Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-02
Temporary Chairman's Address
Judge Towner, of Corning, Delivers Speech
Ringing Vita True Republicanism.

rs 90 well, tHaC rOf all those Ngreat
!, corporations doing an interstate bust
ness, action by the national govern
: menu was necessary. In response to
luis the original interstate traffic act
ana the Sherman act were passed
Later, the Ell1ns law and the rate bill
passed by the last congress have been
placed upon the statute books.
). All these laws are republican laws
framed by republicans, passed by re
publlcans, and are being enforced by
repuplcans. During these formative
years great causes defining the powers
on the government and the lights OF
the corporations, and especially draw
ing the lines of demarkation between
FEDERAL and state jurisdiction have
neen tried and determined. Now, un
der these republican laws, and under
the direction Of republican admins
trat1on, scores of prosecutions are be-
ing instituted and tried, resulting al
most Invariably in victories for the
government Hardly day passes but
some new trust is dissolved. or some
illegal combination fined and Its off
GERS sent to prison The additional
powers given by the new laws will
greatly strengthen the hands of the
government And the work is not
over, 1t has but begun. The Presi.
dent In his Fourth Of July speech
said: This year in congress our chief
task has been to carry the government
forward along the course which |
think it must follow consistently for
a number of years. But while the
task is not yet accomplished 1t is fair
TO claim that the era of trust abuses
is rapidly drawing to a close in the
United States.
Democratic Record.
So much for republican accomplish
ments. Now what of the democratic
record? Not single contribution,
either in securing these laws or in the
prosecution Hereunder has come from
democrat through all these years.
The democrats profess opposition to
the trusts, declaim against them, re-
solve against them, but do absolutely
nothing. During Cleveland's admins
tration when they had absolute powre,
not law was passed nor prosecu-
ton begun against single trust. Mr..
Bryan has for years Illuminated
against the trusts. His fond admirers
are soon to receive him at a great
antitrust demonstration, as 1.-THE fore
most and most trusted leader of an
aggressive opposition to all trusts and
monopolies." But Mr.. Bryan has
never done an act to assist in the prose
cution of single case He Is a law
yer, but he has never drawn an indict-
ment, nor furnished a syllable of tes
timony, nor assisted with advice the
prosecution of single trust. His
rival, Mr.. Hearst, has been in public
life For a much less time, and he has
had less opportunity. But at least he
has done something.
He has rendered real and valuable
assistance to the government in the
prosecution Of the sugar trust. and the
view York Central railway. Mr. Bry-
an has done nothing but talk. No
wonder the eminent counsel and
mouthpiece of the Standard Oil COM
pany makes the candid observation
and public announcement that he will
support Mr.. Bryan that he considers
him real conservative beside the
present occupant of the White House"
But am satisfied that notwithstand-
ing this emphatic endorsement Of Mr.
Bryan by the Standard Oil trust, that
so long as the American people con-
tinue to admire courage, consistency,
high ideals, and practical common
sense; as, long as they continue to adj
mire man for what he is, and for
what he does. rather than for what he
says, they will hardly turn from
Roosevelt to Bryan.
The Republican Position.
~,
and of it's President is that the power
OF government over corporations,
trusts and combinations, is absolute;
that as they are creatures of the state,
they must be subject to it's control;
that as they derive all their powers
from government, they can exercise no
powers not conferred upon them;
that either in the exercise of national
or state power will be found ample au.
thority to cure every evil and correct
every abuse.
And this not only applies to the rail.
ways, but to all other corporate
abuses. Recent . disclosures have
shown the necessity of more strict SUI
pervision and control Of the insurance
companies, the coal combines, the
meat packers, and other important in
terests. The meat inspection laws and
pure food laws have been passed to
cure some of these evils. There has
been much opposition to these dis
closures and to these laws on the
ground that it was hurting business"
1t does not hurt, it helps business to
be conducted honestly Business is
not entitled to that name which is
based on fraud and deception. on cor
ruption and dishonesty, or on indiffer-
tnce to the lives and health of the
people.
The mocratic-sociaistlc Program.
But Mr.. Bryan and the controlling
wing Of the democratic patry say that
all these efforts to control and restrain
these trusts are futile and vain; the
railroads and the trusts cannot be re.
strained. There is some talk of CON
trolling trusts" says Mr.. Bryan "You
might as well talk of controlling burg
larry and he and his brother radicals
are preparing for campaign of gov
r.,, o1,