The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-16
THE COMING STRUGGLE.

THE COMING STRUGGLE.
There is no doubt whatever in our
mind that the impending issue, which
will occupy the coming generation OF
Americans, is whether or not organized
corporate capital shall rule this country.
we here IN Minnesota are on the out |
skirts of the threatening storm. In the
older States it has already settled down
dark and deadly
Pennsylvania most valuable proper
ties are its great mines of coal and iron.
They are inexhaustible storehouses OF
two of the great essentials OF civlllzcal
life. Nearly all these mines haze GtTeady
passed into the hands Of railroad corpo-
rations The Pennsylvania Constitution
al Convention, forcseeing the danger,
placed provision in their amended Con-
stitutlon, to be submitted to the people,
prohibiting railroad companies from pur-
chasing real estate, beyond the amount
actually necessary for carrying on their
legitimate business. But the companies,
seeing that it was their last chance.
rushed in, before the people could vote
upon the constitution, and bought up
millions of acres of coal and iron.
Take the case of the Philadelphia and
Reading r. Il. Co. They have borrow
ed millions upon millions OF dollars in
London on their bonds and with the
proceeds purchased mines in Pennsylva-
MIA; they then mortgaged these mines
and with the proceeds bought other
lands. Having secured these valuable
properties they entered upon the BUSH
ness Of mining on gigantic scale. For
merly the different mining companies
competed with each other for labor, and
thus the rate OF wages was kept at a
reasonable standard. But when one
corporation owned nearly all the mines,
they at once depressed the rates. The
miners had to submit or starve; they
were completely at the mercy of the cor
poration. Poor, ignorant, without the
knowledge of any other craft. they were
powerless.
Having thus ob tanned complete con-
troll of the mines, they next turned their
attention to their chief market, Philadel-
phia. Here there were hundreds of re-
tail dealers in coal, who for many years
had made u good living buying coal OF
the owners OF the mines. by wholesale,
and retailing it at II profit OF from TWEEN
ty-fve to fifty cents per ton. The COM
pany now stepped in and literally wiped
out all this industry. They opened
yards, they undersold the retail mer'
chants, and they drove them out OF the
business very often ut the cost Ut bank
ruptcy.
The poorminers in the mountain knew
OF no defense save deeds of violence
The retail dealers appealed to the Legis-
lsture and secured the appointment OF a
committe to investigate whether or mo-
the company had gone beyond its legiti
mate function in carrying on retail
trade in coal, when by their charter they
were only allowed to transport goods :
But when the committee met the com
pany produced another charter Of SOM
other corporation, not II railroad corpo
ration, which gave them the right to car
nv on private trade. and like VIM. NJ
Tweed, they insolently asked the com
mittee What they were going to d
about it?"
The President Of the company, Frank
lin B. Gowan, made y long speech late
", running through several days. be
fore the committee. He then pubishe
that speech, at advertising rates, in nearl
every paper iu Philadelphia. In pape
before US it occupies niue columns
closely printed, with small type; its IN
sertion could not have cost less tina
$1,000 in that paper. Is it any wonde
that the editor endorses the r. r. Co. .
everything great and good?
Mr.. G0wsn justi6es the r. r. CON
pany in going into private business. H
says:
Thess eentlemen-the factors-are the prir
cipal compainers in this case. They are rel
resented on the stand before you by Mr. Val
dusen. of whom desire to speak very kind
for. although he had lost his business, |
spoke very kindly OF us, and do not kno
that he ever did anything Of which have al
right TO complain He feels very natural
not exactly Indignation, but something viii,
is akin to indignation, ~ having oesn driv'
out Of his business. The other 'epsessntaiiv
are DR.. Rommel and Mr.. Rorda; and they we
the only three examined. Ur. kommsl y
the owner Of . colliery, and n. Borda was I
owner Of two collisxies. bless your sou