Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-08-24
THE MATCH MONOPOLY.
Chicago Journal.


money combinations to produce arti-
fetal prices i'll goods, and to rob the
general public for the benefit of a
wealthy and greedy corporation, hasiUst
been exhibited III the action of the
Diamond Match Company. A few years
ago there was healthy competition
III me match business of the country.
ard prices We're kept down by it to q
fair and reasonable basis. But party
Of capitalists put their heads together
and devised a plan by which they could
not only buy out and get control of all
the match factories in the United
States, but also buy up the patent
rights of all the improved machinery
used in the process of manufacture.
Having laid their plans, they COM
menced operations quietly but effect
lively, and soon had it in their power
to control the entire match business of
the country. Then new and monster
corporation was formed at New York,
with branches in various parts of the
country, the stock of which was kept
in the hands of chosen few, and a
merclless war was opened on those es-
Establishments which had not yielded to
the persuasions or demands of the
monopoly. In short time the stub
born ones We're crushed out, and the
Diamond Match Company, like the
Standard Oil Company, reigned SUI
preme and alone over the realm COW
cred by the business in which it was
engaged,
But, as every one knows, matches
since the war have been one of the ar
tlcles taxed for the raising of internal
revenue, and, singular as 1t may seem,
this great match company was anxious
tina, the tax should not be taken off.
In fact, the larger part of the profits of
the business grew out OF the tax inn
position. In the first place it enabled
the company TO keep the price of
matches up from 80 cents q gross,
where it could be and would be but for
the tax, to s. 10 for the same quantity.
The stamps used on the goods were
bought of the government on so DAYS
time or credit, and the goods sold to
dealers on 10 days time; so that by
this arrangement, or connivance, or
courtesy of certain Washington off.
cials the giant corporation was enabled
to carry on business without the need
or aid of any capital whatever.
In the Tax Reduction bill which pass
ed the House during the late session of
Congress, but failed in the Senate, the
tax OH matches was struck off the list
as an act of justice to the people. In
stantly the Diamond Match Company
had a Lobbying force at work inside the
National Capitol, and in the Senate an
effort was actually made soon after by
a few senators to have tho match tax
restored. The Diamond Match Com
pany was in high glee over the delay in
passing the bill; but, appreh ensive that
at the next session of Congress 1t would
surely pass both houses in its present if
not in a more radical form, il deter
mined to adopt tho motto of making
hay while the sun Shines" and no
sooner had Congress adjourned than a
new and higher price-list was dispatch
ed to all parts of the country, raising
the cost of the goods all the way from
% cents to 81 90 per gross. What
will be the RESULT Before Congress
can meet again and act upon the Tax
bill, this additional price will have net
ted to the company number Of cool
millions OF extra profit, and after that,
controlling, as it does, all the factories
and all the machinery in the country.
it can safely and successfully hid de.
fiance to all rival organizations which
rnay be formed, with the expectation
that no tax on matches will be much
longer required. As the present tax
is such an enormous one, being 81 A
per gross, while the actual price Of the
matches is only about G6 cents, it ac-
tually costs a manufacturer now more
for his stamps than for his material
and machinery, and requires a larger
capital to carry them along.
In view of these facts, it requires no
prophetic eye to see that the time is not
far away when it will be the absolute
duty of Congress to step in between
the producer and consumer, between
the greedy and unconscionable corpo-
ration and the people, and to protect
the latter class from being overborne
and robbed by the grasping power Of
big money combinations.