end that the travel.
ing public and shippers of this coun.
try may have prompt and adequate
relief for the abuses to which they are
subjected in the matter of Transports
ton. We demand strict enforcement
OF existing civil and criminal statutes
against all such trusts, combinations
and ,nonopolies; and we demand the
enactment of such further legislation
as may be necessary to effectually sup
press them.
Any trust or unlawful combination
engaged in interstate commerce which
is monopolizing any branch of business
or production should not be permitted
to transact business outside of the
state of its origin. Whenever it shall
be established in any court of compe
tent jurisdiction that such monopoliza
tion exists, such prohibition should BIZ
; enforced through comprehensive laws
to be enacted on the subject.
Reclaim Arid Lands.
We congratulate our western eiti
zens upon the passing of the Law
known as the Newlands irrigation &C
for the irrigation and reclamation O
the arid lands of the west measur,
framed by democrat, passed in thu
! senate by a nonpartisan vote, and pass
. ed in the house against the opposition
, of almost all the republican leaders b,
vote Of the majority of which wal
democratic.
We call attention to this great demo
cratic measure, broad and comprehen
siye at 1t is, working automaticall,
throughout all time without further &C
! ton Of congress, until the reclamation
of all the lands in the arid west cap
able of reclamation is accomplished
reserving the lands reclaimed TO
homeseekers in small tracts, and rigid