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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (May 8, 1903)
y 'lffW 'MJWjmUM' JlE-a WW1 'IHP mm u,mnwpim i mini HAY 8, 1903. In one of his speeches President Roosevelt f&id; "I cannot too often say that tho highest law, the best administration of A law can do naught more than Fair give us a fair field In which to work out tno fate aright" IE TVTr "Rnnenvnlf n in Gftmesfc On the "fair field" proposition, why does he object to Interfering with the shelter which the trusts find in the tariff? Field. JOy'VVN On October 4, 1902, William R. Hearst pett- -tloned Attorney Goneral Knox to bring suit against the coal trust At that Why - time Mr. Hearst supplied Mr. Not Knox with documentary proof Act? tne existence of this trust, evidence under the hands and seals of tho members of tho combine. Although . having been in possession of this evidence for more than six months, Attorney General Knox has not proceeded against this conspiracy In restraint of trade. The Now York World says that "no party can he said to be poor in material for a presidential candidate who can count among What its members such men as Judge About Thayer, Judge Gray, Judge Caldwell? Adams, and Judge Parker." The World adds: "These four emi nent, able, upright, and fearless judges certainly afford the democrats a good choice to start with." How did the World happen to overlook tho name of Judge Henry C. Caldwell? He is "eminent, able, upright, and fearless." John D. Rockefeller offers to contribute to the "University of Nebraska two-thirds of the sum of $100,000 provided the other A third Is contributed by friends Generous of that institution. Mr. Rocke Giver feller says that a check for tho sum of $66,667 will be forthcom ing at the proper time. Tho Providence Journal directs attention to the-fact that this Is 331-3 cents more than Mr. Rockefeller's precise two thirds of the total to be given and the Journal adds: "His liberal overlooking of the fraction of the odd dollar Is obviously to his credit as a generous giver." "" In his speech at Princeton, 111., President Roosevelt said: "Our currency laws need such modification as will ensure the parity of every dollar coined or issued by tho government" There must be some r mistake here. The republican organ3 and republican orators have been assuring tho American people that the currency is now on the single gold standard and that the parity of every dollar coined or issued by thcgovernment is in sured by the policies of the republican party; and yet here we find Mr. Roosevelt calling for such modification of our currency laws "as will ensure the parity of every dollar coined or issued by tho government The "Parity" Again. "Fair and Square." In his testimony before the interstate com merce commission, "Trustee" Baer announced that he intended during tho month of May to advance the price of coal 10 cents. He said he believed he could control the market although ho had not consulted all the other coal company men. One of the attorneys remarked, "And yet you say there is competition in the business." Mr. Baer replied, "Of course there is, fair and square com petition." According to men like Baer, "fair and square competition" is provided whenever a co terie of men corner a product and put up the price, to an exorbitant amount VSN A Faded Document. A Washington dispatch to the New York World states that tfle original manuscript of the Declaration of Independence is in such a faded condition that it is to be seen no more by the public. Most of the text is still legible, but only one or two of the signatures can be made out. There Is only a trace of the autograph of John Hancock. It Is explained that "the committee equipped with pow erful microscopes, made a careful examination. Today the document was photographed and then locked up." A great many people who yet b3 lievo in the principles of the declaration will be glad to know that the republican administration is manifesting somo concern for tho preservation The Commoner. of the original manuscript If it required "power ful microscopes" to read any portion of that manuscript, whore could be found a mlcroscopo so powerful as to discover in tho attitude of tho re publican party and in the policies of tho repub lican administration any hint that such a docu ment as the Declaration of Indopendenco was ever cherished by tho American people? 5 Tariff and Business. Simple and Axiomatic. Senator Quay declares that tho tariff should not bo rovised during a period of prosperity; and tno iJniiaaeipnia uecora uiruuiu attention to these facts: "In 1894 the republicans said it was a terrible mistake to touch tho tariff because business was so depressed. On tho other hand, they changed tho tariff in 1890, when tho country was very pros perous. There is no time when tho republicans think tho tariff ought to be reduced and they think any time is a good one for raising duties If tho people will stand it When they talk about the condition of business they are throwing dust in the people's eyes." "Trustee" Baer In his testimony before tho interstate commerce' commission showed very plainly tho existence of a coal Consumer trust In his testimony, Mr. Foats Baer said that the effort was to the BUI reduco tho price of coal. "But you have not succeeded in re ducing the price to tho consumers," said one of the attorneys. "No," replied Mr. Baer, "because you and your friends have succeeded in raising wages and putting up tho cost of necessities so that profits are less." This shows very clearly that Mr. Baer and his associate "trustees" are de termined not to surrender any of their immense profits. When they aro required to pay higher wages they charge the extra expense up to tho consumer and the consumer foots tho bill. ' In his testimony before tho interstate com merce commission, President Baer made two statements or specim miuieou In the first place, Mr. Baer said: "We do not aim to dominate tho anthracite situation nor any ntYnr trndc" Then he ex plained that "the more thoroughly we dominate the anthracite trade naturally tho more money wo make for our stockholders. The more things you sell at a profit the greater