Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-08-27

that he is b Democratic candidate
for tho Vice Presidency. The csrs-
mony took place at the State Fair
grounds in the presence Of representa-
tives Of the party from all parts Of the
eountry. The actual notification was
simple. After Mr.. Kern had been In
PRODUCED the chairman OF the COM
mittes notified the candidate in a short
speech, and the latter replied briefly.
Then followed the address OF Will
liam J. Bryan, the Presidential candl-
date. on the subject of trusts. Mr.
Bryan's speech was the chief feature
of the day and was listened to with
close attention by the great crowd that
hacked the Colosseum. Frequent ap-
lanse greeted the remarks ofthe speak
or.
Mr., Bryan said in part:
Nowhere does the republican party
show it's indifference to real reform
more than in it's treatment OF the trust
question. Here is the Republican plat
form:
1.-The Republican party passed the
sherman antitrust law over Deme-
cratic opposition and enforced 1T after
Democratic dsrslictisn. 1t has been q
wholesome instrument for good In the
hands of a wise and fearless admins
tratien. But experience has shown
that it's effectiveness can be
ened and it's real objects better attain
ad by suchamendments as will give to
the federal government greater apef-
vision and control over, ana secure
greater publicity in, the management
of that class of corporations engaged
in interstate having power
and opportunity to effect monopol1es.'
The Sherman antitrust law was
naxsed 10 years Ago.; it has q criminal
clause which provides o pen1tent1ary
punishment for those who sonsplre TO-
rether in restraint of trade. Ever
since the enactment Of the law, with
the exception of foul years, the Re
publican party has controlled the exc
outive department of the
and. during two years Of thesfour, it
controlled the housed of representatives.
Instead of Democratic derellctlon, the
Democratic party has been urging,
wear after year, the strict enforcement
Of that law, and the Republican party
has been explaining year after year
wby it was impossible to enforce it.
Instead Of being a wholesome In
m for good" it has bsen al
most useless, 80 far as the protection
of the public liz concerned for the trusts
have grown in number, in strength,
and in arrogance, at d very time
when the Republican party was boast
ing Of it's enforcement of the law. The
steel trust was formed Immediately
after the election Of 1900, and a prom
inent republican said, in a speech soon
after, that it might have prevented o
blican victory if it had been form
ed before the election.
Most of the trusts have never been
disturbed, and those that have been
prosecuted have not had their business
seriously interrupted. The President
has dene something toward the en-
torcement of the law, but not nearly
enough, and the Republican leaders
have thwarted him at every point
Finally the President became SO exas-
perated that he sent to Congress q
message which shocked Republican
leaders by the ierceness OF its denun'
citation Of the predatory interests Ihe
very convention that spoke in Its plat
form Of the administration as "a wise
and fearless one" was composed
largely Of the Senators and members O.
Congress who boldly opposed every
effort to free the people from thu
clutches of the tavor-seeking corpora
lions.
The Republican platform says tha
experience has shown that the effect
iveness of the antitrust law could o.
strengthened by amendments wh1ei
will give the Federal government
greater supervision and control over
and greater publicity as to, the man
aoement of those interstate commerce
oorporations which have the power an6
annortunity to affect monopol1es
THAT is all. No pointing out of RENE
dies: no outlining of a plan for more
affective legisIation-simp1y a genera
statement that promises nothing II
particular. And Mr.. Taft's speech o
aecentance is even weaker than thu
platform. He gives no evidence o
having studied III question or of com
y pretending the iniqnities of a monop
4 oily. You look in vain in his notihca