The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-18
WHIPPED INTO It
THEY BAWL. HUzzA
How Republicans Use
Democratic Thunder.
AMI NAII IT TuEPIC
AND CALL IT THEIRS
Driven to Prosecute violators of the
Law, They Claim the Merit.
Williams Strong Personality
Shows to Advantage in
the Debate.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Washington, March 17.--Just before ad-
journment today Mr.. Southwick, of New
York, precipitated brief lively debate
by having read an editorial from the New
York World giving Republicans credit for
antitrust legislation and the merger
prosecution. It was offered by way OF
reply to Mr.. Williams who asked yester-
day if the merger decision was to be
Used by the Republicans as a theatrical
political trick. Mr.. Williams after the
editorial had been read declared that the
securities prosecution was instigated by
Governor VanSant, whom he styled -
blanket Indian Republican" who refused
to consult headquarters
The editorial read by Mr.. SouthWick
contained the statement that the anti
trust law was framed by Republican,
passed by Republican Senate and signed
by Republican President, and that it
had remained dead letter on the statute
books during the second term of Pres;-
dent Cleveland.
At the conclusion of the reading the
Republicans vigorously applauded. Mr.
Williams said he was more than delight
ed tc see the Republican majority on the
floor "cheer the hounds on to hunt down
the combines and trusts of this country"
He would, he said, be even more delight
ed if he did not know that you are
very much like the month of March-you
come in like lions ana go out like lambs
which created laughter on the Democratic
side. Already, he continued, MI. Knox
had been careful to be interviewed and
to permit the country to know that you
are not running amuck" against trusts
generally; that the Northern Securities
case Just settles the Northern Securities
case and that it does not mean anything
particularly any how and he seems to be
fully anxious that the country should un-
dcIst8nd he does not mean anything par
ticu!arly anyhow. One statement in the
article referred to- he said credited this
administration as being the author of the
p1 osecution. 1t happened to be, he de-
clared, lone VanSant out in the West
somewhere, who started the case and he
saiG, 'for very shame, after he had gotten
the case upon the docket the administra-
tiCD, prior TO an election. could not hold
itself still" 1t was the only thing the
Republican party didn't stand pat on un-
til after the election, he said, amid Demo-
cratic applause, "and you would have
stood Pat on that if you had dared''
Governor VanSant was blanket indian
Republican" he continued, and he didn't
consult headquarters but precipitated the
litigation"
Continuing Mr. Williams SAID he had
seen blanket indian Republicans before.
and had seen hem ''quell'' when the time
came, "and, ne vigorously declared, 'if
you dare to attack the men who are furn-
iGhing your campaign expenses and carry
it far enough to persuade them that you
are III earnest, You viii be quelled too.
II you don't do it you will be Quelled by
the people" Mr.. Williams warned his
hearers to continue to prosecute and .at-
tack combinations which restrain trade
and stine competition.
Mr.. Tawney (Rep.. Mimi, stirred up a
hornets nest when he inquired of Mr.. Will
liams il he could state how the Democrats
in the Flfty-arst Congress voted when the
sherman Antitrust Law was UP for con
sideration. He declared that every Demo
crat voted against it.
The House at once was in an up.
roar. Mr.. Gaines (Dem, Tenn.), gesticu-
ed for the bill when it passed the House
and that it passed the House and Senate
UNANIMOUSLY. His remark was met by
laughter and ieers from the Republican
side. He stated that the first bill had been
introduced by Senator Teller and began to
give history Of the legislation when he
was interrupted by Mr.. Tawney, who said
that when Mr.. Mckinley presented the
rule Tor the consideration of the anti
trust law the Democrats opposed it.
Ah get out" shouted Mr. Gaines.
amid great confusion.
An inquiry from Mr. Grosvenor as to
what had become of the Postoffice Appro-
priatlon bill partially restored good hu-
NOR. Mr.. Williams, getting the floor
again, said it was not true the Democrats
opposed any legislation calculated to down
trusts or combines.
Throughout the day the Postoffce APP
preparation bill was under discussion and
llttle progress was made. The minority
leader, Mr.. Williams. declared the Post
office Department was rotten from tur-
ret to foundation stone and the Repub-
llcans were trying to reorganize 1T on an
appropriation bill.
Mr.. Williams made a point Of order
which was sustained against the provision
in the bill designating certain postal en-
ployes as Cashiers, might superinten-
dents" etc. He said that it was simply
a means of putting favorites into places
at salaries higher than they already re-
ceived.
Mr.. Maddox, (Ga), requested of Mr.