The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-08-27
BRYAN On TRUSTS
Says Republicans Show Indifference
to Real Reform.


10 Real Reform.
Mr. Bryans prepared address 90
TRUSTS" concluded the days program.
The great audience literally rose to
him with swelling tide OF cheers th-t
was long 10 subsidiug Il was a nrt
personal triumph for the thrice-namea
nominee OF his party Mr.. Bryan said.
Nowhere does the Republican par.
~ slow more Indifference t0 real re-
form than IL lbs treatment OF the tru .l
question.
Tie sherman antitrust law was
passed eighteen years ago 10 has a
criminal clause which provides q per g.
Tertiary punishment FOR those WHO
consp.re together IN restraint OF trade.
t-ver since the enactment OF the law.
with tle exception OF four years Tie
Republican party has controlled q o.
executive department OF the govern
ment and during two years OF the fo.r
10 controlled the house % represent.
uves
Most of the trusts have never De- p
disturbed and those that have been
prosecuted have not had their bast
ness seriously interrupted. The pre-
dent has done something toward tre
enforcement OF the law. but not nearly
enough. and the Republican lead .--
have thwarted him az every point
Now let me contrast the d. moore @.
&C. platform with the Republican PLAT
form. Nowhere is the difference ir
the temper OF the parties more notice
able, nowhere IS the difference in The
method o. dealing with questions more
manifest. Our platform SAYS
A private monopoly is indefcrs
ib!c and intoierable We therefor.
favor the vigorous enforcement OF lrc
criminal Law against guilty maFuat
and officials and demand the enact
ment OF such additional legislation a.
may be necessary 20 make IL impcssi-
bic for private monopoly 70 exist 81
the United States.
"Hcre is q plain. candid statement
Of the partys position. There is no
clubbing. No evasion. no ambi guilty
private monopoly IS indelensihle
and intolerable II IS bad-bad 10
principle and bad in practice. so
apology can De offered for IL. and no
people should endure IT, Our part,'s
position is entirely in harmony with
the position Of Jefferson
Il have in discussing the tariff ones
ton presented one OF our remedios-
namely. the removal Of the tariff from
imports which compete with trust
made goods This we believe would
greatly lessen the extortlon practice
by the trusts and bring about the o e.
solution Of many monopolisflc com
hines. But we are not satisfied mere-
ly with the iessening OF ext0rtion o.
with the dissolution of some OF The
trusts
Because the private monopoly Is
indefensible and intolerable the Den.
ocratic party favors its exterminat on.
II pledges Itself 10 the vigorous IN.
forcement OF the criminal law asa INST
trust magnates and officials. Il is i'm
possible for the Republican party 20
enforce the present criminal law
against trust officials. These oficials
are intimately connected with the Re
publican party in the present cam
paign.
The Democratic party docs not con.
tent itself with a definition OF the wrong
or with denunciation Of II. Il pro.
ceeds 10 outline remedies. The first
IS law preventing a duplication Of
directors among competing corpora
tons. No one can object 10 this rem.
edy unless he is In sympathy with the
trusts rather than with the people
who are victimized b. the trusts