The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-03-24

paten in Rhode Isiand1Former President's Weakness shown Up Amusing Efrors on His Part to Avoid Comparison-Efrortso of Opposition to Rob Administration of Fruits of nler- ger Victory.
 Providence, R. l., March 2S.-The re- ublican national campaign in Rhode Island was virtually opened tonight by Hecretary os the Treasury Leslie M. Ehaw and United States Senator Nelson M. Aldrich of Rhode Island, who were he principal speakers at the banquet f the Young Mems Republican club h. Infantry hall.
 Trust legislation, it's progress under everal administrations and the atti- llde of former President Grover Cleve- sAnd in regard to such legislation, con Itituted the principal points of Secre- |ary Shaw's address, while Senator Ald- ich tried to impress upon his hearers he necessity of organized effort in or Fer to ensure party success.
 | No sooner was the result of the mer- Ter case announced than the opposition laugurated widely varying and incon- stent tactics to rob the administra- on of the fruits of it's victory. Some emanded the institution of similar lits against every large business and Producing enterprise and every eonsoli- {ation of railroad interests, whether of Dmpeting systems of of continuous nes. The most amusing effort to avoid comparison of republican and demo- ratio administrations, to the great ad- hntage of the former, appears in re- Pnt interview by ex-President Cleve- nd. He does not claim to have rec nmended any antitrust legislation uring either of his administrations. He pes not claim that any antitrust leg lation was passed during either of is administrations. He does not claim Fedit for any litigation ever instituted
 suppress any trust or combination uring either of his administrations. He mply seeks to explain why nothing as done, and he places the responsibil- therefor upon the courst and the Pnstitution and upon the fact that the orthern Securities company was not ganized during his administration. am very glad that the ex-president hs again commenced to take notice, notwithstanding the McKelway letter. light years is long time to remain in burning. But now that he has vol ltarily entered the lists and invited mparisons, he can not complain if nparisons be made.
 MT. Cleveland was first inaugurated resident March A, 1885. Neither in his augural address nor in any message bes he mention the subject of trusts htil immediately preceding the election 1888. In his message preceding that mpaign he refers to the existence of ombinations frequently called trusts" s'@EAd closes with the sage conclusion: N The people can hardly hope for any nsideration in the operation of these 1fish schemes. y
 He recommends no relief and suggests
 remedy. Nevertheless the congress
 which this comprehensive statement fact was submitted, majority of the embers of which belonged to his |hool of political thought, appointed a |mmission was to convince the people lat their interests were not being neg ted, at least during the campaign, q that if MT. Cleveland was re-elect-
 some remedial legislation would fol- W. To that end this commission held lettings from time to time through t the campaign. Mr. Cleveland was It reelected, however, but when con- less reconvened, in paragraph of five bes, he refers to the subject of trusts, q closes with this sad and terrifying nouncement: Corporations, which ould be the carefully restrained eatures of the law and the servants of e people, are fast becoming the peo- b's masters" But helrecommends no ief and suggests no possible way of cape.
 Two days before the inauguration of esident Harrison the commission to nich I have referred made its report, tting forth what evidently appeared
 the commission as a most depIorable ndition.
 Your committee respectfully report at the number of combinations and lsts formed and forming in this untry is. as your committee has as- rtained. very large, and affects a rge portion of the important manu- curing and industrial interests of country. They do not report any of these combinations, for the req n that new ones are constantly form and old ones are constantly extend their relations so as to cover new anches of sbusiness and invade new Eritories.
 Their words of encouragement which low must be read in the light of the ct that two days later a republican ngress, elected some months before, hs to convene. Listen!
 Your committee further report that ting to present differences of opinion P, they limit this report to submitting
 the careful consideration of subse- ent congresses the facts shown by testimony taken before the commit E."
 Both the president and the commit acknowledged the existence of rmful trusts and combinations, but ither holds forth to the people any y of hope except at the hands of those lo were about to fill their seats.
 The republican congress was not long active. The very first bill introduced the senate of the Fifty-first congress s John Sherman's antitrust bill,
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