The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-03-12

and Restored tho Vital Section of
the BilI-Thc Senate Had Struck
Tobacco Trust-It is Up to the Sen
ate.
(From News and Observer, March 10
1t WAS the most notable victory for
the people won in a Legislative body
in a quarter of a century.
The city clock was striking The hour
Of midnight when by q solid Demo-
cratic vote. With one exception, the
Justice amendment was added to the
Senate substitute antitrust bill. 1t
came as the climax to a debate which
had been warm and exciting. and
showed that Speaker Justice has no
rival in ability to bring right things
to pass i'll the General Assembly.
The conference Committee on the an
THRUST law had reported that they
could reach no agreement with the
Senate conference. There was a
strong and we'll disciplined organiza-
ton determined to have the House
pass the Senate makeshift bill. The
Republican members had all been got
into line at what turned out, when
Speaker Justice had finished his reply
to Mr.. HarshaW. a Belshazzar's feast
They were solid to protect the trusts
They didn't want any bill at all but
were ready to vote for any bill that
would except the American Tobacco
Company.
1t looked like the House, under the
plea of harmony and a desire to do
something. would concur in the Sen
ate substitute. The attendance WAS
not large. But almost every Republi-
one of the conferees, anxious TO get the
best antitrust bill possible,
offered some amendments he had Of
fered in conference. They helped the
Senate substitute some. Everybody
was ready to adopt them, but neither
Judge Winborne or any other advo-
cate Of good antitrust legislation be-
HcVcd they were sufficient. The
Winborne amendments were adopted
and every thing look ed like the bill
as amended would go through. But
real antitrust men were blue and
many feared a makeshift bill would so
on the statute books. When the out
look seemed desperate, Speaker JUS
tce. aftcr q strong speech in which
he exposed and uncovered the Repub-
ican determination to protect the
American Tobacco Company. saved the
day for the cause and prevented the
sham Of adopting the Senate subtel-
fuge by offering the following amend
ment:
Any combination. express or inn
piled. to dcDrcss or keep down the
price OF any article any such person
to the combination intends to buy.
The Republicans voted against it..
The Democrats followed the lead Of
Speaker Justice and voted for After
it was adopted and the House had ad-
iourned. Speak er Justice asked what
would be the effect of his amendment.
said why il is almost exactly sub
section IL. which the senate fought for
four days. and will make ii possible to
reach The Illegal operations OF the
American Tobacco Company and Othct
trusts
In his speech Mr.. Justice had said
there were two reasons Why the SEN
ate substitute was bad bill.
/. The Republican party is delight
ed with it. and
,. The Tobacco trust is charmed
with it. and he added: III that DILL
should become Il law would file a
protest OH the Journal. In my Jud@-
mCnt the man who vote, for This bill.
iS il comes from the senate. will vote
to make thing Il crime tiiat iS legal
ana docs not make Il crime OF the
p'actis" Of the tobacco trust.
IN" speech of Mir. Justice saved the
DAY and added to the respect of the
House and admiration of his oppon-
chtS for his successful g2ncralship.
Ii was notable victorN-one taken
almost ont OF the Jaws OF defeat, too.
FOR the men who had gone TO bed
were, ia the main, the men who had
stood solidly for Eatc reduction and
effective antitrust lc2iSlation
The House has done noblN ana all
North Carolina Will have its eyes on
tn" Senate, hoping at it will be wise
enough TO pass the original House
blII and thus certainly fuIfil the
pledges made to the people.
The Gont1ct Wages IicrcriN.
For the committee on Conference
on the Antitrust bill Representative