The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-08-03
THE PEOPLE VS.. MONOPOLY

pay tribute IN it. then il is time that
public inquiry should Ice awakened
and means sought to bring about Il
change. So long us reasonable COM
petition exists in any branch of bus
mess the interests of the people will
not suffer. but when that competi-
ton is swallowed up by monopoly.
in nearly every instance their rights
have been iniringed.
The political parties which have
sprung up with anti-monopoly us Il
platform have lacked public conf.
dence and support, for several rea,
sons. They have in almost every
instance been manipulated by men
who have failed to secure official
recognition in either of the old par,
ties, and seek 10 ride into POWER OH Il
new issue. Unfortunately for them
and fortunately for the people they
have always overdone the matter,
and only succeeded in drawing
around them men of their own ilk
sore heads and chronic grumblcrs.-
They have always been too general
in their COMBINATIONS. including
not only monopolies but almost cv-
erything of Il public nature which
does Il successful business. Think
ing men do not care to endorse such
Il platform, and as Il consequence the
movements have always been short
lived. But IL is not questioned that
they have some of good i'm their plat
forms, for no party has ever yet been
organized which was wholly bad, but
they failed In receive support be-
cause the doubtful elements prepon-
derated.
The recent telegraph strike has
provoked no little discussion, not
particularly as To the differences eX.
listing between the corporations ant!
employees, but more on account of the
injury resulting to business through.
ont the entire country. There is no
assurance that such hindranceS to
business transactions will not occur
frequently, while almost the citirc
system of the country is under one
management. and many suggestions
are offered ~ to means necessary To
be followed to insure the protection
of the public. The most general Sug.
gestion is that the government shall
establish Il postal telegraph system,
which will give the people Il safe and
sure means of communication, and
emancipate them from the supervi-
sion and control of corporate monop
oily. That Snch Il system is practical
and profitable is not doubted, it hay
ing been carried on successfully in
other countries. This done and there
is afforded to the people IL freedom Of
and means of intclli-
gence not now enjoyed. IL takes
from one man the power of asserting
the news, ana giving only such as
may he Of benefit to him, depriving
the people of it III its entirety, as is
their right. To receive. More than
ever have the public lately felt the
effect of making their demands for Il
change more spirited. we Shall eX-
pect to see this matter of postal telc-
graphv brought before the next Con
giess, and backed by such an over.
public sentiment that the
strongest lobby the monopolists may
summon will have no effect. This
is not il new measure, but one which
for some time has been discussed by
leading statesmen, and has been
heartily approved by eX-Senators
and Ramsey of our own
state.
The railroad and express companies
can also well he made the subjects
While in the former class
there are many different corporations.
by a system of pooling, competition
IS shut off, and it would he almost us
well for the people were they owned
by one company. They have the
power to reduce the values of proper.
ty hundreds of millions of dollars, by
uniting in increasing rates, and this
IS frequently done. Extortionate
rates are often charged by the ex-
press companies, because they may
happen TO he free from competition.
The people are justified ut entering
complaints at such treatment from
the hands of those who could not live
but for their support. and demanding
that the government take measures
to protect them. IL is clearly within
the power of the lawmakers of our
state and Nation to legislate nlnn
this matter, and while not depriving
these corporations of any of their
rtghts, tn guarantee Ia the people that
protection from cXtortion and from
the encroachmcnts of monopolies
which clearly belongs tn them.
We are glad to see that these de
nands are being incorporated in the
platforms OF the Republican party in
he different States. and shilI expect
10 see Il vigorous course pursued.