The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-09-04

workshop. Then, too, more is de-
manded of the aboring man now than
formerly. lie is citizen as well as
ia laborer and must have time for
the study of public questions, if he is
to be an intelligent sovereign. 10
drive him from his bed to his task
and from his task back to his bed is
to .reprive the family of his compan-
lonsllip, society of his service and
politics Of his Influence.
Trust Question is Paramount.
While men may differ as to the re-
lative Importance Of issues, and while
the ncxt Congress will largely shape
the lines upon which the coming Pres
ldcntial campaign will be fought,
thing it is safe TO- say that at the pres
ont the paramount issie in the minds
OF large majority of the people is
The trust issue. congratulate Presi-
dent ROozevelt upon the steps
which he has taken to en-
force the antitrust law and
my qualification is not lessened
by the fact that he has followed the
Democratic, rather than the Rcpubli-
can, platform, in every advance he
has made. It has been great en-
barrassment to him that The platform
upon which he was elected was filled
with praise of the Republican party's
record rather than with promises to
reform, even the cnthuastic support
given him by the Democrats has en-
ablcd the champions Of the trusts to
taunt him with following Democratic
leadership. He has probably gone as
far as he could without incurring the
hostility of leaders Of his own party.
The trouble is that the Republican
party is now in Il position to apply
effective and thorough going reforms,
because it has built up, through spe-
clal Legislation, the very abuses which
need to be eradicated.
Before any Intelligent action can be
taken against the trusts we must have
a definition of a trust.
Because no corporation has an abso-
lutte and complete monopoly of any
important product, the apologists for
the trusts seem to insist that there
are in reality no trusts. Others in
SiSt that it is impossible to lcgiSlatc
against such trusts rs may exist with
out doing injury to legitimate bust
'nr "a Il,
sion il is sufficient to draw the line
at a point where competition ceases
to be effective and to designate as
trust any corporation which controls
S" much of the product Of any article
that it can fix the terms and condi-
tionS Of a sale.
Legislation which prevents mon
opoly not only does not injure legiti-
mate business, but actually protects
legitimate business from injury. We
are indebted to the younger Rockefel-
Ter for an illustration which makes
this distinction clear. In defending
the trust system he is quoted as saying
that as the American Beauty rose can
not be brought to perfection without
off ninety buds, so that the
onc-hundredth bud can receive the
full strength of the brush, so great
industrial organizations are impos-
siblc without the elimination of the
smaller ones. 1t is cruel accurate
description of trust methods. The
Democratic party champions the
cause of the nincty-nine enterprises
which are menaccd; they must not be
sacrificed that one great combination
may flourish.
There must be no mistaking of the
issue and no confusing of the line Of
battle. The policy of the trust mag
mates will be to insist upon "reason-
able lcgislation. and then they will
rely upon their power to corrupt Leg
islatures and intimidate executives to
prevent the application Of any RENE
dies which will interfere with the
trusts. Our motto must he private
monopoly is indeicnsiblc and mtolcra-
bic. - and our plan Of attack must con-
template the total and complete over
throw Of the monopoly principal in
industry.
Harsh Measures are Needed.
We need not quarrel over remedies.
We must show ourselves willing to
supprot any remedy which promises
substantial advantage to the people