New-York tribune., 1906-09-06
THE REAL ISSUE.

Mr. Bryan In reframing the Democratic ma
tiOnal platform last week made trust regulation
the paramount issue for 1906 and 1905. In SO
doing he showed sound judgment, for that issue
dominates the field Of politics to-day and the
Democratic leader couldn't have run away from
il, even If he had been inclined 10 accept the
oppOrtunist counsel Of those supporters who
wanted him TO array himself for his New York
reception in the cast-Oif garments of Grover
Cleveland and Alton B. Parker. Mr.. Bryan WIS
shrewd enough 10 see that the Democratic partys
only chance for success lay I'm attacking the
Republican record of practical achievement in
abating trust evils. not on the ground that IL
subverted state rights. nOurished Capitalization
and was generally obnoxious 20 the spirit Of in
diyidualism as preached by jefferson. but on
the ground that II lacked scope courage and
thOroughness and stopped short of really efica-
ciOus and heroic remedies. like the legal limta-
ton OF all industrial enterprises and the acquisi
ton and operation by the government of all our
railroads. Mr.. Bryan has carefully selected his
issue and boldly formulated his programme.
But either this year or two years hence the
Republican party will be delighted TO meet him
on the ground he has chosen IL Is already
meeting him there. If we TO judge from the
admirable outline OF the Republican party's atu
tude and policy toward trust abuses submitted
yesterday by Secretary Taft to the Maine voters.
MI lhll HldltS TIE ISSUE a lllllc more ueI-
initely than Mr.. Bryan. 1t Is. he cOnceives il.
the correction of the evils arising from the
misuse and abuse of the powerful instrumental
"ities which the free opportunity TO organize and
combine capital has placed in the hands Of the
comparatively few" These abuses have been
on the part of industrial combinations the sup
preston of competition and the exaction Of
freight rebates from the railroads. and on the
part Of transportation corporations the granting
Of rebates and the practice of determinations be
tween different classes of shippers. The record
Of the Republican party's warfare on these evils,
as Secretary Taft demonstrates, is one of posi-
tive and practical achievement \ Republican
Congress passed the Sherman nti-Trust law in
1890. and a Republican Congress passed the
Hepburn Railroad Rate Regulation law in 1906.
Between these two dates Republican admins
tratiOns have conducted notable prosecutions un-
der both the Sherman law and the Interstate
Commerce law, and virtually everything done to
break the power Of illegal and secret combina-
tions has been done under Republican auspices.
Coming down 10 the administration Of President
Roosevelt, nothing in its record of varied activ-
ities IS more conspicuous than the persistent and
successful effort made 20 detect and punish law
breaking corporations. The Democratic party
must therefore. go 10 the country asking the
election Of a House OF Representatives this year
ana Of a President two years hence on an issue
which involves a clear. direct and unavoidable
Endorsement Of the Republican party's position
and policies.
The result has been that in Oregon. Vermont
and Maine the voters have been appealed To to
elect Democratic Representatives To help carry
forward work so far effectively done by Repub-
lican Representatives under President ROose-
velt's leadership. In what respect Democratic
House would be more helpful 10 the President
than a Republican House is not explained; for
no one seriously asserts that Mr.. Bryans ultl-
mate remedy for trust abuses-the taking over
and operation by the government Of all tho
raiiroads-can be applied, or should be applied,
until tho new rate regulation law has been
fairly tested. Yet the Democratic party has
been forced, much by necessity as by Mr..
Bryan's leadership. 10 base a contest for the
House and the Presidency on a mere assertion
that il would have done better what II never
had chance to do. and Will go further than
the Republican party in experimenting with
kill or cure antitrust remedies leaving il to
chance or Providence whether they cure the
patient or XIII him. Talk versus action and
promise versus perfOrmance-that Is the issue
the voters face. and do not think that Ike
the dog in the fable they will drop the substance
Of gradual. practical economical reform for the
pale shadow of Erandiose venture in state
socialism