The advocate., 1890-02-20


semblance Of competition, 40 far as Capt.
tai Is concerned and strangling chat
Domestic commerce or exchange, the full
and free reciprocity In which makes a
nation prosperous and wealthy These
Trusts are close corporations, have advl-
sorry and executive boards, and control
the vast operations Of any industry they
embrace, arbitrarily and from a central
head, Relieved Of the strain and waste
fulnesa OF Competition, with vast re-
sources Of capital, perfect organization
and with labor entirely AZ their mercy,
they have reduced che cost Of production
70 lbs lowest limit, and can, 1T their will,
crush out any pretentlous and foolhardy
competitor. Controlling the great vol
ume Of shipments, they are In position
TO force concessions from the Railroads,
that independent competitors cannot OBJ
tain. Controlling the output Of raw
material, Qron, coal, Ac,) they make Il
impossible for smaller firms 10 compete.
In short they are the embodiment Of
CdpiiaIistic SOcidliSm and while proving
the possibilities Of National Cooperation
they use their oldss socialism as an engine
Of oppression OF the masses OF the people.
They are a species Of one-sided National
Ism, having In fact the principles Of In
dpstrlal Cooperation In operation, but
deriving all the benefits therefrom.
We now come 10 a consideration of che
source Of responsibility for their origin
and existence. Or at least we wish to
consider the strength and justice Of
claim that Is cogently and conclsely stated
In the Pennsylvania Democratic Platform
for 1889, In the following languages
1--WE regard trusts In whatever form organized
as the result Of the existing monopoly tarin and
able them 10 control domestic production by nm.
lawful combination, and 10 eXtOrt from the peO-
pie eNOrbitant prices for their products"
AT a first reading, this claim appears to
be founded upon fact, but upon reflection,
there appears to be probability that the
Inverse OF the proposition is as near to
the truth. This charge must be based up
on one Of two assumptions; either ist.
that the direct effect Of the tariff is TO
strangle and destroy domestic competi-
tion-or 9nd. That by keeping out for
elgn competition, the tariff has enabled
the Trusts to obtain control Of the domes-
tic market. The FIRST assumption is OBJ
viously Incorrect Men do not strive for
that which they already possess. The
very existence OF the Trusts is proof that
domestic competition did erSs, under
the operation Of the tariff. Indeed;
statistics will prove that all prices eteadi-
ly tended downward until the Trusts an
peared upon the field Of action. II was TO
destroy the fierce competition existing be-
tween themselves, that Capitalists first in
augurated Capltallstlc Cooperation. No
further argument is needed to prove the
correctness of this position.
We pass to the consideration Of the
second assumption. That this assump-
tlon 10, to very great extent, true, is
granted, II ls even conceded that IL we
could receive foreign goods, free Of duty,
the Trusts, under normal conditions, would
have to compete, In prices, with the i'm
portes Of foreign goods. But the result
would be precisely the same, 80 far as our
industrial labor Is concerned. The rene
dy would prove as bad, or worse. than tho