Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-24

ence. until the American people are at
last realizing that they must rise IN
their might to redeem this republic
back to the fundamental principles OF
Americanism.
"I,ast of all, I want to call your at
tention to the dominating power or our
monopolistic trusts over our lndus-
trial life. Their power is well nlgh
absolute. They have truly become the
lords of finance. By putting our ousi-
ness ON an artificial basis with artl-
f1cial barriers around it, they are able
to and do hold over our heads the per-
petual threat of panic. We do not
need to trouble our memories long TO
recall the effects of these very threats
orr commercial life ought to rest upon
such O. basis that it would not matter
whether one or more persons bVed OF
died. the business would go on the
same. No few men ought to have 1T
in their power to threaten panic; no
set of men should be able to plunge
this whole nation into Industrial par
alysis. And theirs is no idle threat;
no imaginary power. We have not yet
recovered from a panic brought on
for no other purpose than to Destroy
certain political influence and dls-
credit certain leaders, Roosevelt being
among the number.
PERPETUAL PERIL OF PANIC
"But here we are the trusts control
and we are living with the perpetual
possibility of panic. Even now we
hear the grumbling threats of panic
coming from our magnates with fore
bodinGs of a new calamity about to be
perpetrated The question that con-
fronts us is whether we are gong TO
continue to yield to the domination OF
greed and let the money lords ride
over and trample down our human
rights, or are we going to fight like
men: like sons of a free country and
a free flag and demand the redemption
of our political and commercial life.
"I do not intend to discuss the re-
lations of our excessive tariff to the
trusts. ] have never been wholly per-
suaded that the tariff is the mother or
trusts. 1t seems possible to have
monopoly without excessive tariff.
However if in this country the tariff
is not the mother of our trusts, no one
will deny that it has been a marvel
ously successful wet nurse. Mr.. Have
never of the sugar trust declares that
the tariff is the mother of trusts.
shall not dispute with Mr.. HaVemeyer,
for he ought to be able to recognize his
own mother. But I wish to remark
that the present tariff law is not only
all others. was written by the trusts.
The tariff l will leave to discuss at
later date. I mention it here to remind
Won that it is the chief weapon OF
American monopolies.
"It is evident that the time has
come for our government to act. Post
ponement means increased danger and
a harder battle. We must face the
issue squarely and protect the masses
in this country. This government
must not permit watered stock; it
must not allow imitation of prices; it
must forbid any intimidation of our
citizenship; it must not allow itself to
be corrupted. Nor can 1t safely pro
gress under the perpetual possibility
of panic, and last of ALL we must for
bid discrimination against American
consumers. We must have fair play.
The people must demand and fight for
it: our government must grant us this
protection; for this is the promise of
our fathers of equal opportunity to all,
special privilege to none. This is truly
and fundamentally Americanism."