Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1902 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

Source of the Trust's Power. When cattle are comparatively cheap and meat is undeniably dear why do not the retail dealers buy cattle and do their own slaughtering? This question Is answered by one who has been “up against it” on the practical side by saying that if anyone attempts to break into the business in that way the trust meets him by setting up a shop next door or across the way aud selling cheaper than he can afford to until he has to quit. That is one of the advantages enjoyed by the combine with its enormous capital, but it is not the only one w Before an individual dealer or a great company of dealers such as has recently been talked of can do any slaughtering it must buy the animals. Here again the combine, with its great capital, comes in and show’s its power. For one thing it has its ar rangements with the railroads by which it gets rebates and sundry other. favors, as any competitor who may venture to invade the field will soon discover. For another the combine quietly notifies the people who have animals for sale that if they sell to the competing concern at all they must sell to it exclusively and that they cannot exp?ct ever to sell a tiling again to any member of the combine. It is because of the enormous power

of vast combinations of capital to destroy competition in such ways as these that it becomes necessary to invoke the law against them. It does not necessarily follow that any statutory law is necessary. The common law may be even better than any statute is likely to be, for a statute framed under conditions of excitement and passion is more than likely to lie found repugnant to constitutional provisions, as many of the States have discovered, while the common law has passed through the tire of constitutional tests and come out pure gold. Even better than the common law is what may be called negative law; that is, the repeal of those statutory enactments which make it an object to< form huge combines and shield and aid them In the practice of extortion after they are formed. Shining examples of these malign statutes are those which lay enormous taxes on Imported articles for the undisguised purpose of enabling the home manufacturers of those articles to exact from their own countrymen more for them than they are worth in a free market. We all know that the Republican party is determined not to do the one sure thing to break the power of the Immense combines by repealing those statutes, but seeks to satisfy the public by enacting anti-trust laws which thus far have proved to be delusions and snares.—Chicago Chronicle. Spain’s Right ■■ Gno<l as Oura. Spain’s right to subdue Insurrections in colonial possessions was at least as good as ours. Considering the character of her people. Spain was surely as excusable as the United States can be for resorting to extreme measures. The people whom she was lighting were no more Intelligent as a whole, no more civilized, no more Christian than those we arc lighting. But we Judged and declared that her policy was abominable to a proper sense of Justice and morals.—Boston Herald. Not Representatives of the Nstlon. President Roosevelt seems to have made a mistake In sending representatives to the coronation of King Fid ward of England without consulting Congress. It appears that he has no authority to send such representatives himself and give them any standing aa representatives of the nation. That

they are not such is shown by the fact that they have to pay their own expenses. The gentlemen designated by the President are without any national standing. They are merely gentlemen who are requested to see the coronation by the President.—Minneapolis Journal. - ■ The Coal Trust and the Law. The trust formed by the railroads and mining companies of the anthracite region has a tremendous advantage over the miners. If the latter strike and, moved by passion or a desire to advance their Interests, break the law, the Sheriff first appears, and then the troops, to Shoot the miners down. The trust, however, can and does break the law in the way most advantageous to the trust's interest, and no call is issued for either Sheriff or troops. The trust breaks the law’ by the very fact of Its existence, and breaks it every day that it exists. For this trust controls the production of coal on its miniiig side, and then its railroads so discriminate against mining operators not obedient to the trust that they are driven out of business. Thus the trust is enabled to charge the public what it chooses for coal. It is right that the miners should be compelled to obey the law. But it is equally true that the employers of the

miners should be compelled to do the same thing. It Is said that President Roosevelt is considering the propriety of “proceeding against” this coal trust which refuses to arbitrate and so Invites a great strike, with all its perils and Inconvenientes to the public. “Proceedings” should have been begun a long time ago—when the trust was formed. When anti-trust "proceedings” originating nt Washington result in some trust smashing the people will regard them more hopefully and seriously than they do now’. The coal trust is a criminal conspiracy in restraint of trade, and it would not have dared to form had there been an administration in power known to be in earnest about enforcing the laws for the public’s protection against captains of industry who combine for pillage.—Chicago American. Coercion in Cuba’s Case. Are we to assume that the attitude of the administration toward the sugar planters of Cuba is maintained in the hope of forcing the island to apply for annexation? This would seem a plausible solution of the hitherto inexplicable hostility shown the country for which we pretend to hold so much sympathy and good wishes. In truth, the people of the United Stab's would benefit quite as much as those of Cuba if her sugar were let Into this country free of all duty.—Buffalo Times. How to Get a Powerful Navy. The United States desires a powerful navy, of course, the most efficient that money can provide. The way to get such a navy is not to authorize great numbers of vessels of certain types in programs extending over a considerable number of years, but to build in view of the present and with a purpose of taking advantage of the best Improvements as they are offered.— Savannah News. Illinois May lie in the Good Column. The people of Illinois are not ready to turn their government entirely Into the hands of the Y'ates machine. There is a limit to the patience of voters. If Democrats offer nominees whose selection will have been In direct contrast to the methods In the Republican convention Illinois should be found in the good column after the fall election.' • St. Louis Republic.