The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-08-25
Tells People at indianapolis
What He Think Trusts
Are.
Elaborates on Platform Rem
edy For Monopoly.
HE CRITIcizEs TArr's Policies

indianapolis. Ind. Aug. 25.-Wil-
Ham Jennings Bryan, Democratic
candidate for president. spoke here
this afternoon on the subject OF
Trusts" He said:
The Trust Question.
Nowhere does the Republican
party show its Indifference to real
reform more than In its treatment OF
the trust question. Here is the Re
publican platform:
The Republican party passed the
sherman antitrust law over Demo-
cratic opposition and enforced II af-
ter Democratic deIeliction II has
been wholesome instrument for
good In the hands OF wise and fear
lees administration. But experience
has shown that It's effectiveness can
be strengthened aud It's real objects
better attained by such amendments
as viii give 10 the federal govern
ment greater supervision and con
troll over, aud secure greater publci-
~ in. the management OF that cas-
Of corporations engaged In Interstate
commerce. having power and oppor-
tnniic to AFFECT moaono les.
The sherman antitrust law was
passed eighteen years ago: II has a
criminal clause which provides a
penitentlary punishment for those
who eonspirc together In restraint 81
trade. Ever since the enactment Of
the law. with the exception OF four
years the Republican party has con-
tfoiled the house OF representative.
Instead OF Democratic dereiiction. the
Democratic party has been urging
year after, the strict enforcement ~
that law. and the Republican party
has been explaining year after year
Why II was impossible 20 enforce Il.
Instead OF being Wholesome lnstru
ment Tor good II has been almost
useless. 30 far a. the protection Of the
pubic h concerned. for the trusts
have grown In number. In strength.
and in arrogance NJ the very time
when the Republican party was
Boosting OF It's enforcement OF the
law. The steel trust Was formed
Immediately after the election OF
1900. aud a prominent Republican
said. In a speech soon after. that Il
miglt have prevented Republican
victory u Il had been formed before
the election.
Most OF the trusts have mover
been disturbed. and those that have
been prosecuted have not had their
business seriously interrupted The
president has done something toward
the enforcement OF the law. but not
yearly enough. and the Republican
leaders have thwarted him at every
point. Finally the president became
30 exaFperated that he sent TO con
gress message which shocked Re
publican leaders by the fierceness Of
It's denunciation OF the predatory in
terosts
The Republican platform says
that experience has shown that the
effectiveness OF the antitrust Law
could be strengthened by amend
ments. which will give the federal
government greater supervision and
control over. aud greater publicity
as to. the management Of those in
tcrstate commerce corporations
which have the power and opportunl-
ty to affect moncpol.os That is all.
No pointing out of remedies. TO out
lining Of pan for more effective
legislation-simply a general state
ment that promises nothing in par
ticular. Ard Mr.. Taft's speech Of ac-
cepiance Is even weaker than the
platform. He gives no evidence OF
having studied the question or OF
compiehend.ng the iniqultles of a.
monopoly. You look In vain In his
notification speech for any sign of
ipdignation at what the trusts have
been doing or for evidence Of zeal I'M
their prosecution. lie has. for sew
eTal 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.
III, in the presence of an aroused
people, and In the heat OF cam
palgn, the Republican party contents
itself with co'orless platform on
this subject, what can we expect In
the way OF activity when the ex-
igencies OF the campaign are passed.
n, when Mr. TAFT Is appealing to the,
Roosevelt Republicans, his discus-
sion OF the subject is SO lifeess and
his manner 80 spo.ogetic and apathet
ic. what reason have We to expect
either vlgor in the enforcement Of
the law or earnestness In the search
for additional remedies?