New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-09
A CHAT WITH MR.. CARNEGIE
D1sposNG OF SEVERAL CAMPAIGN LIES


NO STEEL RAIL TRUST IN THIS COUNTRY
TRUSTS FLOURISH MOST UNDER FREE
TRADE-HOw HIS OWN BUSINESS WILL
BE AFFECTED BY THE ELECTION
OF HARRISON A PLEASANT
COACHING TRIP DESCRIBED
Andrew Carnegie was in bis study yesterday when .
Tribune reporter called on him at his homo. No.
West Fifty rstst and almost overy other part Of the
big brownstone front mansion was in the occupancy
OF workmen. Mr.. Carnegie is looking well after bis
summer visit TO Britain and when he acccded to the
reporters request for interview no made the plea
ant "reminiscences of his trip the first topic Of his
conversation. He said:
Our coaching tour Of tho most enjoyable
Of all our coaching experiences. How could It b
otherwise with such company. was sorry for
guests that the route did not lie through tho most
beautiful part Of England, but / had
coached that and described II IN
The American Fourin-Hand In Britain
took the Eastern coast this time, which had the
advantage Of enabling to four Of tho principal
cathedrals, Ely, Peterborough. Lincoln and Durham.
THE HAND OF POVERTY SEEN EVERYWHERE
The economic revolution which England has
undergone since America began sending grain and
provisions In great quantities there Is nowhere
so imprcssvely In those glories Of England, it,
cathedrals. Their depend chiefly upon tho
rents Of land, and these have fallen much that it
is now impossible to maintain full stats and choirs and
repair the structures The hand Of poverty is every
where visible both in and around the cathedralA
"wth usual good fortune escaped the rains
Only once in all four weeks drive did we have
TO put up umbrellas, and then only for few minutes
Not ono unpleasant incident occurred We were In
deed happy family No one enjoyed the trip moro
than Mr. Blaine. He and I were not quite up to par
when started, but II such medicine month IN tho
open air upon the top Of coach, driving through
loyelv England with a of frpnds dOeA
chase away all the Ills that flesh is heir to, then
throw physic to the dogs, I'll have Of it,
IL took these coaching excursions and spent tho
last two summers in my native air by the advice
OF my physician, Professor Dennis the best means
Of recovering from typhoid fever and he certainly
hit upon the elixir Of life for me- think Mr.
Blaine's experience was much the same as TO its
salutary effect upon him. l advise all who can to
take their medicine in this form.'
WIDELY CIRCULATED REPORT DENIED.
"You have recently been much talked of in
tain quarters, Mr. Carnegie" said the reporter, :" In
connection with steel rail monopolIcs and such affairs.
A good deal has been said about trusts during the
campaign. Have you any objection to speaking on
this subjcct7'
Not at ALL, said Mr.. Carnegie. "Tho truest
words that can be said about trusts that
has much cause TO fear trusts, except he who goes
into them. There is no possibility Of maintaining
trust. 1t is bound to go to pieces sooner or later.
and generally to involve in ruin those foolish enough
to embark In It, II successful for time and undue
profits accrue, competition is created which must BE-
bought out and this leads to fresh competition. and
until the bubble bursts.
"Then tho article which it proposed to enhance
in price is made for years without profit, and tho
consumer has his ample revenge When
you find me trying to organize any
steel rail trust set 1t down that soften
ing Of the brain has surely begun. There should
be displayed in tho Office Of any trust Illuminated
text:
"'If was 10 bs done for,
wonder what was begun for" rc-s -
THE CHIEF TRUSTS ARE IN EUROPA
SIT has been vigorously maintained by FREQ trsdefo
and Others that the protective system produces trusts
at has no more to do with trusts than with the
tides. The chief trusts are in Europe Tho copper
syndicate is French trust; the salt trust is English.
and the greatest trust have known tho
steel rail trust In England, which embraced the Con-
tnental works as well. OF 1t went to pieces,
is the nature Of trusts, and consequence tho
foolish combiners have since been bestowins
steel rails upon an ungratefu world for less than
COST
"Are you aware, Mr.. Carnegie, that on the o6th Of
September you were reported to have arranged at
Glasgow for an international steel rail trust embrac
ing European and American works!
There IS not single word of truth in the report
first heard Of 1t when the pilot brought the papers
on board the ship. 1 made good Radical speech
In Glasgow to 5000 people. but steel rails were
never mentioned. am opposed to trusts for several
reasons They can't be made to work, and eventually
iniure what they are intended to benefit.
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.
"The public may regard trusts combinations with
serene confidence for the great law cannot be broken
namely, that where there IS no monopoly, but every
free to embark in the business It is impossible
for any body OF exact from this people for any
length of time than the average return for
capital and labor Whenever undue profits are made
competition steps in
q, at IS the same with railroads. New-York Central
has It's West Shore aud the Milwaukee St. Paul its
rival. Notwithstanding all We hear Of railroad pools
the result is that America enjoys the cheapest and best
railroad sporati0n IN the world just because there
Is monopoly. People build other railroads, and
build them they WILL whenever any limo is seer
to reap dividends beyond the average Just with
trusts Watch the end OF the copper coffee sugar
trusts or SALT or European steel rail trust, and yol
will see that this great law will be obeyed.'
THE FATAL WEAKNESS OF TRUSTS.
at is natural that manufacturers should meet and
resolve and resolve In period Of depression, that
they will stop bleeding each other to death but
havo known attempt to defeat the law to be
permanently successful When l very young In
business and not very strong financially, used to
hope that something could be done In the way Of COM
bnation with others to prevent impending ruin But
the result always failure and often personal bitter
ness between who had before bccn on good terms
with each other and then renewal OF tho ferce strg
gle with increased energy
The fatal weakness OF all trusts is that II suc-
cessful temporarily, they cause permanent injury,
for under higher prices other concerns grow strong
They may have million Of dollars to osc rather than
risk the COST disorganizaton and danger Of stoppage
OF the works. This is the in England to-day.
Since the trust broke Ia steel rails, there has been
struggle to which should crowd out
the Others, and for several years this
has been carried To be permanently successful
the manufacturer rust make up his mind that
the day OF exhorbtant profits is at end and take
a small profit per ton per yard, and make great
quantities and let tho consumer have every thing
cheap.'