The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-09
A woRn ABOUT TRUSTS.

II IA quite remarkable In these days TO
find n man daring enough TO say a word
I'm defence OF corporations and trusts.
Yet we find in Gunton's Magazine re-
view OF an address delivered by Mr.. AL
fred Dodge 20 his workmen In which that
gentleman declared that there was some
good after all I'm a trust Mr.. Dodge has
a good record as friend OF labor. lie has
studied the labor question and has, as far
as possible. reduced his study to practice
in his dealings with men who work for
him. lie has voluntarily reduced the
hours of labor from ten TO nine hours
and increased the pay of his workmen 10
per cent. hSTis
The address TO which we refer was de-
Iiyered at Dolgeyille on January 10Th and
was designed TO show not merely that
the trust form Of organization is the most
economic and effective for the capitalist
but that It Is equally TO the advantage
of the workmen also.
lie declared that the necessity Of com
bination had forced itself upon manu-
facturers as Il matter o self protection
Then speaking Of the argument that has
been used against corporations ne sald
that il reminded him of the opposition to
the Introduction OF the factory system
thirty-hve years ago in Germany. Eng
land. he said had developed the factory
system to such an extent that II COLI
trolled the markets Of the world ana ihat
in the city of Leipzig, where no lVed
nearly all the manufactured articles useu
came from England. But Germany Waheu
ND TO the condition and In the course oil
time bought English machines and start
cd factories. Mr.. Dodge worked at inc
bench in those days. and said that there
was great revolt among the working peo-
nile. who claimed that the machine TOOK
o,,,o,, work from the workmen and that
the factory system would destroy the
middle class, making two classes-one OF
very rich manufacturers and the other
OF very poor laborers.
But in spite Of this opposition he tells
us that progress went on irresistlhly'
One factory after another was built,
more men were employed than ever be-
fore. better wages were paid, and So
clety generally was improved by the
change.
Mr.. Dodge then went on 20 show that
the trust has the advantage over the in
divldual factory system, in that II be-
comes an institution that goes on
whether or not and is In no way depen-
dent upon the life % any one individual.
The trust he says, takes ability wherever
it can ind it, and pays more for it than
the individual manufacturer can afford to
pay and it pays its men according TO
their merit and not according to their
pull
He claims that the tendency Of the
trust is TO improve the condition of work
ingmen, to employ the best class Of labor
at the highest market price TO reduce
the number of working hours so as TO
have fresh. vigorous labor always. and
generally 10 improve the condition OF
workingmen so as to enable them TO be-
come consumers as well as producers.
We mention these things for the reason
that some people are disposed to make
the best Of Il bad matter, and II trust
must be, then it is gratifying 70 know
that they are not so bad astsome people
have argued.
But the point in AIR. Dolge's address to
which we would direct attention is that
the necessity OF combination forces itself
upon the manufactures as matter OF
self protection. Whatever evil intention
the man who first conceived the combina-
ton idea may have had, the fact is that
in this day individuals, whether they like
it or not, find that they must meet com
bination with combination, if they would
compete successfully. That being the
case. it is manifest that the community
which stands in the way of organization
puts itself at disadvantage in COM
petlng with other communities which
have no such restrictions,