, 1881-04-23

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Aga1nse Naaopely.

| The reading public is familiar with Ii.
article in a recent number of TIE Atlansi,
Monthly, giving the history Of the Stand.
ard Oil Company, and yet few know TIA,
q monopoly second only to that has grovr
up within. the past few years, and ezactl
tolls with almost equal rigor FROM IN
vast farming and producing classes Of ~
United States. This is the waskbsza 4
Moen Company, manufacturers Of basbed.
wire fencing. II claims to control Al the
patents under which barbed wire can b
male, and has 50 fully establishsd its
claim-whether rightly or wrongly has
yet to be tested-that every manufao-
turer in the country, with one exception
has given in, and pays license for tAs
privilege of making it. With such rapid.
lty has the business developed that thir.
| ty-six establishments have engaged in the
business, turning out twenty-five car loads
per day, and the license is 90 cents per
hundred pounds or about $50 per car.
This gives the Washburn & Mosn con-
panv the modest lutte sum Of $3.50 pr
day, or about slO0, 900 per month, Tor
he privilege Of using what it claims - its
patents The only manufacturer IN ths
United States who has refused TO yield to
the demand is Mr.. J. Haish, Of DeKalb,
ILL., who is making most determined 70
sistance When the decision was rsn-
dered recently, giving to the company
named the title to all the patents, the
price Of barbed wire jumped up 20 per
cent, which, Of course, is paid by the
farmer or other consumer.
The general public has little idea Of the
excitement in the great prairie districts Of
he vest at the prospective concentration
IF the power to control the manufacture
In few hands. Meetings hare been held
and resolutions Of the most emphatic
character have been passed. A call fer
convention vas issued recently, signed BY
eighty of the leading men Of the district
from which it emsnated; and they said:
The people are the source Of all power,
and there certain occasions when circum.
stances imperatively demaa2 that they
should assemble and make renewed de-
clarations of first principles One of these
times is upon u.s. There have been many
gricvuus wrongs, but that most claiming
our attention at present, is the monstrous
one which is being inflicted on US BY the
Illegal, unrighteous and oppressive patent
harbed-wire combination and decision.
The principles and pecuniary interes. in
volved are sufficient TO arouse US ali to
action. Apparently by the action of the
patent office, great combination has
been formed, which by its wealth and
management has been able To extort from
the district court decision against JUS
tice and the rights of the people, which
has astonished every part al jurist in tho
land, and so unexpected was it at first
that it paralyzed the action Of business
men, But some Of the best jurists posi-
lively claim that all is noe lost get; that
by determined and vigorous prosecution
IF these questions before the highest
courts of the country justice can be done
and the rights of the people vindieAted.
To do this it requires organization, means,
and bold declaration to stand by those
who will fight this great battle.
A person would not suppose that . piecs
nf wire with steel barb fastened to il
could raise such fuss, but it has, and on
ing has pecome asl.fpe wnhaf me fsfmsr
must have, and which, if pot in the hands
of a monopoly would Immediately be
greatly raised in price. Bir. Hash, the
sole recalcitrant manufacturer, IN at the
Sherman house, and TO a reporter who
asked him on yesterday what he thought
Of the situation he said: 81 feel that l
am right and 1 shall stand finn. Tho
Washburn & Moen company has no right
to the exclusive control Of the pstsnts
which they claim. have patents Of my
own; l have great deal Of money in
vosted in machinery; have already been
for six years l am Q
pioneer in the business. and shall continue
to manufacture the wire at prices which
the farmer can afford to pay, it the people
and consumers will sustain me, and l
believe they will. And i have sIch con-
fidence in the integrity and Justice Of the
courts that believe they also will sustain
mo "