The Forrest City times., 1906-09-07
DISCUSSES POLITICS.
The Money Question.

uuS lar nave uNeit upon subjects which may not be regarded as strictly partizan, but l sure that you will pardon me if in this presence l betray my interest in those policies for which the democratic party stands. l have not had on opportunity to make a demo cratic speech for year. and no one not even political enemy-coud be so cruel as to forbid me to speak of those policies on this occasion Our opponents have derived not only partizan pleasure, division caused In our party by the money question. They ought not, there fore, begrudge us the satisfaction that we find in the fact that unexpected con ditions have removed the cause of our difference, and permitted us to present a united front on present issues. Un- lookedfor and unprecedented increase in the production of gold had brought a victory to both the advocates of gold and the advocates of imetalism~the they wanted. and the latter securing the larger volume of money for which they eontended We who favor bi-metalism friends of mono me talism are stC
 with theirs. And we can invite them to contest of zeal and endurance in the which have gruadualIy been taken from them by the trusts.
 Campaign Contributions.
 The investigations which have been in progress during the past year have dis closed the business methods of those who few years ago resented any inspection of
 
 der high sounding phrases These inVes- tisations have also disclosed the source or enough campaign funds which have been used to debauch elections and cor rupt the ballot The people now what they should have seen before, namely: that no party can exterminate the trusts so long as it owes its political success to campaign contributions secured from the trusts. The great corporations dc not contribute their money to any party except for immunity expressly promised or clearly mIlied. The president has recommended leglslation on this subject but SD far his party has failed to respond this baheTul Influence is eliminated, and l hope that the democratic party will not only challenge the republican party to bring forward effective legislation on this subject. but will set an example by re- fusiug to receive campaign contributions from corporations, and is opening the books so that every contributor of any considerable sum may be known to the public before the election. The great majority of corporations are engaged in legitimate business. and have nothing to fear from hostile legislation, and the officers should not be permitted to use the money of the stockholders to advance their own political opinion. Contributions no party can afford to receive contribu- tions. even from individuals, when the acceptance of these contributions cretly pledge the party to a course which 1t can not. openly aYow In other words, politics should he honest. and l mistake present conditions in America if they do HUI it'fiNt AAibit NlitilA III tiit tpituutt of campaigns.
 The Paramount Issue-Trusts.
 While men may differ as to the relative importance of issues and while the next congress will largely shape the lines upon which the coming presidential campaign will be fought. l think il is safe to say that the paramount issue in the minds Of a large majority of the people Is the trust issue. l congratulate President Roosevelt upon the steps which he has taken to enforce the antitrust laws and my Ia lesgenA1 he fact that he has followed the democratic rather than the republican platform in every advance he has made II has been a great embarrassment. to him that the pia tform upon which he was elected was filled with praise of the republican par tvs record rather than with promises Of reforre. Even the enthusiastic supporl given him by the democrats has enablet tine champions Of the trusts to taunt hi~ with following democratic leadership. He has probably gone as far as he could without incurring the hostility of the leaders of his own party The thouble Is that the republican party Is not in a posi- tion to apply effective and thorough going reforms. becouse It has built up through special legislation the very abuses which need to be eradicated.
 Definition of a Trust.
 Before any intelligent action can be taken against the trusts we must have a definition Of a trust; Because no cor poration has an absolute and complete monouOiy of any important product. the apologists for the trusts sometimes insist that there are really no trusts. Others insists that it is impossible to legislate against such trusts ss may exist with out doing in Try to legitimate business For the purpose of this delusion 1t is sufficient to draw the line at the point where competition ceases to be effective. and to designate as a trust any corpora ton which controls so much Of the prod net of any article that 1t can fix the terms and conditions of sale.
 Younq Rockefeller Quoted.
 Iegislat ton which prevents monopoly, not only does not injure legitimate bAsi- mess from injury. We are indebted to the younger Rockefeller for an ilustrat tion which makes this distinction clear In defending the trust system he is quoted