The Red Cloud chief., 1878-02-28
The Anti.NOnODOly Fence,

| The antl-mOnOpOly sentiment throughout the
west can be credited with the accomplishment
of great good in a great many different WAYS.
Grsngers have been hooted and vet the grang-
or laws have become recognized, and their sal
utary effects are felt in savings which all class
- can trace.
Among others the introduction Of the bart
wire fence, which. while IL was the discovery q!
a wonderfully advantageous substitute FOR the
wood fence, threatened the farmer with terri
bile cXtortIon through an assumed MONOPOLY.
Patents were secured by certain parties which
| were supposed u control the entire manufaC-
turc Of the barb fence. At about the same time
Mr.. Jacob Hash. Of Dekalh. H.. determined
| ON an Investigation and thereby soon discover
ed that barb wire was in general Use long be
fore the alleged broad claim patents were
taken out. that il had become common pro,-
erfy: and ii j. a well established principle of
law that common property l. not patcntable.
After making this discovery and after taking
the advice of the most eminent legal minds Mr..
Hash determined 10 proceed At once on the
right Common 10 all men TO manufacture, and
farmers NAV thank Mr.. Hash for his pluck. his
perseverance and his sagacity. and for break
ing the "NtOrtiOnate prices with which the
manufacture of barb wire would have been
carried un. No man, or combination If men,
enjoy a moral right 10 impose by eytortion up
on Il fellow citizen. Skill and genius deserve
reward. but when the price demanded assumes
the demand Of a Shylock il i equally the privi-
lige and duty IF the public h resist. Laws can
not and do not, when interpreted in the light
and spirit of Justice and common sense. protect
the eXtnrtinner. This has been illustrated time
and again. and hence the courts are inclined Ia
regard the effects and results az sustaining as
suned monOVOlirs. There is snow a terrible war
waged against Mr.. Hash hy those who have com
bincd To create a monopoly, hut he stands W as a
central figure in defense Of q common right
and not less in defense OF the thousands and
millions OF people who are using and vet need
inc the barb fence. He has gone the country
over. secured evidence in every portion almost
of the construction of bari fence prior to the
issue Of the So called broad claim patents
and has thereby demonstrated la a certainty his
right and everybOiy's right Ia make barb fence.
But Mr.. Hash is not Ia be understood a. fight
ing law. nor as DESTROYS of DESTROYING any
mans business. He recognizes also that the
common property in bari wire. which was the
original crude single wire with barbs, did not
enable him or any one 10 construct such 4 wire
a. he now makes. There are patents on de-
vices for making barb wire that are just and
fair. patents on improvements IN the original
common property barb wire which the courts
will protect. Mr.. Hash himself owns seven
patents for improvements but he does not Use
them 10 eNtort nor will he permit Others Ia ex-
tort by preventing these attachments. The
man who gets new devices for other improve
ments than his own ought to De- protected.
This expresses his hterality and sympathy in
the matter and the matter calls for public sup
port from dealers and farmers. Mr.. Hash
has determined 10 make the fight and resist
10 the end and he will protect all who
dealwith him or who use the fence. He has
the most eminent lawyers i'm the country and
the testimony and the Law are already secured
10 sustain him in the courts. Farmers and
dealers are interested in the matter greatly.
The public can DO much by a determined stand
on the side Of Mr.. Hash who has broken the
monopoly. The more farmers that use the
Hash fence the better, the more dealers that
handle il the better. Altogether the victory
Is secure. As 10 the fence itself. everybody
who is acquainted with the different manufac-
lures admits the superiority Of the Hash barb
wire