Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-02-26
MpzINLEY AND THE TRUSTS.

II IhllufecI mChiuiet5 hutuiuisSlo
tion by the manner In which be meet
the great problem of trusts. Success
or failure will depend upon his selec
tion Of an attoTbey-general and upon
the vlgilence, persistency and zeal,
and upon the intelligence and discrim-
inatioD Of that officer.
The rapldity with which the own.
ers Of capital have taken TO combi-
ming their resources 80 as 10 Obtain
the utmost economy Of production, and
the sudden widening OF markets by
the perfection Of means Of transpor-
tation until, instead of being limited
10 the neighborhord, those markets
include the nation and the world and
from the most astonishing pbenome-
non OF the century. The combination
Idea has come In with n rush. II has
seemed 10 smite all brains at once.
Everybody wants to combine. Trusts
have formed on all sides. Combina-
tion Is the new method OF production.
The contest between 1t and The
armies Of small producers has become
an elemental war. IL is fight for
life. In the outcome society is vitality
interested. That part OF It's welfare
which depends on the material is at
stake.
There are phases Iof this condition
which promise the greatest good.
Swift placed the value OF the man who
made two blades Of grass grow where
but one grew before above that Of war
riors and politicians. Valuable in a
like degree Is the service to society OF
the man who can produce two steel
rails where but one could be produced |
before. The successful combiner OF |
the great elements OF production for
example, mines, transportation, and |
blast furnaces--so that they form one
perfect working whole Is very like the
inventor who combines cylinders, rods,
and wheels, and gets new machine
On the other haad. while one part OF i
the wealth so produced is distributed,
under proper conditions, TO the myriad
different individuals Of society in the
shape OF cheApened commodities, the
other part is kept as great integer In
the hands OF one. Its power Is almost
nconcelvably vast, Once obtained
md the small competitor once crushed,
Z can be used TO retard the creation OF
wealth, and otax and oppress society.
More, aud Of even greater Importance,
IL can be used TO corrupt and debauch
ihe peoples government.
The visit of John II. Searles, secre-
tary OF the sugar trust, 10 the presi-
ient-elect at Canton, carrying In his ,
pocket the while the subpoena OF the
Lexow committee, was to.secure the
OF an attorney general
sho would be 'friendly;" that is, one ]
rho would remain blind 70 his duty I
nd recreant 20 his oath, while trusts
ave full swing 10 their rapacity and |,
reed. II Mr.. Mckinley shall In re- !
ponse 10 this insolent request or for Z
ny other reason whatever appointi ]
nch man to ofilce he will be un.1
aithful 10 the people who lntrustedl
heir welfare 10 him. II he shall APP j.,
oint man who will keep the trusts =
Iithin the sphere OF their proper ana 1
enencIal activities and who win N 1 q
'ntlessly hunt down and punish ?
very one OF than which violates the =
nti-trust laws, he will make for him I,
~ permanent claim ON .tns-grati-
lde of the peoplsapa q posterlty. c
lie stands at the Iofk n taa roads. 81
lis opportunity Is more grand tnan o
hat Of any president slncs Abraham = =
lincoln. LA - y
But how can Mckinley do anything o
saiust the trusts when he was ma. q
'rially aided IN his election by those y y
me trusts Is not mark Hanna the :,
ust kingY G
la the absence OF dehnlte informa. d
on, the country can only Indulge in "
injecture regarding the nature Of
e lnnueaoe brought against Cover.
y Rushnell, OF ohlo 70 influence 81
- 10 name Mark Hanna as senator. bl
Il Il must have been persistens and ~