The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-26
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN DISCUSSES
AT LENGTH THE TRUSTS AND REMEDIES

would "extirpate and destroy" bust
ness to apply the plan TO existing mo-
nopOlies. Let US see Suppose We
have A corporation now controlling
sevcuty-five per cent of the output OF
the article in which II deals, ana
through this control. regulating the
price and the terms Of sale. How
would the democratic plan affeCt IT.
4 date would be fixed at which the
law would take effect. and on or be-
fore that date the corporation would
be required to apply for a license. The
evidence would show that it control
ed larger proportion of the product
than the law permitted, and st would
be compelled TO sell of enough of IT'S
plants 10 reduce its output 70 nifty
per cent of the total product II could
then comply with the law. obtain its
license. and proceed to carry on its
business in accordance with the law.
Would il "extirpate and destroy bust
ness TO compel such a corporation TO
dispose Of enough of its plants 10 re-
duCe its production to fifty per cent
The people would still need the article
which il produced and the plants
which II was compelled to sell would
become Independent plants competing
with it This competition would re
duCe prices, and the reduced prices
would increase the demand for the ar
ticle, and this increased demand
wCul stimulate the building of more
factories and give a larger employ
ment TO labor The restoration or
competition in that industry. instead
Of "extiTpating and destroying the
industry would revive and enlarge It.
\ part of the benefit would go to the
consumers IN the form of a cheaper
product and a better product, part
would go to the producer of raw ma
teriaI in the form Of a better price,
and part would go to the wage earners
in the form of better wages The
only persons TO lose would be the
trust maSnates, who would no longer
be able to collect dividends on water
ed stock by controlling the marked
When the subject is analysed il viii
be seen that Mr.. Taft must either bs
in darkness as to the remedy and It's
effect, or he must argue that the intro
duction of morals into business would
"extirpate and destroy" business.
In my notification speech | called at
tention to three demands made by our
party. II asks, first that the govern
ment shall be taken out of the hands
of special interests. and restored to
the people as a whole; it asks, second,
Tor honesty IN elections ana puDllClyN
in regard to campaign funds. that the
people may freely choose representa-
tives in sympathy with them and
pledged to guard their interests: II
asks, third, for suCn A modification
of Our government methods As viii
make the senate an elective body, and
place the control of the house of rep
Tesentatives in the hands of 4 major
ity of its members. A few days ago,
in discussing the tariff question. 1
dwelt upon the fourth demand made
by our party. namely, that taxation
be just that the revenue laws be
made for the purpose of raising reve-
nue. and not for the enrichment of a
few at the expense of the many, and
that the tariff law be supplemented
by an income tax which will more
nearly equalize the governments bur
dens. Today l present another de-
mand made in our party platform
the demand that the grip Of the trusts
be broken, that competition he re.
stored and that the door of Opportun-
ity be opened to the business men and
the tOileTs of the land.