Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-25
IS TAFT A SOCIALIST
Bryan Says His Party Fosters
Red Flag Greed.
PEERLESS TALKS TRUSTS
And the Scandalous Way Repub-
Gcans Let EN- Alone.
HOT SHOT FOR THE HIGH-UPS
Free Exercise of Citizenship Rights
Impossible When a Few Men Con-
troll All Industries.
PEERLESS TALKS TRUSTS
HOT SHOT FOR THE HIGH-UPs

troll All Industries.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. August 2I.-At
the ceremonies today in connection with
the notification of John w. Kern of In
diana. the democratic vice presidential
candidate. William Jennings Bryan
made all extended speech on Trusts.
Mr.. Bryan declared that although the
word "socialistc" was so often hurled
At the democratic party and the demo-
cratic platform, it was in reality the re-
publican party. Mr.. Taft's party. which
had given encoura cement Ia socialism.
While protesting to abhor socialism.
SAID Mr.. Bryan. the republican party
has gone half way toward socialism, in
indorsinS its fundamental principle The
socialist bases his contention on the the
DRY that competition is bad and that an
economic advance is to be found in
monopoly
Mr.. Bryan spoke in part as follows:
Hands It to the G. o. p.
Nowhere does the republican party
show its indifference TO real reform more
than in it's treatment of the trust ques-
ton The Sherman antitrust law was
nal clause which provides a penitentiary
punishment for those who cOnspire to-
gether in restraint of trade.
Instead of democratic dereliction, the
democratic party has been urging, year
after year. the strict enforcement of that
law. and the republican party has been
explaining year after year why it was
impossible to enforce it. Instead of being
wholesome instrument for good it has
been almost useless, so far as the pro-
= t. t-< f0r. 4 he
trusts have grown in number. in strength
and in arrogance at the very time when
the republican party was boastinS of its
enforcement of the law.
Most of the trusts have never been
disturbed. and those that have besn
prosecuted have not had their business
seriously interrupted. The President has
done something toward the enforcement of
the law, but not nearly enough, and the
republican leaders have thwarted him at
every, point. The very convention that
spoke in it's platform of the administration
as a wise and fearless one. was COM
posed largely of the senators and members
of Congress who boldly opposed every eff
fort to free the people from the clutches
OF the favor-seeking corporations
No Remedies; Just Promises.
THE republican platform says that ex-
perience has shown that the effectiveness
of the antitrust law could be strength
ened by amendments which will give the
federal government greater supervision
and control over and greater publicity as
to- the management of those interstate
commerce corporations which have the
power and opportunity to affect monopo-
lies. That is all. No pointing out of
remedies, no outlining of plan for more
effective legislation - simply a general
statement that promises nothing in par
tioular. And Mr.. Tafts speech of accept
ance is even weaker than the platform He
yyt-nC ovid nf ho1 vir1cr st ind he
question of cOmpreheTding the iniqui-
ties of a monopoly. You look in vain in
his notfica ton speech for any sign of in
dignaton at what the trusts have been do
ing or for evidence of zeal in their prose-
cution He has for several years been
the intimate official companion of the
President. but he has caught none of the
fire which the President manifested in his
message of last January.
If in the presence of an aroused peo-
pie and in the heat of a campaign the
republican party contents itself with a
colorless platform on this subject. what
can expect in the way of activity
when the exigencies of the campaign are
passed? If when Mr.. Taft is appealing
TO the Roosevelt republicans his discus
sion of the subject is SO lifelesS and his
manner so apologize and apathetic, what
reason have We to expect either vigor in
the enforcement of the law or earnestness
in the search for additional remedies?
"A private monopoly is indefensibe and
and bad in practice No apology can be
offered for ii, and no people should en-
dure 1t. Our partys position is entirely
in harmony with the position of JEFF
fersOn. With a knowledge of human ma
ture which few men have equaled and
none surpassed. and with extraordinary
foresight, he expressed unalterable oppO-
sition to every form of private monopoly.
The student of history will find that upon
this subject, as upon other subjects of
government, the great founder of the
democratic party took his position upon
the side of the whole people and against
those who seek to make a private use OF
government or strive to secure special
privileges at the expense of the public
Monopoly Is Indefensible.
Because the private monopoly is indie
fensible and intolerable the democratic
party favors its determination. 1t pledges
itself to the vigorous enforcement of the
criminal law against trust masnates and
officials. IL is impossible for the rerubli-
can party to enforce the present crjnina,
law a2ains- trust officials: these oPicials
are intimately connected with the repub-
mean party in the present campaien
Take. for instance, the chairman of the
republican speakers committee Mr. m
pont OF Delaware. He is the defendant
IN SUIT which the government brought
ana Is now prosecuting. Mr. Dupont is
charged with violation of the antitrust
Jaw. Why should he be nut on the eve
cutiVe committee and then be given CON
tro' OF the speaking part of the cam
palsn? II you talk To a republican leader
about penitentiary punishment for efand
ers ne favors filming the CORPORATION ON
.he ground that 1t is impossible to con-
Wet individuals but when Won urga finas
you are told that fines are uniusf tn In
hoeent stockholders We favor both fine
anu Imprisonment, but We think II is het
ter 10 prevent monopoles than to first am
] Inorize them to prey upon the puhlic and
men Try TO punish them for doing SO. Mr.
lait 1avors control of trusts instead of
determinations. but after years of eXneri-
ence the people have learned that tho
trusts control the government.
our platform does not stop with the
enforcement of the law: il demands tho
enactment of such additional Legislation
as may be necessary to make il jmpossi-
ne Tor private monopoly to exist in file
United States. " e
d: Some Trust Evils.
from an economic standpoint a mo-