The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-03-01
STANDSBY PEOPLE
Hon. ]. P. Conner Makes Nota
bic Defense of Rate Fill.
REGULATION is NECESSARY
Welfare of Eighty Million of People
Demands just Action by the
Congress,

to the passage of the rate bill should
in debate make the criticism that those
who favor the measure are driven in
to supporting it by an Incorporate
public sentiment said to exist in its
favor III the Middle West 1t is quite
unfortunate that some who favor it
should charge the opposition with
being under the influence of Wall
street. | readily accord to every
Member on this floor the right to de-
eide for himself and to say whether he
is for or against this or any other
measure without having his motives
called in question My estimate of the
character OF the membership of the
House is such that do not for one
moment entertain the belief that either
charge has any foundation whatever
to support it. Insinuations OF this
character but detract from the dignity
of the Honse, and furnish no aid to.
ward the solution of the great quas-
lions involved in the discussion.
Our friends on the Democratic side
of the Chamber have not been content
to permit the debate 10 proceed along
bus mess and economic lines, but have
sought to inject politics into the
measure and that the principles OF the
bill had their birth in Democratic
COUNCILS They even charge that the
Republican party is driven 10 take up
the legislation by an irresistible public
demand. Everyone will concede that
the Democratic party has met in con-
MENTIONS and adopted platforms which
at the time may have been in favor
with the people and which it conceived
would add to the popularity of the
party. 1t is characteristic OF the party
to adopt high-sounding platforms
rather than to formulate policies which
may with safety be enacted into legis-
lation. Notwithstanding it may have
placed itself on record in the manner
claimed. it does not seem to have won
the confidence of the people of the
country, for they, have preferred to
t. ',,,,fittf1e Republican party without
PLATFORM declarations rather than the
Democratic party with them. Ii some
thing effective is to be done, the peo-
pie naturally turn to the Republican
party for it's accomplishment, as they
have. in order to secure legislation on
this question. The record of the Re
publican party is secure in the fact
that all the important laws on the
Federal statute books were placed
there by it.
If our Democratic friends desire to
know the record of their party in the
enactment against trust and lllegal
combinations, it will only benecessary
to 90 back into history to the time
when both the President and the
Houselof Representative were Demo
cratic. In his annual message to
Congress in December 1887, the Pres
ident called the attention of Congress
to the fact that trusts were then in eN
istence, and that others were constant
ly forming and we're becoming men
ace to The welfare of the country. The
House authorized one of its importan
committees to investigate the question
or whether or not trusts were then il
existence and others in process OF for.
nation, An investigation was
instituted which continued ovel
period of several months.
when the committee reported
to the House that it had found trusts
to be in existence and that others wer'
being organized. After this repor
was made the committee continued t.
further investigate the question, blu
refrained from making its final repor
until two days prior to the expiration
of the Democratic Administration ant
and the Inauguration of the Republi
can President, when it came into tn
House and reported that it was unabl
to deal with the question, and that o.
account of the difficulty of the mem
hers of the committee to agree upon
plan OF action the whole matter wa
= referred to the next Congress for it
consideration.
The next Congress, as we'll as tn
President, was Republican, and with
in short time after it convened La
was passed against trusts and illega
combinations, which is known as tn
fisherman antitrust law" This LAY
was passed by the Republican Coz
eress and signed by a Republica
President. Since its enactment trust
and illegal combination of capita
have been and are being successful
prosecuted. say this, not alone wit
a view to eulogizing the Republica
narty, but to show our Democrat
friends the distinction between adop
ing platforms and enacting whole
some legislation. (Applause.)
Mr. Chairman, | am in favor {