Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-08-31
Protecting the Trusts.

tvity against the trusts. For months
the Department of Commerce and La
Dor has had a large force Of inspectors
investigating the beef trust which the
Department Of Justice about two years
ago discovered was bad trust, in fact
the only bad industrial trust 1t could
discover. There is no lack of men or
money to fight the trusts, for the large
army Of employees Of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, not counting
the numerous special attorneys of the
Department Of Justice, with its appro-
priauen of $500, 600 is available and
has been for more than two years. The
lack of results is evidence that Presl-
dent Roosevelt is not honestly trying
to stop the depredating OF even the one
bad trust that he and Knox selected to
try their hand on. The injunction OBJ
tanned against the beef trust 10 evident
ly worthless, us far as protecting the
people from its exactions is concerned.
Since the injunction was obtained
meat has been higher than before the
legal proceedings were commenced.
The trouble with President Roose-
Welt is that he is trying to run with
the hare-the people-and with the
hounds-the trusts.
Does anyone believe that IL the
President was really intent on stopping
the plundering of the people by any OF
the great predatory trusts, that under
his orders the Attorney General could
not find way to do 1t and do 1t quick
"? Only two efforts have been made
to protect the people and those In only
half-hearted way. As long as Knox
was Attorney General, nothing else
could have been expected, for his Sc
lection by the great trust magnates Of
Pennsylvania to succeed Quay in the
United States Senate is positive evil
dence that the trusts feel very kindly
to him for his forbearance and reward
ed him accordingly.
IL President Roosevelt was really
Intent ON bringing few sample big
trusts to book, how easy and quickly
it could be done. Not only the beef
trust, but the coal trust. the Standard
OIL trust, the steel trust. the sugar
trust, in fact any Of the big bad trusts
would soon cease their piundering as
far as combining and restraining trade
is concerned II the following section
of the antitrust law was enforced:
Section 2. Everyone who shall mon
opolize, or attempt to monopolize, or
combine or conspire with any other
person or persons, to monopolize any
part of the trade or commerce among
the several States, or with foreign ma
tons, shall be deemed guilty of a mis-.
demeanor and on conviction thereof
shall be punished by fine not exceeding
5000, or by Imprisonment not exceed
ing one year. or by boil, said punish-
ments, in the discretion Of the court"
The whole law will he found In the
Goth volume of the United States Stat
utes at Large, page 200. and can be
examined at any law library. 1t ere
ated seven different crimes relating to
interstate, foreign or territorial trade
or commerce, punishable by a penalty
not exceeding 5000, or one years I'M.
prlsonment, or both, by providing that
every person who shall make az con
tract In restraint of such trade, or (o)
engage in consultation in form of a
trust or otherwise, or ~ in a con.
spiracy in restraint Of such trade, or "a
monopolize, or (D attempt to menopo.
lie, or (6 combine, or "a conspire to
monopolize such trade shall be guilty
Of misdemeanor, to-be punished as
stated.
There would be no delay in gather.
ing evidence against at least two
trusts. The evidence against the beef
trust and the coal trust is In the
archives of the Department Of Justice
and the names of those who could be
summoned as witnesses are also
known.
The advantage OF proceeding unde,
Section 2 OF the antitrust law ia tho
'nS .l's7. ,e ou1's 1l ' ai"aEs
open " criii'hai prosecution, ana tilt
trust maella.es could De lndicted and
tired without delay.
trust maghates IN jail, with the
rear OF 1urther prosecution, would a
once break up thelr unlawful combina
lions. Ihere would sun remain thu
protection they receive Under thu
nngley tarin law which prevent
competition from outside and allow.
them to ,piunder the consumers through
high prices. VI course no relief car
be expected from Roosevelt from tina
source. He believes with the Repub
lean majority in Congress, and as thu
Republican national platform declares
we insist upon the maintenance o.
the principles OF protection
There you have IT. Protect the trusts
and corporations In every way. Pro
tect the trust magnates from the law
especially made to punish them. Pro
lection to the Few at the expense O
the many is the Alpha and Omega o
modern Republicanisni.
The wh,te Hons. Reor..n,x.a.
When President Roosevelt lin,