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ficss competition, is not extraordinary. A similar
chargo could be brought against most large busi
nesses." "The undoubtedly large profit accruing, to the
Standard Oil company from tho utilization of by
products is. owing entirely to its superior mechan
ical efficiency and organization."
"The power of tho Standard Oil company is
tremendous, but it is only such power as natur
ally accrues to so largo an aggregation of capital;
and in the- persistence with which, competition
against it has continued, in tho quickness with
"Which that competition increases when oppor
tunity for profit under existing prices appears, and
in tho ever present possibility' of competition
which meets the Standard Oil Company in every
direction of every part of its policy, lie the safe
guards against the abuse of this great power."
Tho above quotations illustrate tho tono of tho
book and thtf fact that it is being sent to ministers
.free indicates that a systematic effort is oeing
made to win over to tho defense of trust methods
those whoso duty it is- to speak out against im
'morality wherever practiced. Praising the smart
ness of the men at the head of the oil company,
asserting that the managers have not yet abused
tho power given by monopoly, arguing that latent
competition will prevent extortion and pleading
that some other company would have secured' a
monopoly if the Standard Oil company had not
these defenses are presented with adroitness and
repetition. The word "inevitable" Is used several
times he falls back on destiny and suggests the
fcolplessness of those who are the victims of mo
nopoly to prevent the control of the market. The
fact is that there is nothing natural about a mo
nopoly .until the tendency (o Injure others can be
called a natural tendency. Every monopoly rests
upon a corporation and every corporation is cre
ated by law. Tho law makers have either given
corporations too much power or executives have
allowed the corporations to act oeyond their legal
authority. The remedy is to put the government
in the hands of men who are at heart opposed
to private monopolies and who will in the Interest
of the public rigidly enforce existing laws and
enact such new laws as may be necessary. "A
private monopoly is indefensible and' intolerable."
Hi1
An Answer to Criticism
'Some of the eastern democrats and some, of
the populists have criticized Mr. Bryan's state
Si sivlG his reasons for supporting Judge
Parker. The eastern democrats find fault because
the support is given without endorsing the meth
ods employed to secure tho nomination and with
out, holding out hope of economic reform. . The
jriUcism is not valid. M.K. Bryan owes a duty
to the loyal democrats of 189G' and 1900 as well
sb to. the organization and he could.. not help the
ticket by pretending to be delighted with the
nomination, neither could he help the ticket by
trying to deceive those who have trusted him
Je can do.-the, most good and render the best
rvicoto the ticket by pointing out that in spite
of all he himself has said in spite of all any one
else can say-it is better to support the ticket than
to assist in the election of President Roosevelt.
Ho ha? given reasons that seem to him sufficient
and satisfactory, and he hopes to be able to give
additional reasons after Judge Parker's letter of
acceptance appears. The good effect of Mr. Bryan's
statement is already apparent. Many have an
nounced, their intention to support tho ticket who
before were in despair. They see now that they
can support the ticket and still. continue the fight
for economic reform; they see that the election
of Judge Parker will remove imperialism, . mili
tarism and the race question and clear the way for
a fight on economic questions. 'Neither is the
.populist criticism valid. It is more important that
reforms shall be, secured than that those reforms
. shall come through any particular party. The
; total populist vote is small compared with tho
.numl)$r- of; democrats ;wlio desire reform Mr
Bryan .can do the- cause of reform- more good bv
helping; these' democrats .to , control the demo
cratic party than ; lie coitfjT 3x joining thp. popu
. lists If Judge Parker carries' out the T democratic
platform we shall make progress.-during Mb ad
ministration; if he refuses to carry out the plat
. form he will make it easier for the reform element
to regain control of the organization '
JJJ .
,-: The N$vy League
' On another page will be 'found a auoKf inn
Ifrqm, the, literature now. being, circulSeTby Um
INayy league, a society. recently organized for J 2
.stimulation of sentient in favor fr T iDaVy
It is called a "patriotic" movement-strange It
The Commoner.
is" -always patriotic to inceas6 taxes' out iiever
patriotic to reduce them. The appeal shows "how
the Navy leaguers in the various nation1!?, "patriot
ically" of course, play each other against the
people.