profit, I suppose, you make. Isn't that simple and axiomatic? The Pittsburg Dispatch says that this Is certainly simple and axiomatic, but hardly consistent with the previous declaration that they did not aim to dominate the anthracite situation. The New York Commercial says: "Trades unionism will never treat the employers of this country with respect or decency Respect until it has come to stand In and fear of them. That Is tho only cMP sort of force that it recognizes. And we must 'fight the devil with fire." The Commercial poses as a represen tative of business interests and as a thoroughly conservative paper; and yet it would have us be lieve that the establishment of good relations be tween capital and labor-must depend upon tho forco used by capital and the fear entertained by labor. Would It not be more In line with real conservatism to urge first tho removal of all spe cial privileges under the law, which are enjoyed by the capitalists of the country, and then the cultivation of a more friendly spirit between em ployer and employe? Can intelligent men depend upon a respect that is born wholly of fear? In his testimony before tho interstate com merce commission, Mr. Baer, who is president of tho Philadelphia & Reading A Railroad company, and also of Hint ta the Philadelphia & Reading Coal Mr Kacx. company, as well as the chief executive of a number of other companies, said: "Tho Philadelphia oal anu Iron company exists under the statutes of tho state of Pennsylvania. It does riot ovade any laws of the state or of the United States. I shall be glad to have the question tested in any form you may select There is no violation of any provi sion of tho Pennsylvania constitution in our charter. That question has' been decided In vari ous courts. The corporate franchises were granted prior to the adoption of the new constitution, and the courts have decided that those charters are inviolable." Attorney General Knox should ac cept Mr Baer's invitation. 'According to Mr. Baer's own testimony, there la every reason to believe that a coal trust exists. It might bo well ror Mr. Knox to test this question by bringing proceedings under tho criminal clause of tho Shor man law. Tho Commoner does not, as a rulo, publish the good things said about it, fooling that each reader 5nm cnn Uu"SO for himself whethor "" tho papor ,B doIng g00(1 but Kindly tho editor is vory much en Words. couraged by tho cordial support that is given, and tho kind words that aro sala of tho paper. A Now York subscriber makes tho following extravagant state ment: "Tho Commoner is doing more good thai all othor papers in America." Whllo The Com moner cannot hope to merit so high a compli ment, it will do tho best it can. Sad Cargoes Coming. Tho cable nows from Manila on March 23 contained tho information that "tho burial ship rrotus has arrived hero from tho Jolo archipelago, bringing tho bodies of 500 soldiers and a few civilians. Tho bodies will bo sent homo on a trans port" This Item again calls up tho question, "Aro tho peoplo of tho United States bolng kept well informed as to what is going on in tho Philippines?" In view of tho reiterated asser tion of sweet peaco and content in tho Philippines tho spectacle of 500 dead soldlors requires soma sort of an explanation. Commenting upon Senator Hanna's statement that industrial depressions are hound to como sooner or later, the Boston Globe T,iy nsks, "Is that to bo tho outcome Promised of operation of tho trusts? Is It. that what tho present much vaunted prosperity of -the coun try Is to end in?" To which tho New York Com mercial rotorts: "Well, did tho Globo think that tho trusts had but to assure an everlasting and eternal prosperity? That somo schomo had been devised to keep prices up forever; that somo elixir had been discovered, a dose of which would prevent our business history of alternating good time3 and bad times from ever repeating Itself?" That is exactly what republican papers have prom ised tho people. They have lnsistod that tho re publican party had discovered an "elixir" and that the peoplo had but to keep tho republican party In powor in order to prevent our "business history of alternating good times and bad timos from ever repeating Itself." In a recent issue Tho Commoner said thai tho resolution relating to election of senators by tho peoplo was not Introduced In in tho New Jersey legislature. New William C. Gebhardt of Clinton, Jersey. N J writes to The Commoner to say: "I Introduced thjs res olution In the senate, not only during the session of 1903, but also during the session of 1902. I In troduced it early in the session of 1903, but did not succeed in having it reported by tho commit tee, to which it was referred, until the last night of the session. All of the democratic members of both houses of our legislature are in favor of this resolution and I believe a majority of tho republi can members of both houses aro In Its favor, but the republican members aro afraid to put them selves on record. Under tho infamous rules of tho senate of this state, a member cannot have a bill or resolution reported, if the chairman of the committee desires to hold it up." In his Wall street letter under date of April 18, Henry Clews says that in view of the decision of tho Northern Securities case, "More "some other more lawful method Lawful will be found to prevent tho Method." suicidal cgmpetltlon between the railroads." Ho adds that the wisest course "would be to accept tho present de cision and abandon the appeal and then meet the emergency in the best possible way, especially as tho supremo court can scarcely avoid confirming the decision." By "more lawful methods" Is probably meant a more ingenious plan of violat ing the law than was provided in the Northern Securities company; 'and "tho best possible way" of "meeting the emergency" will probably be a systematic effort either openly or covertly to amend the Sherman anti-trust law under the pre tense of making that law more complete than it now is At all events, those who are deeply In terested in the trust system will see to it that some plan Is devised whereby "suicidal competi tion" is to be avoided. V I ' mpatffrjg mu aasti i-i.