Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-10
n MASK

The contempt which the New York
Tribune feels for the psCpls and their inter
ests is very plainly expressed in the fol-
lowing:
Combinations, pools and trusts do not live long
ia this country, as q rule, unless they earn
their living. They can earn it only by serving
| the public better on the whole than 1t can get
served by competition. The instant they failto
| serve the public some new competitor is sure TO
appear, and before long the pool or trust that
cannot earn its living gees own But the dear
people hare an abiding conviction thai 'OhGt is per
feet y GbriOus cannot Be true, aud so hfy 90 On
aghiRg aqliaS! Combinations. t0hicA Ls sea Gepens.s,
and for more competition, l0hich iRsritaby Increases
~CtJsRSsS.
These are the post-election expressions
of the chief organ Of the monopolists.
Here are the expressions Of that other
trusted mouthpiece of the trusts, the
New York Press, Of the SINE date:
The truth is that ole-half the talk about the
danger OF railway monOpolieS is demsgos'Sm
pure and simple. A monopoly cures itself, eX-
cept under very abnormal conditions. Competi-
ton sooner or later comes in the natural orderof
things by the sheer force Of public opinion, often
NRsided by legislation.
Nlther of these newspapers, which dis
tinguNh ed themselves as such able liars
and "fr Ands of the W~orkingmsn' before
the electien, would dared to have limited
anything approaching the above speci-
mems durihg the campaign.
1t is a char gain to ascertain as far in
sdvancs q possible the purposes of a party
about to sssume the full control of govern
ment. The expressions quoted from these
two organs, which are to be the most in
lus9tsl with Mr.. HAREIsoN's admins
traHon, have thus considerable import
K4ee. They are a bold and shameless
Federation, after the election, Of the doc
trine proclaimed courageously by Mr..
BLAINE before the election that trusts
are private sffairs."
The sooner the public accommodates it.
self t. the fact that the election has az
irmed this doctrine for the present, the
easier ii will be for the public and the les
trouble it will require from Republican
newspapers to elucidate the Lesson. THE
dear people," as the New York Tribune
expresses it, have undoubtedly cherished
the notion that competition and not mo-
nopoly is essential to the welfare Of the
country and the development of trade.
Although the majority hold to this notion,
the electoral votes Of essential States were
by various well-known methods captured
for the party that held the contrary belief.
We have an opportunity to tsst for four
years the expansion Of the trust system iu
our business affairs. 1t is given out that
tbs cotton seed oil trust has already
cleared enough money from the riss in its
certificates since the election to make good
lis contribution to the Republican National
committee. New trusts and combinations
for the suppression Of competition in trade
and the bOlstering up of prices are rapidly
being formed, q combination ofsteel msnu-
~fActurers, similar to the steel rail combine,
baiDg now in the process of completion.
The Senate tariff bill is based on tie doc
trins enuncistsd by BLAINE and re'ter-
ated by the two chief Republican organs Of
New York. IN brief, no effort has bsen
spared 10 make the friendliness of the Re-
publican party 20 the trust system perfect
ly clear. The dear people," to quote the
Tribune, will have a chance to learn the
beauties of the scheme of trust p7otec-
ton" in the expensive school of experience.
1t ia a good school but q. hard one.