The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-10-31
Friday, Oct. 81, 1890.
The Trusts-Our Future Masters.

poleon's science Of war by which he came
very near conqueting all Europe, and bring
ing that continent under the despotic sway
OF one man.
The science of trusts as known in modern
commercial life is the art of mobilizing cap
ital and hurting it againt any point where
an enemy appears. Where any business
develops in which a trust is engaged, ard
that proposes to act independently Of the
trust, Immediately the trust dispatches a
sufficiently powerful force TO overwhelm the
new branch OF business. 1t is surrounded,
the customers of the new firm or enterprise
are approached, the market where the new
firm attempts to sell its goods is flooded by
the trnst with cheaper goods Of the same
class, prices are cut till the audacious ad-
venturers, unable to compete with the trust
backed by millions, succumbs and is wiped
out in bankruptcy. Then the trust declares
peace reisns in Warsaw" and old prices
again make their appearance and the trust
rules the market and the people at its will.
The Standard Oil trust was the pioneer
in this science of warfare on the liberty of
the masses, and the aim of which is the con-
version of the United States into a Pluto
cratic Empire. This deep laid plan has
progressed much further and more rapidly
than the majority OF our most intelligent
people are aware of. In truth much further
than many who are in the swim" and
compose a part of the favored noble class
suspect. .
The St. Louis Republic, a paper published
in st. Louis, Mo-, has recently gone back
over its. flies since 1883 and made list Of
these. conspiracies. The trusts catalogued
by the Republic in the short space Of two
years number more than fifty and embrs ce
every article in daily use by the mass OF
the people.
When these trusts began TO rapidly null
tiply in 1888 public indignation was aroused
and severe laws in several Of the States were
passed against them, which were easily
evaded, sometimes by the assistance Of the
very States which passed them. The meth
cd was exceeding simple. The trusts COM
posed of say 100 corporations, finding all
concerned in it liable to imprisonment for
conspiracy by several of the States, simply
organized the conspiracy into corporation
under the protection Of the STATE, either Of
the one legislating against it, or some other
AS under the federal constitution one State
must give full credit to the acts of another,
any State having ANTITRUST laws cannot
arrest those who have organized their con-
spiracy consisting of number Of corpora
tions as single company, under the laws Of
some other State.
The Republic. from which we quote, goes
on to say:
"The general public does not realize the
extent of the movement. From data in
hand, preserved from day 10 day during moi
quite two years, the Republic is convinced
that the capital stock (including water on
which the consumer must pay dividends)
now involved in what under the statutes oil
many of the States, and under the common
law of all, are conspiracies against trade and
public welfare, is in excess Of So. 0e0 COO, OOO
or two-thirls of the entire manufacturing
capital of 1880"
These trusts are plainly conspiracies
against the property of the people and il
you take their property you deprive them
of their liberty.
What is the object of these conspiracies
called trusts? Plainly TO prevent surplus Of
production and to regulate the selling prices
The Mex lnley tariff which Blame say:
will not furnish market for another barre
of pork or -four, protects all these manu-
featuring trusts from foreign competition
from % ranging all the way up TO over 6
100 per cent. That is it prevents foreign
goods from competing with their goods ex
cept he.former pay this percentage for th'
privilege, while the trusts or conspiracie'
prevent competition in this country. 1
these conspiracies are permitted to exist 1
few years longer and gain greater strength
further combinations will be made by unit
ing several under one board Of directors
The board of directors controlling then
NUMBERS but few mem or 9-and thes'
men in small Office in some city give Law
to hundred corporations. What is there
to prevent this great encroaching money
trust of europe and Ameaica from giving
law TO thousand corporations in the nea
future if allowed TO continue with laws pass
ed to favor its growth? When this point i
reached the plutocratc class will SUI pl,
itself with standing army like the Pinker
ton army, to guard and maintain its supre-
macy. The producing classes are muci
nearer great danger and crisis than the,
dream of, and unless the financial system o
the country unde' goes radical change. tina
crisis will be upon them. The tariff is t.
be again pushed 10 the front in the mex
political canvass, and the money oligarchy
allowed to pursue its course of plunderinf
the industry of the country if possible.
1t would be ridiculous il it were not de-
ploroble to hear our professional statesmen
and teachers of the people in government
affairs, earnestly discussing the fall OF prices
and attribuling the cause tc the tariff. The
Mckinley tariff is denounced by one party
because it raises prices they declare. The
other party as stouily affirm that it will
lower prices and create new industries. The
tariff will do neither. Prices will contin-
ne To fall fill the contraction of our currency