New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-18
BRYAN AND BEEF
Indiana Farmers Satisfied 7cith Mr..
Taft's antitrust attitude

a gentleman from Indiana who was promi-
nently In the public eye several years ago and
is in a position know the sentiment Of the
Middle West and particularly of his state,
was sitting IN the Knickerbocker Hotel dis
cussing figures recently published in a New
York newspaper indicating that Bryan would
receive 262 electoral votes for the Presidency,
and conceding to him the Solid South, New
York Ohio, Indiana and one or two of the
less important states. Commenting the
showing for Bryan, he pointed out that every
one OF the states mentioned would have to go
Democratic to assure Bryan a majority in the
Electoral College.
"As far my state. Indiana. is con-
cerned, don't get the idea that Vice-Presiden-
tial Candidate Kern has sure thing there. You
know he has run for office on four different oc-
casons and has been defeated three times in
decisive fashion. The Indiana farmer does
lot of hog raising and some beef. They know
very we'll that the menace of the Sherman anti
trust law was the big check that prevented
recent effort on the part OF the big beef inter-
ests TO combine And, incidentally let tell
YOU If these same beef interests ever do sue
coed In putting across a real combination of
their interests you'll have a sure-enOugh trust.
There are lot of things the man in moderate
circumstances could manage TO do without,
and there are lot more that he could econo-
rnize on, but when it comes down TO the ques-
ton of meat you begin 20 touch something that
affects not only his comfort but actual neces-
stiles.
Everybody knows that the Sherman anti
trust law was practically dead letter during
the entire term of President Cleveland sec
ond term In line with this The New York
World" said editorially in March. 1904
Through those four years of DEMOCRATIC ad-
ministration all appeals ana az emorts Oh tae
sneers. jeeTs and open contempt from q Demo
cratic Attorney General. Richard Olney, who
pretended that the law was unconstitutional.
and who would do nothing toward prosecuting
The first effort to enforce the law was made
by Theodore Roosevelt, Republican President.
cute omehGetS anu GeneTai P6iiandar G Knox
The decision Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States, given as 4 hnallty from which
there Is no appeal, upholding the law as per-
nte Ia oneigantiT insisted was due to 1--WE
iudges every one of whom is a Republican.
The dissenting minority Of the court included
Chief Justice Fuller of Illinois, Mr. Justice
White Of Louisiana and Mr.: Justice Peckham OF
not only v1ted against the constitutonality Of
the law but pronounced 1t as danger 10 the
Under these circumstances it does not seem
probable that the Democrats can make great
CAPITAL in seeking to monopolize the antitrust
issue and charging the Republican party with
me crime of being owned body and soul by the
II is just as well to record some plain truths
however unpleasant or surprising.
THE farmers in Indiana know that Taft
stands right these questions of dangerous
MONOPOLY In his speech of acceptance he said
specifically:
When such combinations not based on any
economic principle. but made merely for the
purpose OF controlling the market. TO maintain
or raise prices restrict output and drive out
competitors, the public derives benefit and
we nave a monopoly
And as to their treatment he said. in the
same speech:
Unlawful trusts should be restrained with all
persons engaged in maintaining them should he
punished with all the severity OF criminal prose-
cution in order that the methods pursued in
the operation of their business shah be brought .
within the law To destroy them and to clint
nate the wealth they represent from the pro-
dlcing capital of the country would entail enor-
NOUS loss and would throw out OF employment
mvriads OF working men and working women
And Taft while he stands for the Roosevelt
policies and methods of corporation control. s
not merely echo of Roosevelt along these
lines. Nine ten years ago, when Roosevelt
was president of the Police Board In the city Of
New York. and before his views these mat
tiers had attained publicity Mr.. TAFT. in De
troit a meeting Of the American Bar Assoc
citation. said:
Another reason for popular distrust Of
porate methods Is the use by corporations OF