The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-05

the indispensable bagging, and because of
the ruinously high prices demanded by
the monopolists controlling the "corner."
Now the city merchants are saying that If
the planters and farmers adhere to this POI
sitlon and carry out their threat it must
bankrupt n great many OF the country mer-
chants who have advanced money on the
crop, according 70 custom, and cause n dis
as!rous interruption and disturbance TO
the the regular course OF traffic
IN the cotton rogion--as far more
than the mere cotton trade, large
as that is, depends upon the prompt and
regular movement Of the great staple crop.
The city and country merchantsare, there
fore, earnestly trying to get the planters to
change their position. In Tennessee and
Mississippi the planters, at a meeting held
in Memphis, have resolved TO refuse to
buy iute bagging at present prices, and to
take hold Of any substitute they can find.
II is expected that similar action will be
taken in other places, and that the matter
will be brought forward at the National
Alliance, which is to meet at Meridian,
Miss, in a few weeks. This last however
is rather far of, so, in the meanwhile, Con-
gresham Hooker, OF Mississippi, has in
troduced into the House Joint resolution
authorizing the President to suspend the
tariff duties on cotton bagging thus set
ting i'll motion sort of regulatory"
system within our own borders, enabling
our cotton planters, factors and other mer-
chants to fight this latest OF the trouble
| breeding trusts or whatever the abomin-
able monopoly may be called.
The readers OF the Ledger will find in
these events and incidents suggestive ma
terial that will aid them in making for
themselves tho distinction about trusts"
which IL has from time 10 time LAID before
them. The widespread mischief which
this cotton baggingcombination has caused
in the cotton planting and cotton shipping
States show il 10 be one OF the rascaly
kind that the powerful hand OF the law
and the still more effective energy OF
public opinion should bear down upon
with their heaviest weight. And this is
said whether the conspiracy goes by the
name Of trust or any other appellation.
II Is combination TO do what is oppress-
i've and in fraud Of the rights OF all other
people outside Of its lines; and it is there
fore contrary to public policy in degree
that requires curbing or crushing out by
the only law that can prove effective for
the purposc-law enacted by the Congress
OF the United States law that will neutral.
ize and paalyzo the cunning evasions,
shifts and contriyanccs by which the
sharp lawyers OF the Standard and other
trusts have sought TO enable the individual
workers and operators OF these combina-
tons 10 dodge punishment as individuals.
| The old common law know how "a
punish such combinations and conspr.
acies. They were classed with other
oilcnscs against public policy and public
trade, which cannot be carried on without
punctilious regard 20 honesty and good
faith between man and man; they were
clnssed with Cheating" and selling by
false weights and measures; they were
punished mostly as misdomcanors, but
sometimes as illonics and the "iorcstal-
lcr' and the "CngrOsscr" who were the
"guttors up" OF corners" and "trusts' in
ancient times, were punished by being
made 10 stand In the common dung cart
| 10y imprisonment on bread aud water iol
the iirst ollcnse-by heavy fine aud stand.
ing in the pillory Tor the second oilcnsc-
aud for the third Oilcnse still heavier fine
or the pillory or the cutting of OF one
ear and perpetual iniamy." In still
older times another penalty was the for
iciturc Of all goods and perpetual Danish
ment.
So ilOurishinc have those modern cXtor
! tiOncr. iorcstalcrs, combinations and con
spincics become In our day and country
20 adaci0us aud rapaciOus in their opera
| tiOns-ihat IL seems to be indispensable,
that the United States government shal
| intervene With all the constitutional powei
| IL possesses 10 put them down.