Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-07-14

pay all the millions afnaSSed DIV the
Trust Barons. The Standard Oil
magnates, the Beet barons, the Coal
mobiles, the railroad grantees, the
Steel lords, the Sugar worthless, the
Bank aristocrats and the numerous
other trust and combine owners, all
get their enormous incomes from the
plain iAmericau people. Ordinary
and legitimate profits would not build
up such fortunes in life time, but
Instead Of yeas of proitaole bust
producing fair fortune, millions
are mada each year aud are still ac-
cumulating.
1t is no secret how the proprietors
of the Combine have amassed their
wealth. but it is strange mystery
that those who furnish it are to COR
tent to allow the accumulation to con
tinue. Every combine has some spe-
cial privilege that gives it a monopo-
| i; and the. Representatives OF the peo-
pc have granted these special favoIs
The railroad monopoly has been grant
cd millions of acres of land; the right
of eminsnt domain and unchecked op-
portunity of charging 'all the traffic
will bear" that is as much as can
be squeezed out OF the public. The
bankers control the finances of the
Country, and exact their pound Of
flesh through special laws, in their
interest. The Industrial Trust and
combines have been tostered aud bred
by Profession from foreign CONF petit
tioH and having monopoly in this
country their greed his advanced the
price OF their products to almost more
than / h people can pay. The trusts
combination with the Republican
party has allowed them to dictate
tariff rates so that practically they
C 'n,rol the price OF most of the neces-
sites o. life and the luxuries that are
important enough to warrant their
a tention.
II has taken thirty years to build
up this gigantic machine Of politi-
tlcians and business men and there
has been no check to their Iapacity,
except for two years, 1854 and then
only partially, fer the Republicans
were again returned o power in 1894
BY the cleo ion of a republican House
r, personalities, and in 1896 were
given control of all branches of the
government. 1t then politics have
been so manipulated that the trusts
and combines have controlled legis-
latiop am the execution of the laws
is it wo1der sui that they have laid
tribute on the people and collected it.
The question is, will the voters al
low this robbery to continue? They
have the power in their hands to
change the program, not at once, ter
the United States Senate, with its
two-thirds republican majority, stands
in the was of immediate relief but
an honest republican in the house of
pteseuatlves can block further de-
probation and point the way to re-
firm. The legislatures that will
elect oue.third Of the Sent will be
elected next years and, If controlled
by the people, instead of the corpora
tions, would about unhorsethe comb
nation between the politicians and the
trusts aud the road woul ! be open TO
immediate reform.
The cratic prosecution of the trusts
now being attempted is worthless
without legislation and the Republi-
can party has shown for long series
of ears that it thinks more of trust
comb nation than OF relieving the
people.
ne whole political structure IS rot
zen and nothing but turning the ras-
clis ont will restore the powerto TIE
people aud prevent future looting Any
party cautinued in power for nearly
so years would probably he no better
The only solution for a republi> is
aU equalization Of power between the
parties so that a uiAe throws the bal
auce 10 the opposition.