The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-09-07
TRUSTS AND MON0P0LIES.
THEIR RELATIONS TO LABOR.
A SMALLER DEMAND FOR WORK
MEN.
Their Underground Tactics Against
the People-Intimidation Of
Dealers.

DtiltTss
In my last paper / maintained
that the trust, from the very object
of its existence, must be classed
economically as monopoly, and
cited facts to show that it had so
revealed itself in its attitude towards
and in its dealings with both the
producers of its raw materials and
the consumers of its manufactured
products. / must continue this sub
lject in other examples.
THE TRUST AND THE LABoRER.
As this new power appears in the
field of production, there is no sec
ton Of the people more interested to
challenge it and demand what its
influence is to be upon their condi-
ton and opportunities in life than
American laborers.
The president Of the whisky trust
claimed great credit for his organi-
cation because, as he alleged, it had
voluntarily raised the price of both
barrels and coal, so that it was pos
sible to pay better wages to the coop
ers and miners. AS they declared
that while not wishing ''to pose be-
fore the public as benefactors," they
believed in Intelligent co-opera-
ton" and being able to pay good
wages, were willing in fairness to do
so. His intelligent cooperation"
l fancy, meant cooperation in feec
ing the consumer, and in his com
placency he entirely forgot that his
trust was giving employment and
fair wages to only enough miners
and coopers TO supply the needs of
twelve establishments, and had en-
tirely taken away the employment
of all who had previously supplied
the sixty-nine that had been closed
by the trust. Where are the labor
ers that found employment in and
tor the refineries whose ruins mark
the triumphal progress of the Stand
ard Oil trust? or the laborers that
were employed in and for the rein
cries that have been closed and dis
mantled by the sugar trust? They
could not be received into the other
refineries because the very object Of
closing was to decrease production.
Punishment from Rome had for
the citizen of the early empire the
terrors of death itself because Rome
had come to mean nearly the entire
civilized world, and in like manner
a discharge from any one establish
ment belonging to trust involves
for the workingman almost total
loss of his trade or occupation, for
one is all and all is one just in
proportion, then, as these combina-
tions narrow the field of employment
they undermine the personal indie
pendence of the workingman and
impair his chances in life, for upon
his opportunities of employment he
must largely depend for power to
name or to maintain his standard of
wages. When Mr.. Butterworth, of
OhipJ Ill bllC tCNtnb Ill NtCDdtC
threw his splendid abilities against
the cause of tax reduction, he found
, himself like Balaam, the son of Beor,
who blessed those whom he had I'M
dertaken to cure, for he uttered
what is not more a momentous truth
to the laboring man than familiar
truth and an inspiration to the reve-
nue. reformer-"Capital can wait for
its dividend, but labor cannot wait
for it's breakfast" No deadlier blow
can be struck at wages than through
artificial diminution of employment,
and the thousands of laborers al
ready discharged from employment
, by the trusts, and the thousands
more that would gradually find en-
ployment in producing for widen
ing market if these organizations
looked only to normal profits and
sought them from the largest con
sumption, are obliged to crowd into
other industries, thus helping both
to diminish and to leopard the wa
ges of all Engaged in these indus
tries.
ARTIFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF CAPT.
tai MEANS sFRvITUDE FOR LABOR.
We hear nowadays very much of
a supposed conflict between capital
and labor, and much of our current
political and economic discussions
is devoted to plans for averting col
} lision between these great factors in
| production, and for adjusting on a
stable and equitable basis their re-
lations and their apportionment of
the profits of their joint produc-
ton.
; Any artificial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of
capital, and any combination by
which its power can be indefinitely
multiplied and armed with secrecy
and CELEBRITY is of evil omen to the
future welfare of labor. The deed
: by which the sugar trust was Great
ed, while studiously general and
cautious in setting forth the objects
of the trust, included among those
) stated "to furnish protection against
t unlawful combinations of labor"
: The very astute president of the
trust when asked the meaning of
this clause promptly answered that
he would consult his counsel, and be
1 guided by his advice when necessary
: to determine what combinations of
G labor were unlawful" 1t is not
! difficult to forecast that counsel
whose client,has capital of fifty
l million dollars and an Overlooking
0 treasury, which might occasionally
S be swollen rather than depleted by
y the shutting down of refinery OF
: two and the consequent diminution
: of supply, will be inclined to find a
combination, legal or illegal, as it
: helps or Injuries the interests of his
s client. Nor is it hard to see that
8 against such power the strongest
organization of labor will wage a
doubtful or losing fight.
y And thus l think the American
o laborer must see that the trust bodies
+ trouble and degradation for him.
!. and that in his relations to it it is
pre- eminently a monopoly, with all
J that the name implies.
u ITS GENERAL sAPPING AND MINING.
= But there is more general, sub
g tie and pervasive exercise Of the
n power and action of trust in the
@ character of monopoly that / must