New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-28
THE HIGHER LAW AGAINST EXHIBITION

Mr.. POwderlyS argument against uhe uusS III
THE TRIBUNE Of Friday was very earnest ana
sincere none will doubt. Nor Will II be denied
that his argument was in many parts remarkably
strong and worthy of the attention OF those VINO
care for the public welfare. But 1t would as
suredIy have been more effective II some OF It's
statements had not been 50 exaggerated that IN
roIlirent readers may find it difficult to credit
tho author with adequate information. and at
tho same time with sincerity. The truth is that
4 great part Of the current reasoning against
trusts has been deprived of influence with sober
and thoughtful people by its hystencal eXtaya-
ganco of statement.
For instance, when Mr.. Powderly says "every-
thing we eat wear or consume in any way comes
to us now through the agency of trust" he
surely wrote without serious consideration No
trIst controls the growing of vegetables on Long
Island. or of eggs or poultry in New-JeiScy, the
production Of wheat in Western States or the
manufacture of it into -four or the baking mo
bread. No tr,lSt controls the growing or mar
keting of cotton though the Farmers Alliance,
with which Mr.. Powdcrly himself has just been
combining for political action, does propose to
regulate tho growing and the sale There is no
Leather Trust. and the boot and shoe manu-
fac1ure is in such a state in consequence of free
competition. that manufacturers would be glad
if it were possible for any power to regulate the
production so that the shops should not be ldic
some months every year Indeed, the remark
quoted is so far from the truth that 1t leaves
upon the mind Of any fairly Informed reader an
impression most unfavorable to Mr.. Powdery
the impression that he does not even care to
seem in harmony with the truth.
So when he says that thousands of workmen
are kept in poverty and rags in the anthracite
coal region" by the power of the trust, he makes
il clear that he is loosely attrbuting 10 ever!
trust all the misdecds of all the combinations ana
moncroes in the land, and in addition various
consequences for which no combination Whatever
i resnonsbe There is no combination that
causes many of the ignorant wClkmen to in
dulge in intemperanco or other vice. The one
combination which has done most to cause pow
ory among coal-mineIs is that which makes II
dangerous to the life of miners 70 work for lower
wages than those prescribed in secret meetings
The combination Of coal-cariers does indeed de-
serve the seyepst censIue, but 1t Is not now ana
never has been a trust. In this country mere
exists vast number of conspiracies to prevent
the free purchase or sale of products or labor
which differ from each other very widely IN
motives in character and results. 1t would he
indecent to attribute to each of these all tho
vices of any other, but not more clearly in error
than it is to hold the trust form OF organization
responsible for consequences OF two distinct com
binations which are not Tusts-that OF the coal
carriers aud that of the miners.
po,conino AGAINST trrIsta will entirely fail Of
influence unless it starts with recognition OF tho
fact that some of them differ widely from others
in methods and in effect. The temptation 10
abuse great and irresponsible power may proper
" be set forth strongly and earnestly, but there
are combinations in this country which, either
from a shrewd sense Of Self-ntcrest or from
higher and moro honorable motives, have re-
sisted that temptation Some Of these organiza-
tons have plundered the public, it is true but
others have not tried, and others IN large num-
Der have been unable.
Just here lies the weakness Of all vague and
loose denunciation. 1t ignores the fact that laws
Of nature and of business incOmparably more
powerful than any that a Legislature or Con
gross can enact, limit the action Of every com
bination to control production and prices and
put its very existence continually in peril. The
business world knows this, and shrinks from
investing in any kind of monopoly or combna-
ton against the public interest, no matter how
great its reported profits may be. Let Mr..
Powderly take courage The Infinite Ruler did
not so create things that extorion pays better
in the long run than fair dealing.