The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-26
ANOTHER tn UST.

And now we are to have a Canning
Trust. 1t is domiciled on the western
slope of the Serras and it is fair to pre-
sumo will embrace the entire list of pre-
served and canned goods. That Califor-
MIA should have aspirations toward
holding monopoly is but natural. 1t
shows that her people have learned the
game of grab, and that our greed for
gain is national. One by one our staple
products are falling into the hands Of
combines and trusts, and for what ?
Simply that the price may be raised and
held 70 any limit which the promoters
and shareholders may place upon
ruling out small competition and
supply and demand have no bearing
upon market values. This new system
of dealing, or rather this new device for
plundering the people, is growing to
proportions we'll nigh intolerable. Com
mencing with such staples As sugar, oil,
lead, zinc and glass, the manufacturers
of lighter goods and smaller articles,
even down to crackers and pins, are
combining to control the output and fix
the price at any scale they may choUse
To adopt.
The manifest injustice and nnreason-
ableness of this system is, first,
the tacit admission on the part
of manufacturers that, in an individual
capacity, they are unable to control
their own conduct. 1t is saving to the
public, Il am unable TO trust my inclina-
ion to cut the price of my goods as an
individual, but will JOIN the combine
where tins natural infrmity will no
longer tempt me.
Next, it not only places an artificial
value on the article, but leaves it solely
10 the dictatiOn of those who produce it.
The limitations as 10 the price and
profits are simply a matter determined
by the greed of the producer.
In the next place, all extortions and
extra percentages of profit, going to
make up the colossal fortunes which are
being ground out of almost every COM
modify used, are paid by the
a
ton having arbitrary power to assess
and collect one dollar each from every
man woman and child in the United
States. His cool 500. 600 600 would rep
resent a cooler theft Of Just that dimen-
sion, though he would be no more capa-
bic than the combine which plans per-
centage of profit on goods. above what
competition and the natural law of
trade would make it.
Il is said in support of these trusts
has goods cannot be made and handled
at the price which competition brings.
Can't they: Have we not seen a century
of successful commerce on the old plan:
Is the manufacturer or the dealer less
capable of conducting business on his
own account than in the days of hand
work and canal boats? Has
the use Of steam and electric power, in
any way, served TO curtal his profits:
The consumer could readily answer: If
the manufacturer is unable TO compete
with his neighbor in the same line. by
all means let him try something else. II
these pets-this privileged class, IN the
eyes OF our law makers, are unable 10
compete with each other without loss,
in heavens name. let them saw wood.
Something which requires less mental
acumen-less temptation 10 fTitter away
the capital invested through the personal
weakness for sucking each Others blood.
would be better suited TO their vulRera-
bic and chivalric natures.
This evil Is growing to proportions to
! which the people viii submit but little