The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-12-18
FLAYS TRUSTS.
Speech on Bill to Prohibit Pool OF
Interest by
SENATOR JEFF DAVIS.

kansas Loses Llttle lille Ill Ills
Promised Crusade Against Trusts
and Calitalists.-Hc Delivers a
Speech in Senate Filled With Sem
sational Declarations.
Passionate oratory marked the
proceedings of the Senate Wednes-
day. Senator Davis, Of Arkansas,
who when elected declared that he
would attack the trusts Immediately
after taking his seat, fulfilled his
promise although he was few days
late in doing so. The speech wa;
filled with sensational declarations
and was given with that vigor TO,
which the Arkansas Senator is fam
ed in his own State.
Quaint phrasing pointed denuncla-
ton and evidences of intense emotion
characterized his remarks. He was
given careful hearing by the Sena-
tors, and the galleries was well filled
throughout the time he held the
floor. Beginning shortly before l
o'clock he spoke for a little more than
an hour.
Senator Davis began by declaring
that it was not his purpose to retain
his seat in the Senate until his hair
shall have turned gray before taking
up his work actively in that body.
He proposed to present quickly, fear
ly and as intelligently as he might
some of the living, burning ques-
tions before the American people.
1t was for that reason he had de-
termined to speak upon his bill to
suppress trusts, pools, combinations,
and conspiracies. After declaring
that his bill, vigorously enforced
would killed the trusts Senator Da.
Wis, with dramatic effect, challenged
any Senator to step forward and con-
test the issue with him.
Speaking of the annual appropria-
tions for the expenses of the G ,vern-
ment, amounting to 100000, 900, he
turned to Senator Beveridge an add
ed: Pile up that amount of money
on this floor and let my good looking
young friend, the Senator from In
diana, start to count it. He would
be as old as Methuselah before he
could count half of it."
The senator detailed appropria-
tions made for mai ltaining the White
House.
"And yet," he continued, "Presi-
dent Roosevelt has but five children
---at home"
The inadvertence ofspeech brought
laughter from all parts of the cham
ber.
Everything" declared Senator
Davis, "is in a trust except acorns
and persimons.
Holy writ admonished us to 60
into the vineyard and work. | have
found nothing in the good book that
warrants any of us going into the
vineyard to corner all the grapes.
The President" he said, "has
taken. off the dollar the words In
God We Trust It's time to take it
off. | wonder what the Grand Old
Party is going to put on the dollar?
This panic was started by these
trust magnates and stock gamblers
in order that they might take from
the cotton producers half of their
property" he added.
II am for the under dog, Senator
McLaurin," he said addressing the
Senator from Mississippi, who sat
before him.
whenever you hear of a dog fight
just say, jeff Davis is for the under
dog
He read some statistics on the
Standard Oil Company, and stepping
out into centre aisle stamped his foot
and said:
"The Standard Oil is the old he
trust of the country. 1t is the trust
that has all the paraphernalia and
ear-marks of a trust. | dislike STAN
dard Oil. / hate the smell of coal oil.
Petroleum makes me sick. Oh, sir,
something ought to be done to cur
tail the great power of this monstrous
trust---John D. Rockefeller's trust---
the great Standard Oil Trust.
81 undertake to say" he continu-
ed, that if this bill is enacted into
a law and faithfullyan honestly exc
cuted, trusts will be wiped from the
face of the earth and no longer will
we feel their grinding and destroy
ing grip on the arteries of trade and
commerce.
A domestic corporation found fix
ing the price of any article would, by
his bill, he said. have its charter for
feited, and any corporation guilty of
such and act would not be allowed to
do business in the United States.
"The trust evil" SAID Senator
Davis, lis a cancerous sore on the
body polite, just as upon the human
body. The only remedy, the only
successful treatment is The surgeons
knife. Cut it out by the root, destroy
the virus before the wh Die body pol
itic is affected and destroyed"
Congress should not hesitate in
the work of destroying the trusts be-
cause Of any fear of uasettling busi-
ness. he continued. H spoke of the
Sherman antitrust law. Has it
proven effectual?" he asked. Illus
it destroyed single trust? Under
its operation have they not grown
strong, defiant and arrogant? Almost
for seventeen years the Sherman an
thrust law has beer u IN our stat