It is ahn6unced 'that President Roosevelt and
Attorney General Moody are honorary vice-presidents
df the league. If the Navy league in each
of the countries named Uses an increase in the
riavy of other countries as, a reason for another" in
crease In the navy at home it is not easy to see
where a limit can be placed. Such a movement
is entirely in keeping with tho war-like spirit that
pervades tho speech of ex-Governor Black, plac
ing President Roosevelt in nomination; it is in
keeping vith the imperialistic spirit that has
grown out of a 'colonial policy ill the Philippines.
It is tho swaggering, bullying, blood and thunder
policy that is expected to attract those of "easy
International morality" as Mr. Roosevelt once
described it. An effort was made to secure ah
endorsement of this policy by the democratic na
tional conventibh in fact it was endorsed by the
sub-committee but the full committee rejected it
without the formality of a roll call. This nation
does not need to compete with other nations in
the size t)f-its navy unless it intends to vie with
them in schemes-of exploitation and conquest. It
is about time for the formation of a "patriotic"
organization having for its object the protection of
the interests of tho farmers and laborers ahd
peaceful progress. But as such a society could not
Hold out the- alluring promises of life-positions,
commissions and valuable contracts it could riot
arouse any. great amount of enthusiasm.
Where the Sun Shines '..';
The New York Sun has formally declaied for
Roosevelt and Fairbanks and this fact is being
pointed to by some republican leaders as a gain
for the party, although many republican editors
seem inclined to look upon the Sun's announce
ment much as. they regarded the "acquisition" of
the Chicago Chronicle.
yhfn.it; J? Jemembered that the Sun is under
l?n J ?l J-pierPnt Morgan it is not in the
1?? wpnsi!? that that paper haa finally de
clared for the republican nominee. It is true
lm 'ISf receny sad ome very uncompli
mentary .things -about Mr. Roosevelt personally
and yet this did not necessarily mean that the
Sun would object to Mr. Roosevelt's election. Vic
ious thrusts at public men is the Sun's stock in
trade and there is good reason for believing that
there has never been the slightest danger that
q?r,d ieVOte itself to the republican
cause. If anyone has any doubt on this point he
may be enlightened by reading the Washing!
IT wTtC Vt? t0 the ChicaS Record -Herald
1903. In that dispatch Mr. Wellman said- "There
is no more uneasiness in Wall street as to what
congress is to do in the trust busting line Wall
street knows." Then Mr. Wellman stated thai
OTSffiJ?' f trust had held a
ing at Washington in conference with republican
L inwSofnn reached an agreement providing for
enacted b'vZ to ?.law that Was equtny
fnw w i tthe pPnohcan congress. Mr. Wellman
further declared that the leading trust renre?Pn
proval o ??h! Lnh?V,?e Jon the enthusiastic ap-
statement: "It w fi not i ff rI?1Unieered the
fault if the fS'STl
soon look upon him wVmofe favor " d n0t
The announcement that J PiTrnnnf tvt "
would support Mr. RoosWoH SS ponJ MorSan
formal declaration by th Tnp'w viT?, hy tho
ca;tcs. that Mr. 00BetMBZJe7kn Slm- in
cessfm campalgn in h5g fitbrt i? Suc"
Wasted Time
How much time is wasted' a
amount of time should bsS A rfono
course; but it should be ? mad tn ?al lnter"
jmtfs general-wmu, and ft to
intercourse that bovs find on- ItlnJ' Th social
fotVMBi,' NUMBER 32.
is hdanl that prepays onefor usefulness n-i,
ness b.tit much is heaVd' that SaZ I h?m
moralize! "''Let us draw" a' plituWof 1 1 und
-twin brothers, if you please hZ b,ro(her8
gether as. hoys, thedivfdf Si cfe Psay 0'
grow up and keep., each, other, comnanv V, uthey
But w.hen. they finish the high sStw 3(?l
o drift apart. The more -s Odious nt VJ
10 prepare himself for. some useful c 17?
