The Mena weekly star., 1896-12-16
AS TO TRUSTS AND conBINEs.

formed 10 control the output ana price of any article needed by tho people, are evils that should be crushed out. Such combinations where they arc at all successful, not only compel consumers to pay more than the article thus con- trolled is worth, but by virtue of their combined power crush out all competitors, thus destroying honest business enterprises calcu- lated to develop and enrich the country. Again by shutting out honest competition hundreds and thousands of laborcrs employed and earning money to sustain their families arc thrown out of work, causing much suffering and discontent.
 One of the most encouraging signs showing that a strong effort is to be made to control or crush out trusts formed to rob and i'm povcrish the people while enrich ing the members of the trust was contained in an editorial in the St Louis Globe Democrat of q recent date. After stating that with proper and resolute action in the courts many trusts and combines could be crushed out, that paper says:
 "For instance. out in Utah, where not much is expected in the way of trouble for monopolies, they have found it possible to se- cure effective judicial action againat one of these obnoxious in- stitutions. The coal producers of that state formed 8 combination to regulate the sale and fix the prices of their product. That is to say, they agreed to sell only to certain dealers, who agreed in turn to maintain the price die tated by the combination from time to time. The matter was brought to the attention of the Federal grand jury, whcreupon the members of the combination were indicted under the antitrust law which has so often failed else where, and brought to trial before Judge Hallett and special jury. The facts as to tho refusal to sell to other dealers than those repre- senting the combination were clearly established, and the judge charged that the only question to be determined was whether the refusal was the result of an agree ment that coal should be sold only to the specified agents of the trust. It took the jury only Il few moments to decide that 1t was, and to return vcrdicts of guilty, to which the law affixes fine of $5, ,OOO or year of Imprisonment for each offensc. Thus it is seen
 that combination in restraint of trade and for tho fixing of prices on product of general use can be brought into court and subjected
 to severe penalties. The Utah
 coal monopolists will not care to
 continue their mischevious opera
 tons under such conditions. and the people of the state will get cheaper coal. It is reasonable to suppose that the same result can be accomplished by the same i means in other states, not simply as to coal trusts, but as to similar combinations for the control o1 other products and forms of busi- ness. There arc technical difficult ties in the matter, to be sure, but i, the right klnd of prosecution IT the right kind of ! court can re
 move them, and cause justice te
 be done. It will not do to say that these agencies of oppression 3 and spoilation are law to them , selves. They can be crushed like , other and smaller evils, and tho people have right to demand that they be dealt with in tha' l manner"