The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-09
"DROP IN THE BUCKET" DROPS THE
BIStI ~>IO\.

our correspondent "Dfop in the Buck
ct" returns to the discussion with the
following letter:
To the Editor If The Times:
sir-In the correspondence which you
kindly printed in to-day's Issue, ana
commented upon IN such true ana ousl-
ness-likes manner. your correspondent
referred 20 the American Tobacco Com
pany only as an Illustration of the n
dustrial trusts. and regretted the neces-
sity Of 50 going.
Whether tire consumer Is benefited by
having 10 purchase what he needs rom
trusts, or from n number OF ndlNlduai
firms. who not controlling the aTucie'
have 10 cater 30 the public taste ana purse
with strongest competition among them
selves. and each trying to Quito the
other, may be an open question, ana
leave discussion resultless.
III you Will pardon the depression an
old story may be useiul-ihat or the
schoolmaster trying the mental capacity
OF one OF his scholars with the question:
Now. bushel of wheat is selling for
dollar: how much will a five-cent loaf
be worth when "A bushel or wheat Is
selling for seyenty-nte cents?
But 10 take "A broader view OF the
case. as you suggest your correspond
ent begs humbly 10 submit the follow
ing:
That the accumulation of large wealth
IN the hands of trusts and rnonopoles
leads 10 the danger of using such wealth
for the furtherance or their aims III III
fiuencing or preventing legislation, or
judicial decisions, even: that the nature
of trusts creates the fewest employers
and greatly enhances the number OF en-
pIoyes; that the nature of trusts creates
a very wealthy class of very small num-
bers that this very wealthy class with
its enormous influence and power, may
and will become an aristocracy; and. as
history repeats itself. this aristocracy
may and will lead TO a change in our
institutions.
These are the dangers your correspond
ent has referred TO. They may be re-
mote. but not so far remote when we
consider tho strides which have been
made by the present generation.
Now, as regards a remedy. while your
correspondent may have some Ideas on
the subject. he must prefer 20 leave II
10 wiser heads.
New conditions require new treatment
DROP IN THE BUCKET.
November g. 1895.
This letter is both very great sur
prise and very great disappointment to
us. 1t is a surprise. because our corre-
was therefore ready. We supposed, to
carry il to It's logical conclusion; and a
disappointment. because we wanted 10
hear the remedies for the supposed evils
that those who claim the evils to exist
have to suggest. 1t will be remembered
by readers of The Times that the dis
cussion between this paper and its cor
oil 20 d.
proposition. put forward by him, that
the wealth of such great industrial cor
porations as the Standard oil Company
and the American Tobacco Company con-
stitute a danger to society The Times
declared it's own opinion to be TO the
contrary. but IL asked It's correspond
ent what remedy he had 10 suggest fol
the supposed evil. We asked him If h'
would deprive the corporations that he
may select as dangerous corporations OF
part Of what they now have or would
he forbid them to acquire any more thar
they now have, or would ne make gen
eral law for all corporations providing
that they might acquire certain amount
OF wealth, but no more? These are thC
practical questions in which the public
IS interested and discussion OF outside
questions is labor thrown away until al
answer. is made to these.
IL is vain to tell us that wealthy cor
porations are "A menace 10 society, unles.
you tell us that you are prepared I,
abolish corporations. or TO put a limit
upon what they may do and acquire. AND
10 suggest some way by whici, that
limit may be set.
our correspondent plainly shrinks from
the task when he is confronted with H.
and 1t Is our deliberate opinion that al
Intelligent men viii do the same wher
they are put TO the test. They declaiu
against the principle OF great accumula
tions going into few hands because
they have not fully considered all 'ha
Is involved IN the case; but when asked
20 deal practically with the problem they
md they butt their heads against IN,
very foundations upon which society
rests when they attempt to treat 1t al
e social eva.
However. our correspondent may still
''mend his holt" II he feels so inclined
and VIC Will gladly publish any solution
OF the supposed difficulty he may hav,
10 suggest.
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