The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-04-16
ABOUT TRUSTS.
SOMETHING OF INTEREST CON-
CERNING THEM.
Maj. r. L. Ragland Writes Oh the
Subject and Incidentally Alludes
to the Great Tobacco Combine.
uyco Va Anril 1891

| from the old school economists, resulting
| from radical changes going on in the ex-
listing industrial system now pervading
business.
There is manifest growing tendency
to eliminate competition as the controll-
! ing economic force, and, SO far as posi-
| BILE. to circumscribe the area within which
its influence is effectual. There is an
impelling cause behind this movement,
the chief economic reason for which is
claimed to be the concentration and
conservation of energy with the least ex-
pense and comparative waste-savings
| in the wages of officers, agents, travelling
statesmen, and, above all, the expenses Of
competative strife. But the real cause
underlying the formation OF trusts and
combinations is the advantages and Op-
| portunities which come through the con-
centration of largo amounts OF capital
| in the hands of their controllers, by which
they are enabled to Overreach and effect
ually crush out all competition, thus CIV
| ing 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 competition in re-
stricted sense, it's social supremacy, as
a factor in the life-work of these later
times. is gone, and with it largely the
power of the people to right themselves.
| Machinery has largely taken the place of
manual labor; and the progress OF inven-
| ton in all industrial development has
largely increased profits under prorata
reduction of manual labor, and thereby
giving to manufacturers commanding
large capital not only a more certain
control but larger profits. The king OF
| the trusts, '"The Standard OIL was
| formed in 1874, and since tnen more
than three score trusts have been formed
in many OF the leading industries of the
country, and they are still stretching
| their briarean arms ito grasp in all the
shore"
NATURAL THAT THOSE AFFECTED ABUSE
THEM.
It 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 present economic
conditions, to avail of opportunities for.
personal gain, made possible under the
politico-economic system now in vogue?
There is q principle pervading all human
nature, however civilized and cultured,
that invites the individual to grasp all
that is attainable and utilize every OppOr-
tunity for personal gain not interdicted
by law. Many blame the organizers of
trusts who would gladly themselves get
into them and "on the ground floor"
were it possible.
Success in war is greatly determined by
heavy battallions skilfully handled, and
the largest profits are realized from con-
centrated 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 privileges. The ten
dency of economic development has for
years been in the direction of combi-
nations and trusts, they have grown SO
powerful as not only to menace all in
dividual enterprise but the public wel-
fare.
NO EASY PROBLEM.
To control trusts and keep them within
the bounds of ethical ecOnOmy-iust and
fair to all trades, industries and classes
is no easy problem, and is made more
difficult since capital has leaned it's po-
tency in controlling legislation in it's be-
half.
There seems but one way to success
fully meet and oppose the encroachments
of trusts, combinations and syndicates
formed and forming to rob the people,
and that is to increase, extend 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 associa-
tions and organization of the people to
successfully oppose monopolies.
THE TOBACCO TRUSTS.
The tobacco trust, formed and forming,
threatens the entire tobacco industry.
It's influence has already proved SO perni-
cious, hurtful, and obnoxious to the
so threatening to all the manufacturers
outside of the trusts, as to already
paralyze the industry and cause the
gravest fears. Various measures have
been suggested to thwart the purposes
of the trusts. One of these, concerted or
forced abstention from planting for Il
time, might prove effectual, if forced
through taxation or otherwise so as to
make it general; but this would hurt
innocent manufacturers, the planters
main customers and best friends. Boy
cotting trust goods offers a fairer, and,
as some claim, q surer method. This
writer suggests a graduated tax cum
ulative with the increase OF the product
manufactured DIS llhely W prove uOFe
effectual.,
Every tobacco man outside of the trust
should unite and combine to down the
tobacco trust, or else the planters, ware
housemen and dealers will be forced to
abandon the industry. Aresolute, deter
| mined people can accomplish much in
the way OF reform, especially when they
have right and justice on their side and
| are impelled by natures fundament law,
self preservation. Let US start right, do
| right, and continue right onward, and
as Judge Daniel once said substantially,
''some law will surely be found to uphold
us in so doing" The tobacco trust has
| already"set it's coulter SO Deep as, in
| time, which means ruin to the business.
| 1t has surely brought great damage to
the tobacco industry already, and when
| the rebound comes, as surely it will come
soon or late, where will the trust be
| then?
A sOCKDOLAGER.
The reader may ask, what is meant
| by q ''sockdolager?" We reply, it is
| what old Tom Blackwell, Of Durham,
was wont to call a. knock k-down. Here
is ''sockdolager'' knock-down for the
/ trusts:
| Let the State recognize trusts as 1t has
railrod corporations, and then pass Ia VS.
to effectully control them. Fight the
devil with fire." and big chunks OF it
we'll heaped on. Give to them distinct
| functions and characters, as distinct
from private business: require puollc