The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-01-14

IHoOF from power OF money to Cypress.
Let the watch word again be "Liberty!'
TRUSTS AND MONoPOLIES.
How Shall They be Dealt With p
Review of Some Proposed
Methods.
From the Baltimore Sun
NUMBER X.
1t was stated in the beginning of
these papers that they would conclude
with some review of the methods pro-
posed, either by legislation or other,
wise, for the suppression or regulation
of trusts. But for this promise I
would not venture, after so long an
interval, to resume the discussion, and
especially on that branch of it which
is confessedly beset with most diff
culties. l need hardly say that while
there has been a very unmistakable
expression of public opinion that
speedy and effective means should be
devised to prevent the abuses and to
curb the growing power Of trusts,
there has been as yet no concurrence
of opinion as to the form and nature
of the remedies.
DEFENDERS OF TRUSTS.
This delay has not been altogether
time lost. 1t has given the advocates
of trusts full opportunity to set forth
the legal and economical grounds upon
which they justify and defend them,
and it has clearly shown that whether
the advocate be a protested economist,
like MI. Gunton, a law writer, like
Professor Dwight, or an open and
recognized champion, like Mr.. Dodd,
solicitor of the Standard Oil Trust,
the attempted defense uniformly
ignores or skillfully avoids the objec-
ton to trusts on which public opposi,
ton is mainly based. That objection
is that whatever else they may be,
they are and are intended to be
monopolies in their dealings with the
public, especially including under that
head producers Of their raw materials,
consumers of their products, the
laborers they employ and the com.
p~etitors they encounter.
These defenders see the trust from
the point of view of the producer
alone, and if the scheme is effectual in
relieving him from a distressing, and,
possibly, at times, a hurtful compe-
tition, in s~teadying his business and in
making sure his profits, they regard
the defense as complete, and have no
concern for those who are injured or
even destroyed by its operation.
Their argument that the more abso.
lutte you make the monopoly of the
producer the more surely you protect
the interest of the consumer reminds
us of the argument which Mr.. Madi-
son tells US was made by the monar-
christs, that the greater the power
given to the government the more
secure were the liberties of the people.
PREMATURE MEASURES.
It has been the chief object of these
papers, not so much to suggest RENE
dies as to prepare the way for their
intelligent consideration by making
plain the real structure and operation
of trusts, disclosing their true purpose
and effect and ascertaining the con-
ditions that most favor their growth
and maintenance. AS secrecy has
been from the beginning the common
refuge of all trusts, it is not surprising
that most of the r~epressive legislation
proposed has been framed upon an in
correct, or at best an insufficient
knowledge of their framework and
operation. The able lawyers who
drew the deeds under which these
combinations were formed anticipated
the direction of the earliest attacks
and the line along which hostile legis,
lation would first move.
In all legislation for the suppression
of abuses it is of the highest moment
to respect and observe the great
maxims and principles upon which
tree government has been slowly and
laboriousIy built up, the established
and inviolable safeguards of liberty
and property, and in u country not
less careI lilly also the just boundaries
between State and Federal authority.
THE SOCIALISTS.
Henc', however, we may amuse
ourselves with the theories of those
who dream of an arbitrary reconstruc-
ton of society, we cannot forget when
it comes to practical craftsmanship
that the greatness of u race has
largely consisted in it's ability to re.
form without destroying, and in its
traditional teaching that we must seek
in the laws of the existing social
fabric, which is the organic growth
of many centuries, for principles by
which to deal with new evils as they
arise and to test new legislation as it
is proposed.