Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-08

y.
Z producer has enormously multiplied bis
capacity. but 50 FAR the owner OF the ma
chino has received too much OF the IN.
crease and the iaborer too little.
5imetsIlisn Not an Issue.
Thus Ter have dwelt upon subjects
which may not be regarded as strictly
partisan. but I am sure that you will
pardon me II in this presence betray
my interest in those policies for which
the Democratic party stands. Our oppo-
nents have derived not only partisan
{ pleasure. bat also partisan advantage
from the division caused in our party
by the money question They ought not
therefore. begrudge US the satisfaction
that we nnd In the fact that unexpected
B conditions have removed the cause O.
our differences and permitted US TO pres
ent a united front on present issues The
unlocked FOR and Unprecedented Increase
, IN tho production OF gold had brought
victory 10 both the advocates OF gold
and the advocates OF biHetailism-ths
former keeping the gold standard which
they wanted and The latter securing the
lerser volume Of money for which they
commended
Trusts the Paramount Issue.
While men may differ as 10 the rela.
. tive Importance OF issues. and while the
next congress viii largely shape the lines
/ upon which the coming presidential cam.
paign NiN DE fought. / think 10 Is safe
tc say that az present the paramount is
sue In the minds OF a large 0jority of
the people Is the trust issue I congratu-
late President Roosevelt upon the steps
which he has taken 20 enforce the anti.
trust law and my Erathcation is not les
sened 10y tho fact that he has followed
the Democratic rather than the Repubi-
can platform in every advance he has
made.
lmprison the Guilty.
We need not quarrel over remedies. We
must show ourselves willing 20 support
any remedy which promises substantial
advantage TO the people in their warfare
against monopoly Something IS 90 be
expected from the enforcement OF the
criminal clause Of the Sherman anti
trust law, but this law must be enforced.
not against a few trusts as at present
but against an trusts. and the aim must
Pc 20 imprison the guilty. not merely 90
recover tue. What ls a fine Of 5000 OF
even $1,000 20 n trust which makes 800
coo while the trial is an proFrcss2 II the
criminal clause IS not going 20 be en-
forced IL ought Co be repealed
New Antitrust Laws Needed.
But 70 o. not sufficient to enforce exist
ing laws. ~ ten corporations cousuiring
Z together in restraint OF trade are threat
ened with punishment all they have 20
do now Is 90 dissolve their separate cor.
q porouons and turn their property over 20
new corporation. We need therefore.
not only Falls 20 enact such legislation.
b but falls even 60 promise a.. The Demo
cratic party must bo prepared Go propose
new and efficient legislation
For Tariff Reform.
The tarin question d. very closely allied
TO the trust question and the reduction OF
the tarin furnishes am easy means OF lin
itinE the cxtortion which the trusts can
practice. While absolute free tradc would
F.. not necessarily make trust impossible.
Btiu 30 is probable that very few mnnufac-
( turing establishment would dare 90 en-
ter into trust ~ the president were en-
powered 20 put on the free list articles
competing with those controlled by "a
trust The principle embodied Ga the
protective tariff has been the fruitful
source OF g. great deal of political corrup-
zion az VOL as the support OF many OF our
most inlQuitious trusts 10 o. dlnicuit TO
condemn the manufacturers Tor uniting
( 20 take advantage OF hleh tariff schcd-
ule when the schedule is framed on the
, theory that the Industries need an the
| protection given and IL ls not likely that
the hcnNuclarlcs OF these schedules VIII
, consent 60 their reduction a. long as the
public waits FOR the toriT 90 bc reformed
by its friends.
There never was "a time when tariff
. reform could hc more easily entered upon.
FOR the manufacturers by selling abroad
I cheaper than at home. as many OF them
DO. have not only shown their ingratttudo
toward those who built the tariff wall Tor
f. them. bat thcy hive demonstrated their
ability 90 son 300 competition with the
I world. The hich tariff has long boon O.
4 burden Go the consumer in the United
, States ana So is growing more and more
menace Co Our foreign commerce be-
cause 90 urous.s resentment aud pro-
vokcs retaliation.
Favors Public Ownership.
have already reached the conclusion
that railways partake so much OF tho
nature OF a monopoly that they must
ultimately become public property and
De managed by public officials Goa the in-
terest ot the whole community. Ga ac-
I corlaucc with the well-dennCd theory
that public ownership ls necessary whore
competition is Impossible. 1 do not know
/ that the country ls ready Tor this change.
I do NOT know that a majority or nay
own party favor H.. but i believe that
an Increasing number OF tho members
| OF all parties sec ga public ownership the
sure remedy lor DETERMINATIONS between
persons and places, and for the extor-
| tionate rates tor the carrying 81 freight
and passenger
! Believing. however. that the operation
| OF all The railways by the federal gov
eminent would result In a Capitalization
which would au but obliterate state lines.
! prefer Co See only the trunk operated
| by the federal government anc tho local
| lines by the several state governments.
n any ot you question my propriety OF
! my mcntionng this subject. / beg 10 re-
mind you thar the president could not
have secured the passage OF the rate bill
had be- not app.a lcd 20 the fear OF the
more radical remedy of government own
ership. and nothing win so restrain the
railroad muCnat.s from attempting 70
i capture the interstate commerce commits
sion as the same fear. The hlEh-handed
manner In which thos have violated law
and ignored authority. together with the
! corruption discovered IN high places. has
/ done more o. create sentiment In favor
/ OF public ownership than all the speeches
and arguments OF the opponents Of pri-
N0te ownership.
Opposes Socialism.
| Socialism presents a consistent theory.
but theory which. ia my judgment. does
not take human nature into account. Its
/ strength Is In It's attack upon evils the
i existence Of which Is confessed. Its weak
ness IS that IL would substitute new
| cisoase-if not worse one-for the dis
ease from which we suffer. The socialist
| Is honest in the belief that he has found