The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-17
WHAT CAUSES TRUSTS7

Among tho most frequent charges
against the tariff during the last few
years. and especially during the last
presidential campaign, was that it fos-
tered and promoted trusts. Democratic
orators and editors used this argument
continually, and there is reason to be-
lieve that it had an effect Oh the popular
mind. 1t had some plausibility from the
fact that for some reason or other trusts
of various kinds have Increased in num-
Der and magnitude dIf!n: the last few
years, and their operations have had
more effect on trade thar aver before.
1t was in vain for Republicans to say
that trusts existed liz other countries,
notably in free-trade England. that
they were an OutgrOwth of high CON-
mercial conditions, and that the tariff
was in no way responsible for them.
The charge continued to be made, and
a very large number OF people believed
il. They saw trusts and combines of all
kinds On all hands. and without troub-
ling themselves to think much about
the matter, they decided that the tariff
was responsible for them and voted ac-
cordingly, thus helping to swell the
avalanche that carried the Democratic
party into power.
A brief experience of Democratic rule
will satisfy everybody who is capable
of intelligent reasoning that the tariff
had nothing to do with promoting trusts.
Our tariff policy is to be changed; pro-
lection is to be abolished, and a tariff
for revenue only is 10 be substituted for
the Mckinley law. According to DEM
ocratic promises and the expectations of
those who believed them, this ought to
do away with trusts, but it will not.
Trusts and combines will be as numer-
ous. as large and as active during
Clevelands administration as they have
been during H~arrison's-in fact. there
will be more of them, because new 0nes
will be forming continually. a.
Meanwhile those who are sincerely
DESTROYS of learning what causes trusts
would do well to consider the state
-ments of the railroad maRnares who
testified before the Senate committee a
few days ago. Two OF there stated that.
in their opinion, the Interstate commerce
law was a fruitful cause of trusts. Presi-
dent Depew, of the New York Central.
said the effect of the law had been ..to
promote trusts beyond anything thathad
ever been dreamed Of that cit would
soon be impossible for manufacturers
to exist except at terminal points," and
that in his opinion eff the law continued
in force five years longer there would
not be an independent business man in
any of the large cities of tho United
States" evidently implying that all
business would be concentrated in
trusts. On the same line President In
gals said that under the existing law
small dealers were being driven out OF
business, to the great detriment Of the
whole country" Mt. ingalls, is a Dem
ocrat, and not disposed to say a good
word for the tariff. yet he plainly init
mated that in his opinion the interstate
law was a cause of trusts. If
the law is having this effect it should be
repealed, or at least amended so as to
be no longer promotive of trusts. The
Mckinley law will soon cease to exist.
and it will then be necessary for those
who have been charging that it was re-
spOnsible for trusts to assign some other
cause than the tariff. They may find it
in the interstate commerce law.