The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-03-19
PINGREE ON TRUSTS.

late the whole question OF revenue for
the government. While l believe in
protection, 1 have no sympathy what
ever with trusts, and if 1 we're in Mr..
McKinley's place every time one of
these combines was formed to raise
the prices would have the tariff COM
mission empowered to take off all du-
ties On the trusts product, and then
we should have free trade with ven-
geance.
"As regards gas and other kinds OF
monopolies, the municipalities should
either control or own them, and have
the same power to regulate them that
is exercised over hacks and carriages.
Indeed, our municipalities should as
sumo control of water, gas and street
car tracks.
The trouble with our country today
is that there is too much dishonesty
on all sides. Incorporated bodies de-
sire the control of everything and want
to run things to suit themselves. They
influence congress and state legisla-
lures to such an extent that scandals
are cropping out every now and then.
''L,'ok at the big scandal that the
sugar trust raised ill Warrington a
year ago, when one OF the senators was
found investing in sugar certificates.
And then look at the list Of watered
stocks we have all over the country.
The innocent stockholders are squeez-
ed in order that few men ou the in
side may hog everything.
I'VE have got to come back to first
principles and get on an honest basis
before this country can prosper. just
look at the railroads that are in receiv-
ers' hands. If you investigate the
matter carefully you will find that in
the majority of cases there has been
bad management, stock jobbing or
some peculiar business methods en-
ployed by which the big fish i'll the
puddle swallow up the little ones.
Most of the bank failures within
the past six months have been the re-
suit of dishonesty.
You don't hear of the Pullman or
Wagner companies being in bankrupt
ar mar 40 yo,, oftop pntioo TINT an ay
press company or a merchants dis
patcn or a union line fast freight con-
cern has gone into the hands of a re-
ceiver. These are wheels within
wheels and organized for the purpose
of making money for the RAILROAD mag
mates at the expense of the mass Of
stockholders of the railroad.
This country is trust-ridden. 1t is
only question of time, unless some
thing is done very soon, when we will
have Il revolution upon US. Things
are running towards the government
ownership of railroads and the people
are demanding this more and more.
Each state should know what Its rail-
roads are doing. 1t should stop them
from overcapitalizing and hold them
down to legitimate business, 80 that
people can invest in their stocks with
safety.
"A railroad should be compelled to
do business in an honest way and not
be allowed to water its stock. If an
officer of such corporation offers water
ed stock for sale he should be treated
as a man who obtains money under
false pretences or AS u 'gIeen goods
mau and punished accordingly.
II believe in vested nights, but ]
don't believe that the managers OF
railroads should be allowed to rob the
people who have their money invested
in railroad stock.
The majority of the manufacturers
of this country are i'm straltened cir
cumstances and are at the mercy OF
the moneyed classes. The big fish are
eating mp the little ones. If this thing
keeps up we shall have a revolution
and no mistake. Tie poor are oppres-
sed by tue rich AS much in this coun-
try as the Cubans are by the Span
iards.
The trouble with the people is that
they cannot make out a good case.
That is to say, they cannot prove that
certain men in high positions are
scoundrels. fully agree with An
drew Carnegie, the iron king that the
man who dies possessed of many mil.
lions dies disgraced. If man like
John Rockefeller were not allowed to
give dollar to a college or a church
don't you suppose that he would soon
be execrsted for pulling up his Ill got
ten gains? Nothing upsets man SO
much as to know that he is not res
pected. Just look how Russell Sage
loads down the plate in New York.
If such law weie passed, cutting
OF these so-called pliIlanthropists from
being permitted to veneer their rob-
berries aud fll-gotten gains by dona.
tl0nS and charities wa Sholiid sOo, ca1