Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-26
ACT IN INTEREST OF STATE.
Continued from Page one.)

| North and retained on coarse goods
| (nade in the South. The free trade
professions Of Democracy are not in
| tended for. home consumption, but
/ thome" and south are synonymous
| terms. | am not in favor of any re-
| vision that will realize Mr.. Kitchins'
| threat to force the cotton mills OF
Lewiston to go TO North Carolina "or
else 20 out of business That is "ex-
| plieit.''
In dealing with trusts and monopo-
lilies. | believe in such an extension OF
the prov isions of present laws as
| shall procure o specific definition OF
unfair acts and acts in restraint Oh
trade, with appropriate penalties
| against the guilty Individual officials,
1t should denounee and punish the
sale of the same goods for different
prices in different communities Tor
the purpose of crushing out competi-
tors and should prevent the refusal
to sell on the same conditions, other
things being equal, To all persons,
whether they be at the Same time
also purchasing of rival concerns or
are themselves rivals in business.
Any corporation engaged in inter-
state trade should be required, in
short, to treat all of the public alike,
lust as railroads now are required to
do Then if the small competitor is
driven out OF business. it will be sim
ply because he cannot produce as
cheaply. The beneficial economic re-
suits of modern business methods
should not be sacrificed. but Should
be assured. to all the people undeer
-.4rsf1-
mental agency similar to the present
Interstate Commerce Commission. L
do not believe that the proposition ex-
pounded by GOV. Wilson. and appar-
emily endorsed by yourself, is prac-
tiCai. because it proposes to reach
moaopolies by reducing or removing
the protective duties from goods pro-
duced by them. To the extent that
those duties exceed the difference in
the cost of production here and
abroad, they should be reduced. But
to re0uce them sufficiently TO curb 4
big Industry would necessarily weak
Ell its smaller competitors first, be-
cause the big business can produce
at smaller per cent. of cost and
would therefore be the last seriously
to feel the reduction. instead of re-
storing competition, this method
would first wipe out the competitors,
and the big fellow could then discon-
tinue his unfair practices before he
was seriously hurt. / can best char
acterize the proposals OF the Stanley
committee by quoting brief comments
of two leading Democratic papers
The New York Times says: "If it
took, 20 years to find out what the
short and simple Sherman Law meant.
it would take a century to discover
what the Stanley bills mean" The
same paper further says that the
trust question has been treated like
farce" by that committee, which
has provided a jest book which either
side Will hurl at the other through
| the campaign, with shocking execu-
'tion on bot sides''
The other Democratic paper, the
New York World. comments in this
manner: More noticeable than any
thing else is the absence of the idea
of personal guilt. Nowhere do
We notice a new line or a new word
that need carry new terror to the
heart of an individual wrongdoer."
I hold myself ready to support any
or what party proposed, which look
to hetterment of the conditions of
the country at large, a closer par
ticipation of the people as a whole in
the administration of their affairs, and
Eoore equitable distribution of the
fruits of industry. l do not believe
it can be accomplished by taking
away those preferences which now
ms 10 - i. IL.
in the world to live in, as evidenced
by the constant trend of capital and
OF immigration to our shores. These
propositions open up a vast field Of
great promise, but largely untried
You and l might discuss them with
east and glibness. but once clothed
with responsibility, we would APP
proach them with great care, and, /
am sure, with open minds.
Finally, / do not pose either as an
elephant or a huh moose, or a dom
key. do not seek support on the
strength of what somebody else be-
lieves. I am simply candidate for
Congress for this district, nominated
at the direct primary convention by
the Republican party, endorsed by the
Progressive convention, and ready. if
elected. to discharge the duties of the
Office in the interest first of my dis
trict and State, then of the nation as
a whole, expecting to be permitted to
participate in caucus that will not
be dominated by a sentiment that
says we intend to so legislate that
Northern industries must put their
mills in the South or else go out of
business" So far as l am able to
learn. these are the only pledges re-
CURED Of me by the parties who have
nominated me. and endorsed my can
didacy. I have no apologies for the
face that they do not meet the APP
proval of the adherents of the animal
of the long ears. 1t is one of the
things that convince me that I am
right. / do not look for support to
any person who would ship our ni-.
dustlies South. or. elsewhere.
Very respectfully,
W, B. SHELTON.