The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-11-15
THE U

The following circular issued by the
Llggett & Myers %, last week, sets
forth exactly what we have warned
Our readers Of concerning trusts for
years past, and explains itself:
lnasmuch as many large tobacco
manufacturers have formed a trust,
and others are fast being absorbed by
said combine, we take this means of
informing you that this Company will
continue to run an independent factory.
We are opposed or principle to pools,
combines and and trusts, for the reason
that they destroy the independence OF
character, and take away the individ,
uaity of the people, excepting those
who are the immediate beneficiaries.
This is true ia all lines of trade, but we
treat the subject from the standpoint
OF the tobacco manufacturer, and give
here opinion as to the ultimate
result to the country if trusts and com
blnes continue to form.
Commencing with the tobacco
planter, il all manufacturers were
merged into one huge trust, he would
have but one conoern to which he
could sell his produce, and in that case
it IS fair to assume that the purchaser
and not the seller would fix the price.
The result would be that the planter
would obtain a very low price for his
tobacco.
The tobacco workers I've mean by
this those who earn a livelihood by
working in tobacco factories), would
have but one concern to which they
could apply for employment, and of
course the company would fix the
price of their labor. The workers
would be compelled to submit to great
ly reduced wages.
Wholesale grocers and jobbers OF
tobacco, would have but one concern
from which to obtain their supplies OF
this article. There would be no ques
ton as to price, as the trust would fix
that, and there would be no appeal
from it's decision.
The retail dealer in tobacco would
have to purchase the product Of one
concern only, or go out of business and
the great army Of tobacco consumers
would be compelled. il they continued
to use tobacco, to purchase from the
dealer tobacco made by a trust. The
price at which the consumer purchased
the tobacco would be virtually fixed
by the trust, or combine, and the
cheWer would be compelled to use it
regardless of whether it suited his taste
or not.
Again, there are thousands of to
bacco statesmen now in the employ of
the various factories who would be
thrown out of employment, and thus
be compelled to go into competition
for situations with statesmen or work
men in other lines, which of course
would have a tendency to reduce the
salaries of the men who earn a liveli,
hood in the different occupations.
Thousands Of book keepers, clerks,
porters, and men in various ether
capacities, would likewise be thrown
out of employment and be forced to
compete with those in other lines. thus
bringing down the wages of all.
Some Of the largest interests in the
country have now been combined, and
others are in process of pooling or go
ing into a trust. Let us suppose tina
all manufacturers in the different lines
were pooled. 1t does not require q
stretch of the imagination to see these
different combines getting together
under one management, and In fact
becoming one huge trust: controlling
all commodities and fixing the price of
everything in common use. Such a
combination would be stronger than
any state governments; it might be
stronger than the courts, and even
stronger than the general government
itself, and without doubt would make
stupendous efforts to control legislation
in its own interest. 1t would take
away the dependence of the people
and leave us without the hope Of bet
teripg our condition, for there would
be no avenue open by which a man
could build up q business for himself
or improve his condition, or allow him
to hope that his children could ever be
anything but hardworked and poorly
paid servants of the trust.
The promoters Of trusts, combines
and pools say that the day Of the inde-
pendent manufacturer and dealer is
gone, and that We are on a new order
OF Things; that there is a great eco
nonic force behind the movement for
consolidating and pooling; but in our