Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-29
the Editor OF the Daily Press,

CITY.
Dear SIR
There seems to be some confusion
in the minds of some people and in
some instances, editors OF newspapers
as to the attitude OF Mr. Bryan and
the Democratic Party en- the subject
of mohOpolies and trusts, yet our posi-
ton Is made very clear by the plank
In the Democratic Platform upon this
subject and the speeches of Mr.. Bryan.
referring to trusts which have been
widely circulated through the press
and by means of monographs: and
at this point allow me to say that Mr..
Bryan statement on the subject OF
trusts and monopolies which he made
into a monograph Is the clearest and
most concise exposition OF the subject
that l have heard anywhere or read.
even In the law books.
The Democratic Party and Mr.. Bry.
an treat q trust as species OF mon
opoply and wherever the word trust
Is used, it is meant to include such
classes of combinations as In enect
amount to monopolies. In short. MI
Bryan and the Democratic Party de-
clare trusts and mOnopOlies to be alb
solutely wrong and criminal, and ad-
vocate the complete destruction OF
such trusts and monopolies,- but the Re
publican party does not seem to take
such view OF trusts and mOnopoiles
and does not avow its Intention to
destroy them, but on the other hanG
seems to desire to take credit 1or
such laws as it claims to have pass
ed concerning trusts and to profess
to supervise and control trusts fath-
er than DESTROY them.
quote below the plank in the
remocra, c Platform and the pl'Dk
in the Republican Platform on the
subject Of trusts:
The Democratic Platform.
"A private monopoly is indefensibie
and intolerable. We. therefore, favor
the vigorous reform Of the criminal
law against guilty trust magnates
and officials, and demand the enact
ment OF such additional legislation
as may he necessary to make 1t impos-
sible for a private monopoly to exist
in the United States. Among the ad-
ditional remedies, we specify three:
First, a law preventing duplication
of directors among competing corpora
tons; second, license system which
will, without abridging the right OF
each state to create corporations. or
its right to regulate as it will foreign
CORPORATIONS doing business within
its limits, make. it necessary for a
manufacturing or trading corporation
engaged in interstate commerce 10
take out a federal license before 1t
shall be permitted to contrel as much
as twenty-five per cent of the product
in which it deals. the license to pro-
tect the public from watered stock
and to prohibit the control OF such
CORPORATION of more than fifty per
cent OF the total amount OF any pro-
duct consumed in the United states:
and third. a law compelling such II
censed corporations to sell to all pur-
chasers in all parts of the country on
the same terms, after making due
allowance for cost of transportation.
By this plank combinations control
ig 25 per cent are classed as danger
ously approaching monopoly, and need
watching, and combinations controlling
. over so per cent Of a commodity are
classed as monopolies, and treateo
as such.
The Republican Platform.
The Republican party passed the
Sherman antitrust law over Demo
cratic opposition and enforced II al
Ter. Democratic dereliction. 1t mas
been a wholesome instrument for gooo
in the hands of wise and fearless ad-
ministratfon. But experience mas
shown that its effectiveness can be
STRENGTHENED and it's real objects bet
ter attained by such amendents as
viii rive to the federal government
greater supervision and control over
ana secure greater publicity in the
MANAGEMENT Of that class OF corpora
lions engaged in interstate commerce.
having power and opportunity to e.
feet monopolies-'
The position OF Mr.. Bryan and tne
Democratic Party-that there Is ho
middle ground to be taken reiau'e
tn trusts, that they are wrong per Sc
criminal and must be absolutely oe-
stroyed-is sound. conservative ana
unanswerable. and the uncertain at
,ituds Of the Republican Party relative
TO these criminal monopolies and the
action Of the past administration IN
prosecuting civil suits against sneh
trusts and monopolies instead OF BRING
: fnp the oficers and MANAGERS o'
such criminal monopolies and trusts
20 the bars OF the Criminals Courts
and requiring them TO answer indicc
merits, couv1cting and imprison'ns
such officers and managers Is un.
certain, childish and vaciiiatine ana