The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-21
THE TRUSTS.
Something of Interest Concerning Them.
HvCO Va ADri1 1901

Ou1y especially OI IA110I1Cdu 0COI1OLI1ICSI
as compared with the teachings of
Adam Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, and
John Stewart Mill, recognizes a wide
departure from the old school econ
omics, resulting from radical changes
going on in the existing industrial sys
tenn now pervading all business.
There is manifest growing ten
dency to eliminate competition as the
controlling economic force; and, so far
| as possible, to circumscribe the area
within which it's influence is effectual.
| There is an impelling cause behind this
movement. the chief economic reason
for which is claimed to be the concen-
tratiOn and conservation of energy
with the least expense and comparative
waste savings in the wages of officers,
agents, travelling statesmen; and, above
all, the expenses of competitive strife.
But the real cause underlying the for
nation of trusts and combinations is
the advantages and opportunities which
come through the concentration of
large amounts of capital in the hands
of their controllers, by which they are
enabled to Over-reach and effectually
crush out all competition, thus giving
the power to monopolize and control
the business for which the combines
and trusts were formed
THEY HAVE COME.
The trusts have come; and, while
there remains Individual competitor in
a restricted sense, it's social supremacy,
as a factor in the life-wOrk of these
later times, is gone, and with it large
ly the power of the people to right
themselves, Machinery has largely
taken the place of manual labor, and
the progress of invention in all indus
trial development has largely increased
profits under prorata reduction of
manual labor, and thereby giving to
manufacturers commanding large capi-
tai not only a more certain control but
larger profits. The king of the trusts
! 1.-The Standard OIL" was formed in
1874, and since then more than three
score trusts have been formed in many
of the leading industries of the coun-
| try, and they are still stretching their
briarean arms Ito grasp in all the
shore"
NATURAL THAT THOSE AFFECTED ABUSE
THEM
1t is but natural that the people
mostly affected by the trusts should
declaim against and abuse them; but
have not the organizers of syndicates
simply adjusted themselves to prevent
economic conditions, to avail of oppor-
tunities for personal gain, made posi-
BILE under the politics economic sys-
tenn now in vogue? There is a princi-
pie pervading all human nature, how
ever civilized and cultured, that invites
the Individual to grasp all that is at
tainable and utilize every opportunity
for personal gain not lnterdicted by
law Many blame the organizers of
trusts who would gladly themselves
get. into them, and ION the ground
floor" were it possible.
Success in war is greatly determined
by heavy battallions slzillfully handled,
and the largest profits are realized from
concentrated capital so employed as to
crush out and defy competition Then
again capitalize money class-in this
country has always received special
favor and been granted special privi-
leges. The tendency of economic de-
| fO7 ~ Ioo
direction of combinations and trusts,
and they have grown so powerful as
not only to menace all Individual enter
prise but the public welfare
NO EASY PROBLEM
To control trusts and keep them
within the bonds of ethical economy
just and fair to all trades, Industries
and classes-is no easy problem, and
is made more difficult since capital has
leaned it's potency in controlling 1eg-
islation in it's behalf
There seems but one way to success
fully meet and oppose the encroach-
ments of trusts, combinations and syn
dicates formed and forming to rob
the people, and that is to increase, ex-
tend and magnify the functions and
power of the State, or of the Union, to
deal with them. Individual effort is
powerless, and the way has not yet
been opened for association and organ
izations of the people to successfully
oppose monOpolies.
THE TOBACCO TRUST.
The tobacco trust, formed and form
ing. threatens the entire tobacco in