Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-11-14
Unfriendiy Combinations.

JnfriendIy Combinations.
Notwithstanding the antitrust laws
now found on our national statutes. com
binations of most gigantic proportion
have been formed that bid defiance to t..
courts of law and that absolutely control
the purchase and selling of live stock anl
its products. In my judgment it is dark
day when these combinations invade any
state. Gradually they are extending thetr
power and fastening their tangs upon the
important trade centers of the state with
q rapacious greed that threatens to sweep
everything before it, VIII any well-teaG
man deny the proposition that these com
binations say 10 the farmer, you shall
take your stock to market and sell it 10
US at our price. or to others at a price
dictated by US? They have invaded our
country with the foreign beef carcass.
They have come within the gates of our
cities, and destroyed the slaughter house
and driven the local business man to the
wall, through the SIRENS song Of cheap
beef. and the time is not far distant When
they Will as absolutely control the price
to the consumer.
When you get behind the screen that
conceals the grain and the miIlers asso-
Citations, you will find the same condition.
Unless checked by state and national leg
islation. the millers association will soon
dictate to the farmer the price of his
grain and to the consumer the price OF
bis breadstuff as absolutely as the whis-
Ky trust controls the price of their goods
The meetings Of these organizations are
exclusive ana clandestine Some time ago
| understood from reliable authority that
there was a national convention of oat-
meal manufacturers 1T Des Mones. Iowa
and their movements We're so quiet Us TO
escape the sharp eye of the reportorial
staff of the Des Moines press # you will
figure the margins between the price paid
TOR grain and the price charged for mill
product there is no man but what viii
agree with me that those engaged in the
milling business are not rendering recipro-
cal justice to the producer of the cereals
or to the consumer. The facts are. the
silent, submissive farmer and the public
have submitted to these growing evils
gives less attention to his own interest IN
legislation affecting him. ana to the ex-
tortion practiced. than any other class of
tAilltl lcdll people.
The Rights of Labor.
by legislation and by the courts We
have settled the great principles that the
public have a right TO control these
trusts, and corporations have accepted
the principle. What we want Is for the
national and state executives TO lose no
time in laying before congress and the
legislative bodies the evils complained Of |
and to suggest such remedies as will
say TO these combinations, thus far and
no farther shalt thou come We should |
ask for no class legislation. We should |
demand no fayors beyond Il legitimate
protection to the farm interest. and we
should be satisfied with nothing short of |
the same recognition accorded to All other |
American industries.
"Successful farming is a trade Of na-
tional and international relationship to |
all other trades. There is no industry so |
sensitive TO spasmodic action OF social or |
upheav&is as our productive I
industries What I said in my last an /!
nual address | now empha size. II is |
granted that labor has equal right with |
capital to organize, but the right of eth |
er or Of any organization to disturb the |
channels of trade and to destroy the bus |
mess interests Of the country is denied, |
and it is hoped that the action of The |
president and the federal courts will |
drive the agitator and the anarchist into |
legitimate channels to settle fanc:ed |