Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-17
Democracy and the Trusts.

IHS " ioTeCdst the pldtioIiu WHICH, VIII
| be adopted by the next Democratic
national convention says: ut will de-
clare a war of determination on
trusts Will it indeed? Let us ex-
| anime for moment the facts of his
| tory bearing upon this matter.
The Republican party took up the
question of trusts in 1888 and stated
its position in this language:
1--WE declare our opposition to all
combinations of capital, organized in
trusts or otherwise, to control arbi-
trarily the condition Of trade among
our citizens" The Democratic
party was then in control of the Con-
gress and had on January 18th of that
year instructed the committee of COM
merce to investigate the general sub
| jet Of trusts, and report with recon-
mendations. Wil!iac, J.. Wilson, Cliff
ford r. Breckenridge and William d.
Bynum were among the members of
that committee. They ostensibly de-
voted much time and thought to the
subject, and voluminous testimony was
taken. From October 1883 to March
| 1885, they We're given a clerk at Sc per
day to assist them in their delibera-
| tons. And what was the result of it
all? After more than year of alleged
| investigation the committee made re-
port on the printed testimony taken.
which closed as follows:
| your committee further report that
owing to the present differences of
| opinion between the members Of the
committee they limit this 7epore to
submitting to the careful consideration
| of subsequent Congresses the facts
shown before the committee
This was the way the Democratic
party in it's time of power and re-
sponsibility lodged the trust issue.
Instead of courageously meeting the
question it turned it over to the sue
ceeding Congress, which had already
been elected, at the same time with
| President Harrison, and with q Rep,bi-
can majority, and which it therefore
knew could be depended upon to deal
with this question fearlessly and intel
| ligently. The only bill this Demo-
| cratic committee ever reported to 4
| Democratic Congress was one for SILL
| 96S to defray the expenses of its in
vestigations.
| So much for the Democratic record
on the trust question. They lodged
the issue by turning it over to their
| Republican successors. When that Re-
publican Congress assembled the fol-
lowing year, it met this question with
characteristic promptness and square,
ness. An act was introduced by Hon.
John Sherman Of Ohio, entitled "An act
to protect trade and commerce against
unlawful restraints and monopolies."
This was passed by Republican
House and Senate and signed by
President Harrison on July 2, 1890. 1t
was Il good measure, but in attempt
ing to enforce it, the supreme court
held that, under the provisions of the
| constitution it did not and could not
control manufacture and production ex-
cept as they entered into and became IL
part Of interstate commerce. To
remedy this, and give Congress power
to fully reach the trust evil, the Re-
publicans of the House judiciary cnm-
mittee, following out the suggestions
Of President McKinley's message, pre-
scented the following proposed amend
ments to the Constitution.
ARTICLE XVI.
| Section 1. All powers conferred by
this article shall extend to the several
states and territories. the District of
Columbia. and all territory under the
sovereignty, and subject to the juris-
prudence of the United States.
Section 2. Congress shall have power
to define, regulate. prohibit or dissolve
trusts. molopolies or combination
whether existing in the form of a cor
poration or otherwise.
The several states may continue to
exercise such power in a manner not Ia
conflict with the laws of the United
States
Section 3. Congress shall have power
to enforce the provisions of this article
by appropriate legislation.
1t would certainly seem that
language could not well have been
clearer ur more explicit. This pro-
posed constitutional amendment came
up in the House of Representatives
June l. 1900. A two thirds vote was
necessary to insure it's submission to
the American people, in whose good
sense the Democratic party has
always professed such a profound
faith. The roll-call of the House re-
suited in 154 yeas. 132 nays. OF those
who voted yes, 150-all hut four-wer$
Republicans. OF those who voted no,
l24 were Democrats and five We're