Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-10-15
TO FIGHT A MONOPOLY.

Competition tho Only Eneotual Aptidote.
sAN ANGELO, TEX, Oct o. 1886
To the Editor OF the Gazette
AS you express desire TO receive sug-
gestlons as to the proper move to be
made to checkmate the American Oh
company in its efforts TO capture the cot
ton-seed oil industry OF the South, have
concluded to give you the opinion OF one
who knows nothing more OF the subject
than the average newspaper man, and
who cannot distinguish, after French
manipulation, between cotton-seed oil
and olive oil, and who has long rested
under the supposition that cotton seed
was most valuable In Its character =,
fertilizer. The opinion, howeV, III
possess the merit a OF lmpa'' ,.ality, as the
Concho country nor thte writer are in the
sisntys' ues'ee .ldcted with cottonpho-
ple' Az lau' there is very prevalent
Puolo Sentiment In this portion of the
J State that the man who plants the hossy
banner of King Cotton on the verdant
hills or in the fertile valleys of Tom
Green county andacknowledges allegiance
to that oppressive ruler, shall be desig-
mated public enemy and placed in the
same category as the miscreant who
steals bronco, Competition has proved
TO be not only a perfect antidote for the
virus OF monopoly, but an effectua de-
stroyer OF the "varmmt" itself. The
problem then presented for solution Isl
"How can competition be most effectual-
ly estabhshed2"
1t seems to be feasible plan TO
proceed as rapidly as practicable with
the organization OF the Cotton Planters
alliance, having In view the simple objtc
| OF securing the greatest profit attainable
from the production of cotton. In adopt
ing constitution avoid a horde
lof officers and multiplicity
of objects, involving heavy expenses
and division OF responsibilities
There should be no attempt to place the
product of the country, or even Of sim
gle state, under the control Of general
agent or COMMITTEES, as this would be
placing too much power in the hands Of
a few, and deprive the local organizations
OF that freedom Of action essential to
their prosperity, besides presenting a
great temptation to betray the trust
placed In the hands OF single person or
committee. And IL would also deprive
the local organizations of the benefit Of
J competition between consumers or COM
mission merchants IN e fl citing good sales
, Let there be local organization In every
, county OF the cotton belt with a mana
ger and three directors, the former act.
ing as chairman and one of the latter as
/ secretary, and another as treasurer, to
be elected annually by the members, each
Q casting one vote, and noue but cotton
D planters and their agents being eligible
o to membership. Let there be general
4 state organization, ana a central organi-
j. cation with advisory powers, the former
AL ~ md Nltn No.. lsts.
|, the local organizations and the latter by
!. the state organizations, under such regu
Q lations as the constitution may prescribe
r Then let each local organization or asso
v citation OF such erect mills OF sufficient
! capacity to consume the product OF theil
g respective territories. For this purpos,
" shares may be Issued to each member o.
a the local organization In such amount.
i as may be deemed expedient, the posses
o sion OF at least one share being con6I
4 tion precedent TO a.member receiving an,
!, benefits from profits OF manufacture
Y Let the central organization fix annually
e price to be paid for cotton seed, prefer
q ence TO be given to members In maxim,
r purchases, members taking shares at par
II or time bills for purchase price, Thel
10 annually let dividend of profits be mad,
&c to the members OF each local organize
ton proportionate to the number o
shares held by him. The apparent advsn
tages Of this plan are that 1t would effect
ually prevent monopoly, effect co-opera
tion, and leave those in the lurch VIII,
. refuse cooperate, while this organization
d would induce planters to make the sup
5, Ply subserylent to the demand Let tn
e manager conduct the business Of eacl
Is local association under the supervision o
It the directors, each local association bein,
d independent in the management Of Ii
y own affairs, but each member belnI
u bound by the action of his association.
+, SIGMA.