The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-19
Overwhelmed by Monopoliss.

Comparatively little attention has
been paid to the fact that foreign
capitalists, chiefly English, have been
buying up American manufacturing
establishments. Long ago some sensa-
ton was aroused at the discovery that
foreigners were among the largest
holders of lands in the United States.
1t was learned that in the Territories
alone more than 10000, 900 acres of
land, much of it in large bodies, is the
property of foreign individuals and
syndicates, and then Congress passed
q law providing that such ownership
shall not be thereafter acquired; but
there was no interference with the
titles to holdings already existing.
OF course this law does not apply to
the ownership Of lands in States. There
State laws alone govern such matters,
and from the anxiety manifested by
nearly all the States to secure foreign
immigration it is evident that there is
no disposition to limit the ownership
OF any sort of property by foreigners.
AS consequence they have acquired
large bodies OF lands in most of the
States, and now they are buying up
factories and mines and are becoming
the monopolizers Of enormous in
dustries. Not only does foreign capital
control most OF the American railways,
but it has lately been buying up
American breweries, and now it is
operating among the great Touring
mills in the northwest
1t is true enough that the lands. the
mines, the railways and factories which
foreign capital controls in the United
States cannot be carried out of the
country and must be operated for the
use and convenience of the American
people. 1t does not matter who actual
ly owns the capital with which Ameri-
can industries are carried on, since the
people must get certain benefit out of
them. If this were all, there )uld be
nothing further to be said.
The trouble, however, comes up in a
very tangible form with some extreme
ly dangerous promises in the future.
The country is virtually coming to be
owned by foreigners to whom our peo-
pie are mortgaged. We are already
coming to feel the power of great COM
binatlons of money in operating our
industries. 1t isa regular business for
these trusts" to put up the prices of
commodities and necessaries at their
pleasure. The arbitrary charges upon
transportation, so long imposed by the
railroad companies, became SO oppres-
sive that it was found necessary to lay
the heavy hand of the law upon them;
but can the government interpose in
every branch of industry and commerce
to prevent extortion by the powerful
trusts?n
It was once believed that the produc-.
tive powers of the people and the land
III oiO OhitGo ObtsUCo WOE0 d. OuOEnlOuo
that no combinations could forestall or
control them. Now we see syndicates
of coal miners or of iron manufacturers
stopping their works in order to en-
nance the prices of their commodities.
This is done by the trusts" We
have seen such immense operations in
the markets OF cotton, grain and
other agricultural products as greatly
to disturb the industries that depend
on them. Not long ago all the coffee
in the world was cornered and all the
copper was under control OF syndi-
cate. 1t is not too much to believe
that the day is not far distant when it
will be possible to corner all the cot
ton and grain and to nonopolize for
purposes OF profit the various neccs-
sar1es OF life.
The success OF these schemes depends
wholly upon the ability TO gather
money enough under one managcmcn.
aud Ia ! slsgls iutsrest Europe and
fs.s - > :