The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-12-16

urers association last night. He de.
calred that "the advanced freight
rates demanded by the railroads, were
lagreed to by the combined railroads
and are therefore clearly in violation
of the Sherman antitrust law" and
were unjustihable.
The speaker condemned the Judge
who fines corporations for violations of
law and discharges the officers who
get the money and are the real GRIM
inals in the case" He asserted that
"the relation of the federal govern
lment to unlawful commercial institu-
tions organized for spoils and plunder
is one of the most humiliating and
disgraceful chapters in American his
tory" Governor Stubbs said in part
ut is common on occasions of this
character to sugar-coat words and
round out sentences to please the audi
ence. The question of entertainment
is not a matter of deep concern to me
at this time. 1t is my purpose and hope
to present in pain, businesslike way
facts and conditions that may be
worthy of your careful conscientious
and serious consideration.
"In the evolution of government,
every generation has had its own re-
sponsibilities to bear, it's own work to
do, its own problems to solve its own
battles to fight This generation must
meet the problems of today like men
who are conscious of their power and
ability to meet every emergency, and
determine every question of govern
ment in broad, liberal spirit for the
benefit, and in the interest of a major
! ity of our citizens.
Let us have the courage to tell the
exact truth, about unwholesome COM
mercial conditions that have grown up
during the last score of years. Any
thing short Of plain, accurate state
ment of facts concerning the iron grip
which monopolies, trusts and illegal
combinations hold on the commerce
of our country, means either moral
prostitution or personal cowardice.
Every student of public affairs and
every public official charged with the
enforcement of law, knows that the
alliance between professional politi-
cians corporation lawyers and the
fiancial and commercial interests
which are concerned in shaping state
and federal legislation to serve their
own special interests is a menace to
the welfare and life of our republic.
1T is we'll known for instance that
within reasonable limits the packing
house trust exercises arbitrary power
to fix the purchase price of cattle. hogs
and other livestock and determine
with accuracy the amount of profit
which they will take as their share Of
the transaction. 1t is we'll known that
the packing house trust was formed
and is being operated in open and
+ fragrant violation of moral and statu-
tory laws"
The speaker said that the methods
employed by the giant masters of fin
ance who have destroyed the natural
laws of supply and demand through
out the nation are in open and flag
rant violation of the Sherman anti
/ trust laws. the plain provisions Of our
i federal constitution, the common laws
of our land, and all moral obligations
imposed upon respectable citizens.
In this connection, the transporta-
tion question is perhaps the most inn
Iportant issue before the American peo-
lple today. The Wall Street financiers.
through a community of interest
scheme have by indirect methods form
ed what practically amounts to gi-
gantic railroad trust, which controls
the rates and policies of the most inn
portant railroad systems in the United
States
There is a well established princi-
pie of law which prohibits a man from
doing indirectly that which the law for
bids him to do directly If penalties
are provided by law for doing an act,
the same penalties should attach when
that act is accomplished by indirect
means.
THE Northern Securities company,
which was organized to consolidate the
Great Northern, Northern Pacific and
Burlington railways, all competing
lines, was declared illegal by the fed
eral supreme court James J. Hill, J.
Pierpont Morgan and their associates
proved themselves to be above the law
and higher than the courts by proceed