The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-11-19

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and like vital matters, which the trus-
tees, as trustees, Indignantly deny
their doing or ever intending to do.
GENERALIZATION OF INDUSTRIES.
| Omitting this last feature and tax
ing the trust scheme in it's general
outline, it might really seem, as it's
friends and defenders are claiming,
but another and healthy step in the
concentration of industry in great
establishments instead of small ones.
This is one of the most familiar and
significant tendencies of our day. The
small mill, the local factory and the
individual capitalist have vanished.
In their place and out Of the ruin
have grown up huge establishments at
favorable points for production and
distribution and, great corporations.
This is largely due to the mechani-
cal inventions which have replaced
and indefinitely outstripped human
labor, the use Of steam power, and
the marvellous development of our
transportation system, not omitting
the still more marvellous advance Of
science. With greater command of
capital come better administration,
more minute economy, superior facili-
ties for buying and selling, the in
creased skill and production that re-
suit from the specialization of labor,
and the quick adoption of every i'm
proved invention and process.
Prices have been diminished to the
consumer not only by reason of con-
stantly cheapening cost of production,
but because the producer has been
compelled to content himself with a
narrow margin, of profit. This com
pulsion has been two-fold; first, as the
condition of securing the larger mar
ket which he is obliged to have for
his goods, and secondly, from the
competition of rival producers.
Now, the very object of the trust is
to relieve him from this last compul-
sion Mr.. F. B. Thurber, testifying
as to the sugar trust, summed up the
whole matter in these words: "a
combination unquestionably can effect
great economy. They can buy cheaper,
work cheaper, and, If they choose, sell
cheaper than scattered and disorgan-
lied forces It is the chief purpose
of the trust to vindicate and make
sure it's right to " choose" the price at
which it will sell it's products, and
only it's minor object to effect that
great economy which results from
large production. Indeed, it cannot
be truthfully said to aim at large pro
duction, for the very mode by which
it seeks to secure this power Of "choos
ing" is through controlling and re-
pressing production.
The public has received in the end,
and generally very soon, the chief
benefit of the skill and efforts of those
who were bidding for its patronage.
Through their rivalry it has secured
the best service and the most reason
able rates, while in every line of
business those who could not offer it
that service and those rates have prop.
erly gone to the wall The object of
the combination is not to give it the
service of the best only, and relieve it
from the support of all others, but to
force it to put up with average service,
and for this average service pay
enough to support and afford profits
| to ALL
HOW THE PEOPLE ARE SQUEEZED.
"Have you made any money in
your business in the last ten years 2"
was asked Of the head of the largest
firm that went into the sugar trust.
"Lots of it," was his prompt reply,
while other refneries were singing
different tune. If, at market prices
of sugar, Ills firm could make lots of
money" while other refneries were
unable to work profitably, it was posi-
tive proof that the public was paying
enough for its sugar, and those who
could not furnish it at the prices then
prevailing should have given place to
those who could. But the trust threw
upon the consumer the cost of support
ing and maintaining all these refneries,
some Of them even in idleness.
Can any one look at the phenom,
email profits Of these trusts in their
brief history, so far beyond the ordi-
nary and legitimate profits of indus
try as perhaps to call for some other
name without knowing that whatever,
economies have been effected by them,
through larger production, better pro-
cesses and ga single, harmonious
management, have been entirely ap-
propriated to their own enrichment,
and not as heretofore shared with the
public ? It has been stated that the
sugar trust has since its organization
been able to refine sugar one eighth of
a cent a pound cheaper than under
the system of independent refneries
before existing. If SO, who has ap-
propriated al of it The sugar trust