The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-17
DIR. UOGE on MONOPOLIES.

Rev. Dr.. Hoges very admirable discus
sion of funeral reforms, which we pub
lished and commented on a few days
back, contained one sentence, not very
closely related TO his theme, upon which
we feel bound to submit few remarks.
Speaking of the cost of funerals, he said;
1--WE live at a time when the difficulty Of
obtaining employment is increasing with
the increase of population and of monopo-
lies, which make the rich richer and the
poor poorer"
We are very well aware that our views
upon this subject are out Of line with
those of a majority of our fellow-citizens.
We are persuaded, however, that our
views are those of sound political economy
and we feel bound, therefore, 70 point out
what seem TO us the errors In the oppos-
ing views, until the subject has been dis
cussed down to its bottom, and the public
has come to fully understand the whole
case.
IL DR.. Hoge referred to monopolies
which owe their existence to statute
laws, like the protective-tariff laws; that
enable one set of Americans, through
Governmental interference, TO secure ad-
vantages at the expense of another set,
we should Join with him most heartily
in all the condemnation OF them that he
he could utter There is no justice In
enacting statutes that will give one citi-
zen an advantage over another citizen.
-. In
way upon all citizens, and no one should
get an advantage from them that Is not
common to all. But DR.. Hoge does not
rest his censure on these monopolies. We
feel sure We run no risk Of doing him an
Injustice when we say his censure IN
cludes equally those Industrial corpora
lions in the United States which have
vast resources and practically mo
nopolize the field of industry In
which they operate: but which have the
assistance of no statute law to further
their ends and which owe such extended
trade as they possess to the money, enter
prise. thrift and ability OF those conduct
ing the business. Now, we insist that
the public receive no injury from mo-
nopolies. so-called, of this sort, but that,
on the contrary, IT is benefited upon the
whole, by them, though numbers Of indi-
viduals are undoubtedly injured by them.
In the first place, such concerns are the
natural and legitimate outcome of the
laws Of business. They arise from the
fact that a dozen industrial establish
ments. manufacturing or selling their
goods in cut-throat rivalry with each
other. naturally inquire why they should
maintain the expense OF a dozen separate
business establishments. when the ex-
nense of one wi. do for all; and also why
they should waste their substance and
energies in cut-throat competition when,
by consolidating into one concern, they
can save all that they lose by competi-
ton, and have II for division amongst
themselves. This is a natural and legiti'
mate inquiry, and the consolidation, which
takes place after the inquiry is answer.
ed, is just as natural and legitimate as
the formation of a partnership between
two men who have talked the subject over
and have determined that they can op-
crate jointly and as a partnership 70
greater advantage to themselves than
singly and alone. The consolidation OF
these businesses is a process Of natural
evolution, and it is a logical contradic-
ton TO speak Of such a process as one
| fraught with mischief to mankind.
And was DR.. Hoge right in saying that
| either these monopolies or the increase
OF population have increased the diff
Guilty Of obtaining employment?
1t is not fair to pass judgment upon
| the subject in view of the actual condi
| ton of things prevailing to-day in the
| United States. We have recently passed
through terrible financial panic, caused
| by the attempt 70 inject an unlimited
| number of silver dollars worth only fifty
| cents each into our system, and all finan
| cial panics are followed by a period Of
| depression, when enterprises close an(
| many laborers are unable 10 obtain work
The present difficulty OF obtaining EN-
! ployment is, therefore, distinctly due I,
the panic. and that was due TO The
| lFtc-sHNtT ~ Jbubt tHt faS'
fairly. we must go back to 1898. before
the panic occurred. Now, we insist tina
there was never a time In the history o
the world when employment tor labol
was so abundant as IT was In the sprini
OF 1898. The country was In fiood-tid,
OF prosperity. and all men could fine
satisfactory employment.
And we say further. that the monopo
lies we have been discussing tend direct,
and necessarily TO an increase OF the op
portunities for employment. The inevi
table tendency Of such monopoiies u 70