The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-06-15
TIE ANTITRUST LAW.


The recent bill passed by the Mis-
souri, legislature and signed bv GOV.
Francis, has, according 10 the St. Louis
papers, exploded a bomb heavily load.
ed with dynamite i'll the am OF divers
trusts and combinations, that is most
pleasing to the people who have so
long been in the clutches Of the inia
nous sCOundrcls who have been amen
able 10 no law but that Of sclf-aguran.
diZGmcnt, who have been governed sole
Iy by the greed for gold, al the ex-
pcn,e of II long suffering and shame
tally robbed public.
The mills OF the gods have certainly
ground very slowly in his behalf. Ii
they shall grind exceedingly fine, and
pulveriZe between the upper aud Meth
cr m%illstoncs OF the laws stern and
unyIelding mandates, and scurCh "A,
with the blast and blight Of the glow
lug furnace, these supcrla;ively iufa-
NOUS combinations from the face oi The
earth, and drive from all associations
with honest men the theiviuy miscrc-
ants who have so long polluted GODS
foOtstool; then the honest aud toiling
mil,ious may shout "Glory Ia God In
the highest"
Oh, the villaiusl how they sguirIa,
and kick and Wrigglel They are gUiI :
10 law, they say, 10 TEST he constitu.
Iionality of the statute What do
these infamous hounds care tor any
law, human or divine - unless it is a
law that stands III the way OF their
highway robbery OF the public? The
rObbing OF trains and banks is "A Ios-
tive virtue compared 10 The wholesale
robbery OF the public by the trusts
which have cursed the entire country
for many years past.
There Is ten times more cause today,
for IA revolution on the part of the peo-
pie OF these United States. and for the
wiping from the face OF the earth the
trusts and combines. aud for melting
out condign punishment to the owners
and insiigatOrs OF these iniquitous
schemes TO rob and plumber, than Geo.
Washington with his continental army
had TO fight England for all the oppres-
sion heaped upon them.
An eminent authority on trusts"
thus deiiues them: "Ihey raise prices {;
prosecute those who refuse to come
into The combination; they crush con
petition; punish or ruin single or indie
pendent producers; lower the price
paid Tor raw materials; restrict pro-
duction; force iniquitous bargains
with railroads; talnper with Legislative
bodies and render competition impos-
slble. SO far rs the trust company is
able TO secure these ends, in exact pro.
portion ii accOmplishes the purpose
OF its organization"
| Ihn lnnrnnH antbn. ,ni,,b1 mill t,,tI
and justice have added, they bride
judges, intimldate voters whenever il
can be dOne-otherwise they buy them,
J thus electiug their tools to Legislative
and judicial offices, or secure their ap.
pointluent.
The colOnIsts complained to King
George and The Britith parliament thar
they were taxed without having any
one TO represent their interests. What
representation have The people in n
combine or trust? Its powers are con
centrated in the hands of IL few indlvid-
nalS representing, il may be, ten or fifty
corporations manufacturing the same
line Of goods. They are amenablc 10
no law, As they are organized and
operated without the sanction OF law.
They shut down n mill or tweuiN
10 make u commodity scarce, aud con
%scquGnt.y dear, without cutting down
their own profits, and Il, the came
time raising the price to the consumers
to enhance the diyidends 10 all the cor.
porations concerned, Irrespective OF
whether they are idle or not. Bat hi.
is not all. Thousands OF men, wnrnri
and children are thrown nut OF employ
mcnt, and are compelled TO beg, steal
or starVe.
These infamous combinations are far
reaching. They include about every
thing that is in the sea or upon the
earth. Tney tax you while living, aud
remOrseiessly rob you or your wife and
children when You are dead. They in.
clndG in the cities the liYarymcH who
haul the remains of your dead friend
to the cemetery; the hacks that convey
your friends It shovel the CluhS upOn
your coffin; they descend into the
grave and tax your shIOud; the screws
or the glue, rs the case may be, that
holds tho box together containing your
remains aud the tawdry (as is often
the caae) upholstery with which il is
embeliishcd %