The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-09-18
OUTLINES REPUB.
LICAN POLICIES.
Ex-Secretary Shaw Opens
Campign in Louisville.
Democratic Policies Would De-
stroy Business. II Put
Into Effect.

Speaking at the opening OF the Re-
publican Campaign in Kentucky at
Louisville, Tuesday evening, Septem-
Der 9th, Governor Shaw said in part:
Instead of promising additional re-
medal legislation against monoplies
popularly called Trusts" thereby Civ
ing scope for constructive states
manship suddenly devlopd with
in the ranks of that party 1t
specifically promises TO subject
the big and obnoxious con-
Germs to open competition with fore
ign production, by removing the tariff
from their products. l admit that no
corporation and no individual ever
has sought TO extend its operations
or enlarge its plant under tariff for
revenue only or when sucn law mas
been threatened. The remedy is there
fore too far reaching. Unable or un-
willing TO study conditions and to
think out remedies appropriate and
fitting thereto, the man of Eloquence
seems to have about shut his eyes
and trust into his platform a PROPOSE
ton analogous to that of nam-stringing
an entire drove of horses because ii
happens to contain one or more kick
ers. The Republican Party uses kick
ing straps which it readjusts from time
to time to meet varying manifesto
tons of viciousness, care being ta-
ken that the peaceably disposed be
granted the greatest possible freedom
of action and accorded the kindest
possible treatment.
The United States Steel Corpora
ton frequently has on deposit $780,
100000 or more available cash. 1t need
not be suggested even that such a
strong institution, though it might be
ultaimately ruined by a tariff for
revenue only, would certainly out
live any of its several hundred small
er, and many of them very small, com
petitors. The same would be true of
every large concern.
Mr.. Bryan also proposes to require
corporations whose output equals 20
per cent of the aggregate American
production of a given article to take
out Government license, and to for
bid any corporation from producing
more than 80 per cent of such ag-
gregate. 1t sounds well and is re-
latively harmless where it Is, but it
would astonish the world and work no
end of mischief If it ever should find
its way into the statute-books.
In the first place 1t would be un-
constitutional. Congress may say to
corporations and to individuals engag-
ed in interstate commerce; You
shall make no agreement in restraint of
trade; you shall not conspire with
competitors to advance the price of you
product or to depress the price of your
raw material; you shall pay the same
freight rates as your humblest rival,
and you shall not extort rebates" But
it. has not the Constitutional pow
er to limit the amount of business
which a corporation or an individual
may transact. 1t has not the power
to say: when you shall have reach
ed a given per cent. of an indefi-
mite and fluctuating aggregate, you
shall cease TO produce until some one
possessing both the inclination and
the financial ability steps into the
field which you now occupy" The pro-
position is so clear, so self-evident
that the ordinary layman is not
likely to be misled.
Viewed from another stanpoint,
the promise of the platform is equally
unfortunate. | walked eight miles in
to the mountains, out from Spearfish,
South Dakota, few years ago TO
see what the President OF the cor
poration OWING the property believed
to be not only large deposit of tin
but the only tin mines in
the United States. If the no.
pes of those who have invest
ed their money in that enterprise shall
be realized single corporation will pro
duce not only so per cent. but 100 per
cent of the output of American tin. If
the promised law should go into effect
the mine would have to close down
before 1t began, for the platform de-
clares that no corporation shall pro-
duce over so per cent" What win Mr.
Bryan do with the Gillettes? 1t has
been intimated that one corporation a