rnmrtinq nvPTYiniQ,, t.i ,. ".ViU1 career. Mft
.... xAJr llL ilJB nauits, he te
omiqal, saves a part of hia m "e,ls cc
snnnrlH nn hnnh tt jr"" tt Part
;;; h. :r,:ri, "" ,iu.ls. mm with
econ-
ho
hi5.
remains exemnlarv i Uu "tul ,career. He
omiqal, saves a part of his money and I
spends on books. He ftnmminto ui ' ",i ...?
torv. he malcfis hmoif rhZ- " "AT11 )vlUl '
searches out the secrets of nature, he read s whn
the philosophers, the preachers, the orato rs an,
the pbots have said. He puts in his spare 10urs
adding to his store of knowledge and all of hta
time in developing character. ls
i,T5? ,ther thinks that he knows enough and
feels, that ho has earned a. good time. What hh
brother, spends on books he spends for clean?
drinks fknd-fun. Whilo his' brother is readinc ho
is gossiping with young men of similar habits
telling-doubtful,. stories, and exchanging experiences.-
' HO' keeps late hours and is neither re
freshed, by. sleep nor strengthened in purpose for
the next day's work. . ,
Which one of 'these" boys is most likely to
succeed? Which will be most likely to have a
competency in old age? . W.hich will contribute
most to the welfare of the country? Which will
get most real happiness .out of life?
These pictures are reproduced in every com
munity. The boys 'described may not he twin
brothers, they may be simply brothers or they
may be the sons of neighbors boys who started
with equal chances.
Yet, with these object lessons before them,
thousands of young men are wasting their time,
sapping their strength and throwing away great
possibilities. A society in each community for
the improvement of the boys just budding into
manhood would ;do much to lessen the number of
criminals and to decrease the number of wretched
and wrecked lives. (See Cartoon.)
JJJ
Judge Parker's One Term Pledge
.There' is nothing particularly new in the singlo
term idea but tho emphasis Judge Parker gave to
his pledge- nof to accept renomination must con
vince men .generally of his perfect sincerity on
this point. Tho American people, during the past
three- years, have been provided an excellent op
portunity for learning the dangers involved in a
national administration that, anxious to succeed
itself, places political ambitioD above public wel
fare. Not only did Judge Parker make his pledge
emphatic, but he clearly pointed out the advan
tages derived to tho public when the occupant of
the white house has mp.de it clear that he will
under no circumstances accept renomination and
is therefore in a position to discharge his duty
with an eye single to public interests, and that
independence is known of all men. Judge Parker
said:
I accept, gentlemen of the committee, the
nomination and if the action of the conven
tion shall bo indorsed by an election by the
people,' I will, God helping me, give to the
discharge of the duties of that exalted ofllce
the best service of which I am. capable and at
the end of the term retire to private life. I
shall not be a candidate for, nor shall 1 ac
cept a renomination. Several reasons might
be advanced for this position, but the control
ling one with me is that I am fully persuaded
that no incumbent of that office should eyer
be placed in a. situation of possible temptation
to consider what the effect of action taken
by him in an administrative matter of great
importance might have upon his -political ioi
tunes. Questions of momentous consequence
to all. of. the people, have been in the past ana
will be in tho future presented to the presi
dent for. determination, and approaching tms
consideration, as well as im weighing the facis
and ..the arguments, bearing upon them, ne
Should" bo. unembarassed by any possiow
tnonght'orthe influence his decision may have
upon anything whatever that may affect mm
personally. X make 0iis statement, not in
criticism of any of our presidents from Wash
ington down who have either held the omce
for two terms or sought1 to succeed them
selves; for strong arguments" could bo ad
vanced in support of tho re-election Ja ,f"
idehi It is simply my judgment that tne
interests of this country are now so vast am
the-questions presented are frequently of sucn .
overpowering" magnitude to the people uw
if is1 indispensable to the maintenance oi
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