e have said of monopoly,
which we propose so far as possible to abolish, and what we have said of
big corporations, which we propose to regulate; Mr. Wilson's own vaguely
set forth proposals being to attempt the destruction of both in ways
that would harm neither. In our platform we use the word "monopoly" but
once, and then we speak of it as an abuse of power, coupling it with
stock-watering, unfair competition and unfair privileges. Does Mr.
Wilson deny this? If he does, then where else will he assert that we
speak of monopoly as he says we do? He certainly owes the people of the
United States a plain answer to the question. In my speech of acceptance
I said: "We favor strengthening the Sherman Law by prohibiting
agreements to divide territory or limit output; refusing to sell to
customers who buy from business rivals; to sell below cost in certain
areas while maintaining higher prices in other places; using the power
of transportation to aid or injure special business concerns; and all
other unfair trade practices." The platform pledges us to "guard and
keep open equally to all, the highways of American commerce." This is
the exact negation of monopoly. Unless Mr. Wilson is prepared to show
the contrary, surely he is bound in honor to admit frankly that he has
been betrayed into a misrepresentation, and to correct it.

Mr. Wilson says that for sixteen years the National Administration has
"been virtually under the regulation of the trusts," and that the big
business men "have already captured the Government." Such a statement as
this might perhaps be pardoned as mere rhetoric in a candidate seeking
office--although it is the kind of statement that never under any
circumstances have I permitted myself to make, whether on the stump or
off the stump, about any opponent, unless I was prepared to back it up
with explicit facts. But there is an added seriousness to the charge
when it is made deliberately and in cold blood by a man who is at the
time President. In this volume I have set forth my relations with the
trusts. I challenge Mr. Wilson to controvert anything I have said, or to
name any trusts or any big business men who regulated, or in any
shape or way controlled, or captured, the Government during my term
as President. He must furnish specifications if his words are taken at
their face value--and I venture to say in advance that the absurdity
of such a charge is patent to all my fellow-citizens, not excepting Mr.