Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-01
OPPOSITION To TRUSTS.
VIII the PEOPLE BIS Able TO ovsrcoms the
Modern D,spo,e

ter OF VIM. W. Cooks discussion Ct
"trusts:"
POPULAR OPPOSITION TO TRUSTS"
The American people have become
alarme1 at the growth of s'trusts." The
Standard Oil Trust and the American
Cotton Oh Trust have sowu their seed ip
fertile soil aud the rank growth is to-day
polluang the air sad sitting ihs exist
ence OF h slthy life and progress. 1t is
currently reported and believed that the
trust" monooolies have drawn within
their grasp not only kerosene oil and cot.
Ton SEED oil, but sugsr, oatmeal, starch,
Wnlte cora meal, straw psper, pesrled
oafley, coal, strawboafd, castor oil, lin
seeo oil, lard, school slate, oiIcloth, salt,
catte, gas, street railways, whiskey,
ruo0er, steel, s;eel rails, steel and iron
besms, raiis, wrought iron pipes, iron
nuts, stoves, lead, copper, en-
yelopes, paper b,gs, paving pitch, cord
age, coke, respiDg and binding and now
Ing machines. thre,hing machines, plows,
glass snd water worss. Aud the list is
growing dsy 5y day, millions Of ollars
10 cssh or property, are being drawn into
TIE faoulGusp pre- As which f lw from en-
absolute trust" have dszz ed the minds
ana set on IRE the imlglDatIon of men.
manufacturers are rushing into toe
mastssrom. They are sta king their for
tunes on the venture, and, IN their
creams OF the future, they STE Iich and
golden stream Of wealth reward their
daring plans.
They reason well and ably. Cheaper
production is TO result; mul,itudes Of Of
hcers are 10 be dispensed with; superin-
tendeuts, travelling sslesmen aud expen-
siVs edver ise ments are TO be diminished;
raw material Is to be purchased more
cbeaply; the highest order OF administra-
tive ability is ~ be procured; Inventions
are TO be encouraged and used; owe pro-
ducticn is to be preveIted; permanency
OF employment Is to be insured; more
certain returns on capital are to be
guaranteed; insolvepcles resulting from
competition are to disappear; production
on large scale is TO decrease the Cost
thereof; large AID new enterprises re-
quiriDg grest capital, great risk and great
powers OF administration are to be undeI-
taken; and q ially, they argue within the
secrecy OF their conceive, that the public
Is at their mercy, and prices may be ad-
Vanced. Silently, rapidly and successful
ly their schemes are being consummated.
No shock from the cutter world has dis
turbed the progress of their plaus.
But, In the meantime, what il b. coming
OF the interests of the people? Who is
sustaining their rights and advocating their
causeT To whom are the people to look
In the contest thSt Is about to com?
This Is 10 be no Insignificant struggle. Ca
the one Side are untold wealth, far-seeing
management, splendid talents, unscrupu-
lous methods, aud that ins6tiste greed for
gain which has little regard for the law
OF the land. Ga the other are
the decisions of the courts, the
slow and silent but unslterable
determination Of the people, the legIsla-
tive bodies, the great and natural laws of
competition, and, most of all, free,
fearless, and independent press. The
courts may be deded, legislative bodies
corrupted, and all other avenues Of tx
preston OF the rights aud wrath of Inc
people msy be suppressed, and yet TIL
contest wlifgc on. From the daily and
weekly press OF the country, there will
come a stormy advocacy Of the peoples
rig is which cannot be defed or sup
pressed or conquered. 1t is the reflector
of pubic opinion. Il is the medium OF
the voice Of the people, and the unerring
index of the thoughts sld feelings and
will Of tn masses.
And 1t is a formidable Indictment which
the people, through the press, have
brought against the "trust" I. is neither
corporation nor well defioed common.
law trust; IL avoids the checks and safe
guards which wise puoiic policy mas
thrown around corporate acts; its articles
OF agreement are secret aud jsslously
guarded even from the Investor himself;
no charter or statement pet be fled for
public inspection; 10 reprots need De
made or published; it may rry on any
business It DESIRES; the principles OF
ultra cures acts do not check Ii; NO limit
Is placed by statute on its capital
stock; no Law prevents an in
crease or decrease fits trust certificates;
no qualifications are prescribed for It's
trustees: no tax is laid on its charter or
franchises or capital stock; no limit is
plsced By the puolic on the powers aud
discretion Of its trustees; no publicity is
given to its acts. II may move from state |
to stste; it msy evaae taxation, and OFF, |
the powers of courts. II Yields VAST |
sums Of money, secretly, instsntsneousIy |
and ffectlvely 10 accomplish its nefarlou, |
ends; and it does all this not for the ad- |
vancement of the community and the |
nation, but for purposes Of exiortion anu |
for the humiliation Of independent firms |
Nor is this all. A monopoly has ever
been q. jos, oppressive aud thing of
hatred. 1t raises prices; persecuies
those who refuse to come into the com 0i- |
nation; Crus1es out competition; pun
ishes or ruins single Independent pr du.
GERS; lowers the rice psld for raw nate
risl; restricts production; forces iniquit |
Gus bargains with railroads.; Hampers
with legislative bodies, and renders fair
i'm possible. All this is done |
not by honorable methods, but by threats,
fear, dishonesty, bribery, and discrimiua- |
ton; even fraud and crime have been |
charged. The idea Is made preva-
lent, that interruptions melhocs and evil |
ends are iustifed, provided they are sue
cessful. 1t is difficult for the advocates
Of monopoly to fiod argument to support
their cause. Nearly three centuries ago,
as already said, Lord Coke, in the famous
"Case of Monopolies," spoke truly when
he said that there were three inevitable |
results of monopoly: 81. That the price |
Of the same commodity Will be rsised. |
3. That the commodity is not so good as
before. That il tends to the improve |
Ishment Of divers artisans, artifcers and
others"
No-,s +hIe tba apd ~ the indirtmept of |