The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-24
TRUSTS NOT IN SADDLE
An Antitrust Majority in
the Lower Branch of
Congress
(By Clyde III. Tavenner)


the present Congress was called to
order the writer happened TO be seat
ed beside II. 3. Martin, secretary of
the American Antitrust league. Just
after Speaker Champ Clark had con-
cluded his now-famous opening ad-
dress, Mr.. Martin turned toward me
and said:
There is a deeper meaning to this
occasion than most OF the spectators
are aware. I am not speaking from
a partisan viewpoint. What l allude
to Is that this is the first time III forty
years-the first time since the trust
problem has been acute in this coun-
try, that there is real, out-and-out
antitrust ma ority in the House of
Representatives,"
Mr. Martin was we'll qualified to
give an estimate of the body Of men
before him. For fourteen years he
had labored among the old members
of Congress, and well knew how each
of them stood on the trust question.
Then he had closely examined the rec
ords of the new members, and had as
certained their attitude on trusts.
HOUSE ITS OWN MASTER
The fact that a majority of the mem
bers of the new House stand for the
and the farmers free list bill is evil
dence that the House is no longer con-
trolled by the tariff trusts.
Lumber, for instance, would not go
on the free list II Big Business was
still in control. Heretofore the lumber
interests-the same interests and in
dividuais that are alleged to have
been able to prevent lumber from go
ing on the free list.
The fact that wire fencing and other
steel manufactures are placed on the
free list, and that a sweeping fnvestf-
cation Of the steel trust will soon be
begun under the Stanley resolution
is positive assurance that the steel
barons are no longer able to dictate
what bills shall die In committee and
what bills shall be enacted into law.
It is evident also that the implement
combine has lost its grip on the House
because agriculture implements, in
Guiding plows, harrows, reapers bind
ers, and mowers, appear on the farm
ers' free list.
Nor is the beef trust still in COM
mand. If it was dressed meats would
continue to be taxed, instead of going
on the free list, as provided in the
Democratic program.
TRUSTS NOT IN SADDLE NOW
Until this session Of Congress the
lumber trust, steel trust, implement
trust and beef trust have had easy
sailing. They have had but to cont.j-
butte generously to Republican CAM
paign funds, receiving in return at the
hands Of the Republicans suffi-
cient protection to give them mon
opolies on American markets and to
enable them to collect from consumers
in excessive prices not only the amount
of their campaign contributions, but
handsome profits in addition thereto.
Men will always pay thousands to
politicians or to party funds in the
hope of getting back millions. Tariff
for revenue not only tends to prevent
monopOlies and the consequent artifi-
cial prices, but cuts Off a leading
cause of political dishonesty and cor
ruption.
SHERMAN IS WISE OLD OWL
vice-President Sherman makes an
ideal presiding officer of the Senate
from the viewpoint Of the Old Guard.
He knows how to sidetrack progress
sive legislation. and his heart Is in the
work
An instance: When the resolution
providing for the direct election of
senator's. passed in the House by a
vote of 296 to Is, was presented to the
Senate it was immediately referred
by Vice-President Sherman to the
committee on privileges and elections.
This is the committee that whitewash-
ed Lorimer, and as constituted at
present Is dominated absolutely by
Tory senators.
Inasmuch as the resolution in the
last Congress was referred to and
acted upon by the judiciary committee,
the senate was amazed at Sheramn's
action. Cnlberson Of Texas moved a
reconsideration of the action and the
resolution will probably be turned
over to the judiciary committee after
all. The incident is impressive, how
ever, as revealing how determined the
opponents Of popular government are
to defeat the will of the people. Jug
glery of a, character similar to Sher-
mans Is being used in the secret con-
ferences of reactionaries in a deter
committees against progressive legis-
lation.
PROBLEM SOLVED.
Step by step, the committee on pa
tronage, consisting Of Hen. James T.
Lloyd of Missouri, Hon. Martin D.
Foster of Illinois and Hon. Benz. G.
OF Mississippi, is working
out the difficult problem of apportion-
ing the various positions inherited by
the Democrats along with the control
of the House. That everyone should
receive the exact position he pre-
ferred was obviously impossible. But
the committee considered fully the
claims Of the applicants, with the re-
suit that the House membership in
general Is pleased with the results.
WOODEN TAX TO COME DOWN.
One of the next steps in the Demo-
cratic program will be to reduce the
heavy tax on wooden goods. If this
can be accomplished as planned by the
Democrats, the western Senator who
has been called the greatest shepherd
since Abraham may be somewhat
wratl1y. but ninety millions of Arneri-
cans will wear more elegant and more
attire.
FIGHT JUST BEGUN
The people, after a. long and stub
born fight with special privilege, have
restored popular government in the
House, the lower branch of Congress.
The fight must not stop until the
people are equally well represented in