The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-08-18
THE TRUST OCTAPUs.
Its Tea,ac,cs Crasping Every Industry.
IN. o. City Ite,n.l

IN. o. City Item.l
The American people are bfcoming
ALARMED at the growth of "frusss.
The Standard OIL Trust and the Ameri-
can Cation Oil Trust have sOwn their
see<i in fertile soil, and the rank
growth is to day polluiing the air and
sitting the existence of healthy life
and progress. 1t is currently reported
and believed that the "Trnst" mono
Nnlies have drawn within their grasp
no, only Kerosene oil and cotton seed
oil, but sugar, oatmeal, starch, white
c.ru,I,e,.t, fnur straw paper, barley,
coal, straw board, castor oil, linseed
oil, lard, school states, oil c!oth, cattle,
gas, stree, railways; whisky, rubber,
steel rails, steel and iron beams, nails,
wrought iron pipes, iron mus, stoves,
lead, copper, envelopes, paper bags,
paving pitch, cor,aage, coke, shot, reap
ing MACHINES, thrcshing machines,
blows, glass, water works, etc. and
the list is growing day by day. MAJ
liu,.s Of dollars cash or property arc
being drawn into the vortex. The
fabulous profits which flow from an
absolute aTrust'' have dazzled the
minds and set on fire the imagination
of men. Manufacturers are rushing
into the maelstrom. They are stalking
their fortunes on the venture, and in
their dreams Of the future they see
rich and golden stream OF wealth re-
warding their daring plans.
They reason we'll aud ably. Cheaper
production is the result; Inuititudes OF
officers are to .he dispensed with; su-
perintendeDis, travelling statesmen a..@@'
expensive advertisements are to be
diminished; raw material is to be
more cheaply purchased. Tie hishes:
order of administrative ability is TO be
procured, inventions encouraged and
u.ed over productlon 80 be prevented;
more certain returns on capital are to
be guaranteed insolvency from com
petition TO disappear and finally, they
argue within the secrecy OF their con-
clave that the public is at their mercy,
and that prices must ADVANCE
But in the meantime what is bocoin-
ing of the interest of the people? Who
is sustaining their rights and advocat-
ing their cause? To whom are the
people to look in the great contest that
is about to come? This is no INSIGHT
ticant struggle. On the ono side arc
untold wealth, far-seeing management,
splendid talents, subscriptions me,
thods,, and that greed Of gain which
has little regard for the law OF the
land. On the other are the decisions
of the courts, the slow and silent but
unaltered determination Of the people,
the legislative bodies, the great natural
laws Of competition, and most of all,
a free, q fearless, and an i'ufcpendant
press. The courts may be deiied, legis-
iative bodies may be corrupted, all
other avenues of right and wrath of
the people suppressed, and yct shn con-
test will 60 on.
From the daily and weekly press OF
the country there will come stormy
advocacy of the peoples rights which
cannot be deiied or suppressed or con-
uuered. 1t is tue reflector Of public
OpiniOp. 1t is the medium Of tho voice
of the people, and the uncrring index
of the thoughts and feelings and will
of the masses. And it is a formidable
indictment which the people, through
the press, have brought against the
Wrrust." 1t is neither a corporation nor
q we'll defiued common law trust. Il
avoids the checks and safeguards
which a wise public policy has thrown
around corporate acts; its articles of
agreement are secret, and zcnlOusly
guarded even from the iuvestor him
self no charter or statements need be
filed for public inspection; no reports
need be made or published to the
world. It may carry on any business
1t desires; the principles of ultra rires
acts do not check it no limit is placed
by statute on its capitol stock no law
prevents an increase or decrease Of it:
trust certificates, no qualifications are
prescribed for lis trustees; no tax is
laid on its charter or franchises or cap
ital stock no publicity is given to it
acts. 1t may move from Slate tC
State; it may evade taxation and defy
the powers of courts; it wields vas
sums of money secretly and iDs'antan
eously.
The Senate of the State Of New
York, in February, 1883, appointed /
committee to investigate Trusts, tha
is to say the workings and character o
the numerous "Trusts" which had re
Gently sprung into existence. The coIn
vnittee commenced work on Februar,
q, and continued work unt'i Fehruar.
%, the time having been limited t
that date. Under the skillfui Enauagc
ment of its counsel, Col. George Bis
and Gen. Roger A. Pryor, preciou
assortment of schemes and devices wer
unearihed, too numerous to go int
lust at present and too iaiquituus t
speak of. Upon adjournment the chair
man OF The committee said, with muc
reason, utu this work tAips upon ALI