The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-02-27


There were several new trusts
formed in the country last week, mo-
tably in the sewer pipe, stove and
soft coal trades. The objects of
each combination are TO limit pro-
duction, lessen expenses and in
crease prices IF successful, those
in the Combines will profit to a
large extent, while the people will
pay more for their coal, stoves and
sewer-pipes. Laboring men in
these industries should receive
higher wages as a result of the
greater prosperity of their employ
ers, but owing to the fact that their
numbers are to be reduced, and that
those discharged will at once become
clamorous for work, it will doubt
less follow that those kept on will
have to accept less pay than here
tofore; if not they will be suppIanted
by their discharged companions,
who will take what they can get to
keep from starving.
The people of the United States
who voted for Grover Cleveland and
lower taxes in November last have a
i legitimate and natural right to criti-
cize and object to the operations of
these trusts, which are formed for
the purpc< of robbing the people
for the enrichment of a few indi-
viduals; those who voted for Benja-
min Harrison and continuance of
the policy of protection have no
reason in the world to find the least
fault. By their votes they approved
of them, and invited them to feast
upon their labor and earnings.
The trust is the natural and legiti-
mate offspring of the tariff. 1t guar
antecs to the monopolist only the
results of the system of protection
which the people have voted him.
When the people vote to tax foreign
coal fifty cents per ton, the legiti
mate conclusion is that they intend
that the American coal mine boss
shall take to himself fifty cents on
each ton of coal mined more than he
otherwise would get except for that
rate of duty. They may mean that
he shall pay this fifty cents in in
creased wages to his employees, but
in no way have they indicated that
he shall do so. He is quite right
then in assuming the fifty cents
shall first come to him, and will
settle with his miners afterward.
Without question, he will pay them
just what he is compelled TO TO get
the work performed, the same as he
would have done if the people
hadn't in their benevolence voted
him any fifty cents per ton for
mining coal. And he is justified in
going into trust to get the fifty
cents per ton If free competition
is to prevail, it is likely that he
might be willing to throw aside the
fifty cents to maintain or increase
his business, and thus lose the
bounty which the people have voted
to preserve American industry. To
make sure of carrying out the
wishes of the people he enters the
trust. And wherefore should the
people complain-or at least that
portion of them who voted for Ben
jamin Harrison and "Protection to
American Industry"
And so with the stovemaker.
The tariff places a.duty of II cents
per pound on stoves imported into
this country. The inference is that
the people intended that the stove
maker should profit to the extent
of one cent and half on each pound
of stove cast by him, to be paid by
them to him for the protection of
American industry. Undoubtedly
they believe he will pay higher
wages on account of this present
from them of II cents per pound of
stove, and he may or may not do it,
but how is he to get at it all if he
doesn't go into the trust? For in
stance, there being many stove-ma-
kers, and all anxious to do the
greatest amountof business possible,
some of thom might forget that the
people had voted them a cent and
half on each pound of stove, and re-
turn it to them in the sell
ing price of the stove. This would
manifestly be at variance with the
wishes of the people who had opened
their hearts and pocketbooks to the
stove makers to the extent of II
cents per pound on each pound of
stove, and so he enters into the
trust to be able to carry out their
plain desires in the matter. Other
wise there would be no sense in the
duty, and as for competing with
| OF ,,oo,,