South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-09-06
Relations or Trusts to Labor.
NUMBER VIII.

"ess "oo tue very oplect OF Its existence,
must be classed economically Q, q mooopolv
and cited facts to show that Il had 40 re-
veeied itself in its attitude towards and in
IT'S Dealings with both the producers of its
nv materials and the consumers of it's man.
ofactured products. l must continue this
subject In other examples.
1us TRUST AND rHs LABoRkR.
as tnn new power appears in the field Of
production, there is no section Of the peo-
pie more Interested 70 challenge II aud de
mand what Its influences is to be upon their
condition and opportunities in life than A.
merican laborers.
Inc president OF the whisky trus. claimed
great credit for bis organ izatiou because, as
he alleged. IL had Voluntarily raised the
price OF both barrels aud coal, so that /. was
possible to pay better wages to the coopers
and miners. He declared that, while not
wishing to pose before the public as beue.
factors, they believed in intelligent co.op-
GRAFTON. and being able to pay good wages,
were willing 10 fairness to do 30. His I'm.
teiiigeot co'operation,' fancy, meant CO.
operation In fleeing the consumer, and in
MS competency he entirely forgot that his
trust was giving employ ment and fair wa.
ges to only enough miners and coopers to
supply the needs Of twelve establishments,
and hsd entirely taken away the employs
ment OF all who had previously supplied the
trust. Where are those that found employ
ment In and for the refineries that have bean
closed and dismautled by the sugar trust7
They could not be received into The other
refneries, because the very object of closing
wos 20 decrease production.
Banishmept from Rome had for the cti.
Gems OF the early empire The terrors of death
itself bee suse Rome had come to mean near
ly The whole civilized world, and in like
manner a disch rue from, noo a.,ahtaL
ment belonging TO a trust involves foe the
workingmsn almost total los5 of his trade or
occupation, for one is all and all Is one.
Just N proportion, them "a thes, comhina.
lions narrow the field of employm ent they
uncermiuc the personal independence of the
workiRman and impair his chances in life,
for upon his opportunities for employ ment
he must depend for the power to name or 10
maintain his standard OF wages. When
Mr.. Buttcrworth, OF Ohio, in the recent tar.
IN debate threw his splendid abilitiee a
gainst tax reduction, he found him.
cell like BalaamJ the son of Beor, who bles.
sed those whom be had undertaken to cure,
for he uttered what is not mere O moment
Gus truth t. the lahoring man than q famil.
lar truth and an inspiration to the reveu ne
reformer-'Capiial can ", II for i,s div dend.
but labor cannot wait for It's breakfast
No deadlier blow can be struck at wages
than through artificial diminuton Of en-
ployment, and the thousandf Of laborers al
ready discharged from employ ment By the
trusts, aud the thousands more that would
gradually find employment In producing for
O widening market II these organ zations
looked cuiy 10 normal profits and eought
them from the largest consumption, are o..
bliged TO crowd into other industries, thus
helping both to diminish and 10 leopard the
wages Of all engaged in those industries.
ARTIFICIAL kGCRAHntExEEyF oy GA 4
sERviTuDg FOR LABOR
We hear nowadays very much of a sup
posed conflict between capital and labor
and much Of cur current political and econ
oDic discussion is devoted TO plans for aver
ting collision between those great factors In
production and adjusting on etable and
equitable basis their relations aud sppors
tionment OF the profits OF their joint pred NC.
ton.
Any artificial aggraudizsment OF capital,
or any combination by which Its po wer can
be indefinitely multiplied aud armed with
secrecy and celebrity ia of evil omen to the
future welfare OF labor. The deed by which
the sugar trust was created, while studious-
ly cautious and general in setting forth the
objects Of the trust. included among those
stated TO furnish protection against uulaw-
full combinations OF labor The very as
tuie president of the tru,t, when asked the
meaning OF this clause, promptly replied
that he would consult bis counsel, and be
guided by his adyiceJ when necessary to de-
termine what Combinations OF labor were
unlawful 1t is not difficult TO forecast
that counsel whose client haa o capital OF
FIFTY million dollars aud an oyei flowing
treasury which might occasionally be swoi.
len rather than depleted by the shutting
down OF a refinery or two and the ccnse.
quent dimipution OF supply, will be inclined
10 Ind combination legal or illegal, as il
helps or INJURIES the interests Of his client,
Nor is IT hard TO see tEat against such q
power the strongest organization of labor
will wage doubtful or losing fight
And thus Think that the American labor.
er must see that the tFust bodies trouble and
degradation for him, AMI that In bis rela.
tions 10 II il Is pre- eminently a monopoly,
with all that the nam implies.
iTs GENERAL sAPPiEG AND HIsfse
Bat there Is more general. snbtle and
persuasive exercise Of the power and action
OF trust In the character Of O nopopoly
that must mention without attemptin 10
pursue Its manifold and oftentimes eect ot
nszes. refer to its power to destroy, and
its undoubted exercise OF that power, not
oUly by open and direct contests with COM
petltors, but by the indirec Intimidation of
those who serve or deal with those competis
tors in any capacity. have already cited
the testimony furnished by Mr.. Rice. the In.
dependent Tehner, showing that the oil trust
not only attacked him directly By selling
iLs oils below coat ia such markets as he at
tempted 10 enter but intmidaied railroad
compan % and car. construction COMPANIES
unui they refused him the facilities accorded
TO others nay, that the represeD tatives of
tue Standard alliance At Louisville. XIV.
threatened a ffm which ventured 20 become
the agent and consignes Of Mr. Rice's oils
IA thst city With "a competition that will
not be confined 70 coal oil or any single
article, and will not be limited 10 any one
yoar.
In this way common carriers, producers
in other industries from whom a Competitor
may dtrire TO buy, and dealers who may de-
sire 10 buy from him, are made unwilling
70 have business relations with him, through
their dread oTincurriug the hostility Of such
a great and manysheaded co mbination. IL
clothes itself With . cloud OF secrecy and
TINS adds to their fears, untii competition
hampered end boycotted at every turn gives
MP The con eest and sinks into Subsection or
ruin.
rms TRUST A CHAMELEON.
To ali this the organization Of tho trust
easily and promptly adapts iisoif. Any Civ
en- corporation has its general powor5 mark
ed out and defined by its charter, and when
IL ventures 10 exercise other powers its scts
are ULTRA vIRss ard void aad may involve
OF its eIistence.
IL cannot, therefore, meet 90 emergency
By an immediate occupation OF some other
held Of opers tons, or by the prompt adop-
ton Of some new aud unrelated business.
Bot trust, having no such legal or other