Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-16
Continued from Page One.)


that quickly followed the passage OF the
Payne Aldrich Tariff act. Do the Trusts
really think that the people or THIS
country are only half-witted, ana can
not see causes, effects, and conditions
that exist before their very eyes and IN
the midst of which they are living and
buying s,a,n that an excessive tariff does
ceptton ever attempted on the! American
people Never before In the history of
tariff debate was 1t denied that high
tariff raised prices. 1t was always ad-
the cause by which they were enabled
to increase wages. 1t was always
claimed that natural competition would
regulate prices with safety to the Ameri-
what was the result? No sooner was a
high tariff wall built than Trust pro-
motors began their work of monopollZ-
ing the great productive forces of the
our nation have Trusts and monopolies
INCREASED and multiplied as in the past
twelve years. Today they have reached
the climax of their power and absolute
and comfort that enters into the daily
life Of our people from the cradle to the
grave
Competition has been mercilessly
crushed out Where competition was
promised monopoly exists. And woe be
to the man or set of men who undertake
competition with the Trusts; against all
such the enormous power and influence
OF the Trusts are arrayed; II necessary
prices are reduced in the locality of the
competitor away below the profit line
until the competitor is DESTROYED. Then
skyward go the prices again worse than
ever before and thus the people are maze
to pay the very cost of destroying the
competition which they were told would
be their safety. 1t is thus that the
Trusts today through monopolistic con
troi have the people completely at their
mercy.
But 1t Is said that they increased the
wages of the working people. What care
they for the slight percentage of in
much back from the wage earners. in
the increased cost of everything which
and use?
OF any class. 1t Is not a poor mans par
~. nor rich mans party. 1t protects
the rights OF the one and safeguards the
interests of the other. @1 y
The Democratic party wages no war on
honest capital nor the honest accumula-
ton of wealth no matter how large.
Vested rights and the interests of cap
1tal In the prosecution of any honest en-
terprise or industr'' have always been
safeguarded and protected under every
Democratic administration from Thomas
Jefferson to Grover Cleveland.
The Democratic party has no quarrel
with honest corporations. 1t recognizes
fully that this Is a legal. proven and con-
venient mode in modern days of conduct
ing business and is to be fairly safe
guarded from unjust attacks.
But 1t is the everlasting foe of the dis
honest mergers, combines and Trusts
that make politics oriarioal part OF
their business. wrongfully seek to con-
troll the legislation of the country and
In their special interests. ana make their
promoting scheme of plumber. that mono
police the DfOdlIctivp forces Of thp conn
try destroy competition an,, unneces-
sarily raise prices upon 'hc Dcople and
whose capital is not honest or genuine.
but largely represented by watered stock
The Democratic party has no fanciful
fads for The relief of existing conditions
IT relies rather unon an honest and faith
full application of the great principles of
nation was founded.
Now as always 1t has full faith in the
honesty, intelligence and patriotism of
the plain people and their ability to gov
ern themselves. 1t does not indiscrimi-
nately condemn nor rnnec ,sserily arouse
the peopfe to alarm.
But now as always 1t sounds the trum-
pet not OF warning to- real danger which
confront them and relies upon the people
for action.
The beginning of these dangers is not
Of recent origin. Let me read for my
Republican friends what Abraham Lin
coin said even In his day. of the trend of
events and threatenir~ dangers. as he.
the far-seeing statesman and uncompro-
missing friend of justice and common peo-
pie saw them. After the close of the war
LINCOLN calmly reviewing the situation
as 1t was even thus early developing.
with the vision of a prophet said: II
see In the near future crisis arising
that unnerves me and causes me to trem-
bic for the safety of my country. AS a
result of the war corporations have been
enthroned. an era of corruption in high
places will follow. and the money power
or the country will endeavor to prolong
It's reign by working upon the prejudices
of the people until all the wealth is ag-
gregated In few hands and the Republic
Is destroyed.
Did ever words fall from the living lips
OF man and become so true?
AS a result of the war corporations
have been enthroned.' The corporation
which Lincoln knew. has developed into
the giant Trusts of today and is there
any doubt Is has been "enthroned.
An era of corruption in high places
will follow" SO
Look at the insurance investigation
scandals In New York a few years ago
that caused this whole nation to bow in
shame and humiliation before the world
Look at United States Senators dragged
from their seats of high position and
power In the Senate to the Criminal
Courts. there convicted of defrauding the
very government which they had taken
their oaths to protect and defend.
Look at the sugar trust frauds upon
the government in New York in collusiou
with government officials. look to Pitts
burg. Pennsylvania, the hot bed of high
tariffs and Trusts and see the corruptiou
there as recently disclosed.
Look at the Investigations in the Legis-
lature of the great State of New York
last winter where charges and counter
chnrges OF bribery and corruption were
publicly made and admitted by persons
high In tho councils Of their party which
startled the state and shamed the nation
MT fha Ynft 0Ant
defending the title to his seat in the
Senate while certain of those who voted
for him at home are admitting they did
SO Tor hrtbes,f and the governor OF the
great state o. Illinois Is reported as de-
ciaring his belief that one-half the State
Legislature is tainted with bride giving
and taking.
Was Lincoln right when he said that
an era OF corruption in high places
And tile money power of the country
VIII endeavor to prolong its reign bv
working upon the preiudices of the peo-
pie until all the wealth is aggregated in
the hands of n few"
And so 1t has come to pass From the
last reliable statistics which I am able
to obtain. our total wealth in this country
was something over one hundred seven
oiiitons dollars. Seventy per cent. of t
Is owned by two hundred thousand peo-
PIE. ieaving thirty per cent. to be divided
between the remaining eighty-five million
people. Five thousand men actually own
one-siNth of our entire national wealth
Ana as Illustrating the centering of
wealth In the hands of few. II Is said
that when the Directors of tho Ir,;tad