Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-08
Democracy and the Trusts.


McGillicuddy of Lewiston was run
ming for Congress in the second dis
trict, he absolutely refused to be
drawn into any discussion of the ma
tional affairs with which he would
have had to deal, had he been elected
to the Office to which he aspired. This
year, he recognizes the mistake he
then made, comedies that the para
mount issues Of the present campaign
are the great national issues that SD
vitality concern every citizen of the Re-
public, and devotes the greater part of
his time to discussion of the trusts.
1t requires considerable nerve for
Democratic candidate to do this.
in view OF the record of the
Democratic party on this ques-
ton. AS we pointed out in these col
ur1ns yesterday, when last the Demo-
cratic party was in power in this
country, having the President and both
DluUCItS VI NOiSIcSS, IL uouoOt III
trust question. A committee of that
Democratic Congress after considering
the question from October 1883 to
March 1889, taking voluminous testi-
mony and bringing in bill of Sll,96S
t. defray the expenses of it's investi-
cations reported-not practical meas
ure fer the regulation of trusts-but In
favor of limiting their report ito sub
hitting to the careful consideration OF
subsequent congresses the facts shown
before the committee" The reason CIV
en- for this extraordinary failure to
deal with this question was present
differences of opinion between the
members of the committee" One rea-
son for these Conferences of opinion"
among the members of that committee
we alluded to in yesterdays editorial,
viz: that the Democratic national
committee was even then soliciting a
| number of the big trusts for campaign
| funds, and did not want any legisla-
| ton in restraint Of such combinations
| of capital to be enacted by Demo-
| cratic congress. Then, as now, the
| overwhelming majority of the Demo-
! cratic party in both branches of
a section of the country that has al
| ways been disposed to move very slow
| ly in the matter of legislation in re-
| straint of trusts. So the fact remains
| today-although strangely overlooked
| by Candidate McGillicuddy-tha the
| nearest the Democratic party has
| ever come to enacting any National
| legislation in restraint of trusts was
to refer the whole matter 'to the care
full consideration of subsequent con-
gresses." Furthermore when on June
/, 1900 a proposed amendment to the
Federal Constitution giving Congress
power to define, regulate, prohibit or
dissolve trusts, whether existing in the
form of a corporation or otherwise
was before the National House of Rep
rasentatives only Democrats voted
in favor of it. So much for the record.
In view of it what possible hope can
the American people have for any
from the Democratic party?
Mr.. McGillicuddy's remedy for
Trusts would, apparently be to pu:
their products upon the free list. This
il. the only inference to be drawn from
his argument although, like most Dem
ocratic writer's and orators he is long
on criticism and exceedingly shy or
suggestions for practical remedies OF
the evils he decries. In advocating the
free list for trust made products he is
simply following the lead of Mr.
Bryan.
Theodore Roosevelt has represented
different view. He believes in regu-
lating and controlling the Trusts-giv.
ing them the same rights and priv
leges before the law that are enjoyed
by all other citizens, and no more. II
his great work for civic Righteousness
in this country-a work which Mr.. Tai
stands pledged to continue-he ha:
shown that with a courageous enforce
ment of the law. great combinations o
capital may be made to respect thu
rights of the public as we'll as privat'
citizens.
Does any intelligent citizen believ'
for a moment that William ]. Bryan
!, would ever be able to deal with th
problem as courageously and effective
ly as it has been dealt with by Theo
dore Roosevelt, or as it will be deal
with by William II. Taft, who stand
. pledged to carry forward his policies
, We think not.
{ Let US consider moment the effec
of the proposed Democratic plan o