The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-05

meet this issue fearlessly and
squarely, they may rely with en-
tire confidence upon the support
Of the plain people, who are the
victims Of the present system and
who have the, right and the power.
through the ballot, to control their
own Government.
The people have already given.
proof by their election of Progress
sives to the Congress and to State
offices that they recognize tho
real issue that confronts them aud
understand its magnitude.
Says Groups Control Prices. 1
They know that their Govern
ment at Washington is now. and
has been for q quarter Of CEN
fury, In the hands of small but
powerful groups, acting together
and controlling It in their own in.
! terests.
Each group dictates production
] and prices In itA own field-dn
iron, coal, OH. steel. lumber, sugar.
. meats, clothing-in short, in, min.
Ing, manufacturing, transperth-
ton and all Important business
enterprises. Through grain ex-
changes, elevator combinations
and packing monopolies, the mar
1. kets are manipulated and prices
fixed on all, products of the farm.
Within the last twenty-five
years 1t has thus come about that
these powerful groups, through
the control Of markets and prices,
have doubled and trebled the cost
Of sustaining human life of
housing. warming, clothing and
feeding the American people.
Struggles for Existence.
The American people are hon.
est, intelligent, patriotic, indus
trious and frugal. And yet In q
land of untold wealth, dedicated
/; to the principle Of equal oppor-
tunity for all, special privileges to
none, life has become a desperate
struggle for the average man and
woman. The millions who work
on farms, in the mines, in trans
portation, in the factories and
shops and stores, with all their In
dustry and saving. find them
selves poorer at the end Of the
year than at the beginning.
The mighty power which has
enabled a few to amass enormous
y wealth at the expense of the.
many, now so completely controls
the Federal Government that.
tirnid and reactionary men in.
public life who cling to the old
parties dare not brook Its OPPOSE
ton.
\. Assails Private Monopoly.
The underlying reason, indeed,
why both parties have failed to.
take the peoples side in the pres.
/. emit crisis Is that neither party can
openly attack the real evils which,
are undermining representative
Government without convicting
themselves Of treachery to the
voters during their most recent
tenures Of office.
The private monopoly system has
grown up onlyN through long con-
tinued violation Of the law Of the
land and could not have attained
/ it's present proportions had either
the Democratic or Republican par
ties faithfully and honestly en-
forced the law.
Quotes John Sherman.
John Sherman, the clearest Wis.
Toned Republican statesman of
his time, saw the danger to po-
litical liberty and economic free
dom In this country n generation
ago.. and sought to fortify the
Government to meet and destroy
OF the private monopoly system.
which had its beginnings in the
latter part Of the lakt century.
he said:
1T is q kingly perogative, in
consistent with our form Of Gov.
ernment. If anything is wrong
this is wrong. II. we viii, not en-.
dure q king as 4 political power
we should not endure a king over
the production, transportation and
sale Of any OF the necessities ~
!. life. II we would not submit to
an emperor we should not submit
to an autocrat Of trade with
power to prevent competition and
to Tx the price of any commodity.
The remedy should be swift ana
sure, -
Cites Capitalization Of Trusts.
The Sherman antitrust act Of
1890, enacted by Republican
Congress, placed In the hands of
the executive department OF this
Government che most effective
weapon that the ingenuity OF man
could devise against the power Of