Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-01-29
CHAPTER II.-CoSr1NUEp.

CHAPTER II.-CONTINUED.
Certainly he proposed remedy"
said Hestor, rallying to the support
of the editorial staff. "He demands
the enforcement of the antitrust law
which, if put into operation, will re-
suit in. the disintegration of criminal
trusts"
you talk like a political platform,
Walter" replied Hammond. ''You be-
lieve nothing of the kind. You are
perfectly well aware that no effective
antitrust law will be affirmed by the
courts. Every time a test is made,
the various courts pronounce such
laws unconstitutional. Twenty states
have passed antitrust enactments,
and all have met the same fate. do
not believe it is possible by law to
prevent any two men, 20 men or 100
men from consolidating their inter-
ests and thereby saving and increas-
ing their profits. The trust is the
inevitable result of revolutionary
forces. 1t possesses certain advan
tages. These must be conserved. On
the other hand. the trust of to-day
possesses certain features which
menace our very existence as peo-
pie. A remedy must be found; but
it must be natural remedy. You
know my views on this subject, and
do not propose to abuse your hospi-
tally by infiicting anew on you the
details of my pet theory, which may
or may not. be worthy of considera-
ton"
eff we could but devise some plan
to bring about national or interna-
tional congress of such men," said
Hestor, taking out his pencil and jot-
ting down a list he had in mind. 81
can imagine the headlines, College of
Financial Giants 'Millionaires as Re-
formers 'Syndicates to the Rescue,
Trusts Tremble,' Wealth Willing to
Compromise It would be great! If
we could get some foreign financiers
with titles to stand sponsor for the
idea, our home product would be
more likely to follow their lead. 1t IS
worth thinking about. I am going to
cable Van Horne and suggest it to
him.
mo, do not think it possible to
bring such body of men into con-
ference continued Hammond, as
Hestor remained silent. with far
first place they would not meet; in
the second place, they would not talk.
They are not willing even to defend
their methods. to say nothing of TAX
ing the initiative towards reforming
them. We must possess our souls in
patience; do the best we can, and let
the sequence of events work out it's
destiny. 1t is our good fortune that
we can better afford to wait than
most of those who think they have
reason to complain. A millionaire
!. lawyer with a good practice, and the
millionaire correspondent and special
envoy of newspaper, should be able
to withstand the onslaugbts of trust
magnates for a considerable period"
II am going to form trust" said
Hestor suddenly.
"Yes?"
you need not laugh. / am. / am
going to form newspaper trust"
."An right, Walter" rejoined Ham
mond, who was familiar with Hes
tors moods. at is too late for you
to begin tonight. Let me know
when you are ready to draw up the
papers and / will render you my best
services as your attorney. Thus far
have been more successful in or
ganizing trusts than fighting them"
ST will need your services in a short
time" said Hestor, with some excite
ment, which Hammond attributed to
the wine. 81 am not testing. Oh
course this is confidential"
certainly. 1 am going to Chicago
tomorrow, and will be back in about
week"
Let me see you when you get
back. shall wish to talk with you.-
81 will do SO. Olive. by DEAR" said
Hammond, addressing his sister, I'll
is time your aged brother was on his
way home. / shall ask the permission
of the ladies, and of our excellent
host to depart, as I have long jour
ney ahead of me to-morrow-or more
properly to-day-it now being past
two o'clock
You and Walter are as ungallant
as you can be-" pouted Miss lie Roy
&c Mr.. Hestor gave the signsl for the