Evening star., 1909-06-15
OWEN HITS MONOPOLY
"Extreme Poverty Compile
ment of Unlimited Wealth."
RESPONSIBILITY IN TARIFF
Serves Purpose to Make Rich Rich
er and Poor Poorer"
DARK PICTURE OF MISERY"
Capital Rolling Up Like q Huge
Snowball"-"Labor Languishes
and Grows Weaker

Charging that the masters of monopoly
in the United States were in control; that
the tariff bill was written to serve their
purpose to make the rich richer and the
poor poorer. and to benefit the few at
the expense of the many. Senator Owen
today held the attention of the Senate
for several hours with a speech replets
with denunciation of the republican pro-
tective tariff policy and of the majority
members of the finance committee.
Responsibility for the unrest of the
country he laid at the door of 'the re-
sheltered by the prohibitive tariff.
Senator Owen opposed the bill in its
entirety because. he said, it was contrary
to the will OF the American people.
When I point out the unavoidable ef-
feet of extreme poverty as the necessary
complement of unlimited wealth in the
hands of the few. accumulated under the
shelter of the law he declared. Il wish
is distinctly understood that the dark pic
ture Of human misery which the truth
compels me to portray breathes from me
no spirit of pessimism. because I am an
optinist / recognize the immediate
dawn OF better things and an early
remedy"
Hope Is in People.
Among the reasons assigned by him for
being an optimst, Senator Owen said
that he believed that the American peo-
pie. who loved liberty. who believed in
self-government who believed in mercy
and charity as well as in industry and
Providence. will see to it that this
government is SO conducted by their rep
resentatives that in the future there shall
be more equitable distribution OF the
proceeds Of human labor: that we shall
change the present policy. whose inevi-
table tendency is the useless, the vulgar
and insane enrichment Of the few at the
the physical and spiritual degeneration OF
millions OF men. women and children who
are now submerged by the commercial
devices Of Mammon.'
In his opinion. he asserted. the bill
should not pass because it violated the
pledge of the republican party and of
the republican leader during the last
campaign The republican party plat
form. he declared. was .'unequvocal." It's
reasonable and natural Interpretation
was plain.
Senator Owen. reverting to the de-
bates In the Senate on the tariff, said
that when he had sought to ascertain
why the difference in the cost of pro-
been compiled as a basis for the draft
ing of the bill. Senator Gallinger rises
in his place and solemnly advises me
that my inquiry Is absurd" -"
Aldrich to Be Called to Account.
He would not. he said. question the in
telligence Of Mr.. Aldrich nor would he
reply to him In kind. but, he said Il
| appeal from him to the American people.
who will not hold him guiltless for his
callous and reprehensible conduct in this
matter"
The failure of Mr.. Aldrich and his
| colleagues TO furnish the Senate with
the difference in cost of production at
home and abroad he bitterly denounced.
remarking that the request had been
met with "supercilious indifference" He
charged that Mr.. Aldrich had withheld
information upon that point. and that
he had refused to Senator Daniel and
other democratic members of the finance
committee the privilege Of having the
same information that he himself en-
toyed. and that when his attention was
called to this unjust and unconstitu-
ing from an evil precedent of demo-
cratic origin and seemed to think he
had fully answered for this breach of
duty"
Senator Owen declared that bad
democratic precedent was no more re-
spectacle to himself than a bad prece-
dent from any other source.
Breach Of Faith.
rs it possible" he exclaimed. ''that
ators Of intelligence and moral integ-
rity. have refused to compile the diff
ference in cost of production at home
and abroad on the items Of the Ding
ley bill for our present guidance be-
cause they intended to break faith with
the American people. and did not dare
10 make the truth manifest by compil-
ing this damning evidence of their be-
trayal of their party pledges?"
ho
occupied a position absolutely and ut
terly indefensble." While they might not
have been hypnotized. he said. they had
been 'overwheimed with the power Of
suggestion enveloping them and creating
the atmosphere and controlling environ
ment established by a swarm of attor-
neys. special pleaders and fascinating
representatives Of the high-tarir bene-
flciar ries.
Senator Owen further charged that the
high tariff had lowered the wage OF
American workmen. He devoted con-
siderable thought to this question. fur
nishing innumerable statistics to support
his contention.
Wealth Rolling Up; Labor Weak.
THE monopolist," he said, cannot and
does not consume his profit. So that the
result is that the capital of monopoly Is
rolling up like a huge SNOWFALL. picking
up every opportunity offered by God to
mankind in our natural resources. Labor,
the creator of wealth. .anguishes and
grows weaker as the creature OF wealth
grows stronger and exercises a natural
but unrestrained appetite by acquiring
the title to every visible and invisible re-
source"
He favored the growing organization of
workingmen. Monopolies. he said, pre-
ferred unorganized labor.
They prefer that labor should be help
less and inca apable of making effective any
demand for its comfort or convenience
or for its rights"
He maintained that the law should
firmly and unhesitatingiy demand and
require of labor. organized or unorgan-
lied. strict obedience to the law.
But 1t should also demand and require
of monopoly consderate and decent treat
ment of labor and its rights, both as
producer and consumer"
EUGENE DORSEY GUILTY.
Another Of Defendants in Schultz
Case Convicted.