The morning news., 1889-05-08

7
same-
WIEN COMBINATION IL LxerTrATE.
! II combination to maintain proper standard
/ OF compensation is legitimate In the one case
! II is equally legitimate In the others
| apprehend that there can BE- no serious diff
| ference Of opinion at this point.
/ The question nf what constitutes legitimate
! compensation for professional services, and
/ legitimate returns upon capital forms the real
I issue upon which the general estimate Of all
! combinations will be determined
/ am ashamed Of that ignorance on the part
Of many men OF the present day, who presume
that every combination Of producers is illegiti-
mate, and Of The cowGrdice Of others. who, see
ing that It Is necessary in many cases, that 1t Is
essential TO the preservation OF capital employed,
yet loin in the common howl against all comb
nations, whether legitimate or iilegtimAte The
most ludicrous spectacle incident TO the discus
sion OF the general question Of competition.
| combinations, monopolles and trusts now
gong on is seen in the facility and
JUNCTION with which one nonopoist will
denouHce another, and the disposition all round
10 oppose all monooohes and trusts except
those in which we are nte ested and TO defend
those in which we are interested. We say 10
competition when 1t affects US, or 10 the oppo-
sition 10 monopoly when it attacks our monOpO-
lies. Take any other form but that" Compete
TO the death with all other competitors but
don't compete with US. Destroy all other mo
nopolies, but don't touch ours The people we
serve don't need competition, and we can't get
along without our monopoly, which, n you will
allow us To explain, is not much OF monopoly
after all.
THE RESULT OF FALSE CONCEPTION.
Much Of this Inconsistency arises from false
conceptions of the advantages and dissd-
vantales, Of competition and monopoly; and
the tendency of those who should educate
public opinion 70 feel for the currents and drift
with the tide of popalar prejudice, rather than
70 provoke opposition by sying bare the falla-
cieS OF popular ignorance.
In all kindness feel compelled, rs a matter
OF duty, To criticise the conduct OF the public
press in this state for its failure 10 discriminate
between the different character OF combinations
70 which have already alluded. The great
dailies Of our cities, and Georgia has the best
daily press In the south, have not only failed to
discharge this important duty to the public, but
those who have a monopoly OF the Associated
Press dispatches have been singulRriy inconsis-
tent in most cases in denouncing monopoly,
where there was monopoly. and whsre there
wss no monopoly, while they controlled, in
their severA localities, the most absolute mo-
uopoly in the state
When it was stated at the meeting Of the
southern manufacturers in Augusta, last week,
that the controversy between tdc Farmers
Alliance and the manufacturers Of jute bag
Ring constituted flght between one combine
tion and another combination, Col Livingston :.
tho president of the alliance, who was present,
mucn to his credit in my humble Judgment,
frankly confessed that the statement was true,
aud, in the presence OF the large interests there
represented, said the farmers intended TO
strengthen and build up this combination TO
| great proportions. II 1t will help than, and.
under prooer direction believe it will, May
| God help them In their efforts to do so.
FORCED INTO COMBINES.
It is striking feature in the history Of all
| our eomestie combinations or trusts, or the
most Of them, that they did not enter into these
combinations until forced to do 80 as last
| alternative against prottless or ruinous bust
ness. When mas the agricultural interests of
| Georgia been more depressed than during the
past two years. Combination offered the only
remedy Ia the Judgment of the farmers, ami
| hence the alliance, which, upon the authority OF
| its president, is q combination. If the farmers
can combine and reduce the price of bagging
which they have TO buy. and enhance the price
| OF cotton. which the. must sell, they are doing
| Just what the lawyers and doctors and
ne.spapers and various mechanical trades
have doue. Nobody opposes our professional
| combinations; they are approved. The public
| press, 80 bitter and denuncatory OF all other
| combinations, has not seal proper to denounce
| the farmers alliance, which Col Livingstone
says, is combination. If the farmers may
combine to obtain lower prices on what they
! have TO purchase, and higher prices for what
| they sell, why may not u manufacturer do like
wiser What will become of our cotton mills
| when they are forced to pay higher prices for
| cotoa by reason Of the cotton combine? Win
| they be permitted In turn to combine for higher
| prices for their goodsg Or W II they be forced
| by pubic sentiment educated by the public
pre- IS, to sustain one combination while oppos-
| raw material, and selling goods at the same or
| lower prices?
| NATURAL DEPENDENCE or INTERESTS
| It would not be profitable or appropriate for
| me TO detain you with a detail Of facts in sup
| port of the general positions have assumed Ia
| opposition to excessive competition, and in
| favor of the adoption OF all legitimate and
proper means TO check IL at the danger line
| You may not agree with me, but you must con.
Tess that Intelligent investigation and fair aud
! candid discussion of these questions are neces
sary to their rational and proper settlement
| am firm believer in the mutual dependence
OF eli interests. If one suffers. the 9th rs are
all affected and If one prospers, that prosperity
| reacts upon all the rest Believing this ! am
| oppose TO any policy which tends TO destroy
the lie climate profits OF any legitimate branch
| OF business, because, in the end, such policy
| will affect untavorably the public prosperity.
IL have one hope, or purpose, or ambition
which comes to me earliest when awake, and
lin .ers longest when seek repose. it is to see
my state and section prosperous and great, and
| our people enterprising, progressive, thrifty
| industrious, contented, hopeful and happy.
| terests working not in conflict, but in harmony,
supported by public sentiment, based upon
intelligence, and holding fast in our public
policies TO the eternal principle OF justice.
After the exercises at tho theater Mai.
Hanson was entertained at the association
headquarters Several speeches were made.
GOSSIP OF THE CONVENTION.
The Atlanta delegation presented letter
| from a manned and needy traveller of At
lanta asking for aid from the association.
The Savannah delegation voted S25 for him
the moment the letter was read.
II was expected that Secretary Max Rob
inson would be elected t. the state secre-
| taryship, but he declined TO let his name
go before tue convention. His reason was
tnat he cannot devote AS much time TO the
lab3rs Of ie as ,ociation work as he has in
the last few weeks, without dstriment TO
MS busness A nem or who is acquai nted
with what Secretary Robinson has done,
and how diligently he strove t. promote tle
best interests of toe association, So d last
night that hs thought the ass ss)ciation lost a
a good man. A worker whose place il will
be difficult to fill Secretary Robinson will
devote as much attention as nc cau to the
Savannah branch. He is secretary Of 1t,
and some Of his friends want to place him
at the head of it, They wunt TO give the
position which President Newman will re-
sign at the next meeting. Sec esary Davis
is young and energetic, and will make a
good state secretary.
Dave Heller. chairman Of the press COM
mittee Of the Travellers Protective Associa-
ton II LOUISIANA, was at che convention in
the afternoon. He Is here - see the work
lngs OF the Southern Travellers Association
and he will make a report to his division.
All the details of the orgauiza ion, its
al alr kyera ui nm, hky man