The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-18


chsodise OF any OF the Decessaries OF
life are tnoncpolies, and intolerable;
and ought 10 receive the condemnation
OF all courts
viii say that this was a litigation be-
tween D. NJ Richardson, c. H. BUhl aud
General Russell \. AlSer, now secretary
o, war have read from the main opin-
ion delivered BY Chief Justice Sherwood
quote also from the concurring opinion
o. Justice Chsmplln:
Il also appears from the ,esStuony OF
/ General Alger that the organization
Of the Diamond Match company was in
a measure due TO his exertions. There
IS no doubt that ali the parties to this
suit were active participants IN per
fectlng the combination called The
Diamond Match COMPANY" and that
the present dispute grows out Of that
transaction, ami is the fruit OF the
scheme BIZ which all competition IN the
manufacture OF matches was stuffed.
opposition in the business crushed, and
the whole business OF the country in
that lice engrossed by the Diamond
Match company.
Such 4 vast combination as has been
entered into under the above name Is
a menace 70 the public. Its obtec; and
direct tendency is TO proven, free and
fair competition and control prices
thrcrghou, the National domain. II is
10 answer 10 say that this monopoly
has in fact reduced the price Of friction
matches That policy may have been
necessary 20 crush competition. The
fact exists that it rests in the dl.cre-
ton ot this company al any time TO
raise the price 20 an exorb!tant degree.
Such combinations have frequently
been condemned by courts as uniaw-
:ul and against public policy.
But. Nj President, We necd not ponder
judicial opinions to know wha- constitutes
combination dangerous 70 trade and
commerce. Every man who unieDstands
tho commoness transactio,is that paes be-
fore his eye knows that Ii this goodly lana
Of ours dedicated 10 freedom and equality.
ve have trusts and pools the magnitude OF
which stands with terrible and dsuaying
power 70 dare the Indignation II he Amer
lean people Rese cornbina, oas are not
Omitted % one kind Of bus ness. Their trail
crosses from state to state. Their trans
actions are found North, South, East and
West,
Their system Of operations &, as far
reaching as IT. is wicked. Thy begin, for
example, b. forming a conspiracy between
members OF certain trade. ar sugar or oil.
/ They get enough partners !ato this com
bination - control the supply Of an article;
and when that is done they have conquered
| he first difficulty in the Nay OF controlling
he price. They then fix the price which
the people ehall pay This IS Ia great
d
the land
Now. Il they only bound each other. the
agreement would be oppressive enough.
But they do not stop here. They undertake
| 70 manage the Affairs OF those Few men
who have conscience or Independence
enough left to want 10 do business on their
own account II any man undsgsells the
I prices of the combination they proceed 10
use their capital TO break W MS business
By selling at a loss untA he Is ruined or
crigF FOR mercy. II this is not feasible they
reach him rs eifectiyci: by Compelling the
railroads % discriminate against him al
/ the peril o: losing the more extensive bust
ness Of the combination.
| When every independent rival is by ttesa
methods driven 10 mis- knees COMPELLED
either 20 join the trust or 10 that which Is
! equally ~ bad, permit them 20 control his
/ rrtceS-then they have he io-rs fast locked
against any real competition In the sale or
| the product.
J; rny rival IN their path should prove so
fklllfui as to thwart their usual plan o,
! operations. they reach him through the re-
tail dealers hy boycott.ng any merchant
who sells wares n0t OF the rust brand. and
In that way they not only bring under their
tyranny tho manufacturer and the iobber.
hut even the merchant In s distant country
town.
Thus they have their feudatorles Of high
and low degree To do their I'm hid
''''fs fAiil lil' pFptlL WHICH men can make
for doing business in thss Wanted free
country 81 ours Is not that which their al
isence or capacity ON create out O. .raae
conditions bu, tAat which these trusts and
tassmasterS VIII gracirisly allow to then
- stipend for Transmitting their articles
from headquarters 20 the ultimate con-
sume-.
This ultimate consumer is AZ Last M
more than n Gepeudcut upon tho ,,race d
the lord high conspiratcr,s Of tho ,t'lst VIZ
fix the price from, -o, to bottnrn- ,be ,,rjr,
at which ttey viii sell IN the 4ohher IN,
and a. ,ben ,nr M INV agi 20 inc rgiaitSr
! retailer shall eriI Is the consumer
When lie ,rrls,s have ,Irs rn,,,dnl IN.
circle OF s4lling c,,eratIons ,hny can nm
their attention 10 tho buying end A. IN,
business Win their immense cauitaI an,