The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-10
QUESTIONS OF THE TIME
DISCUSSED BEFORE THE VOTERS ny
WIDELY KNOWN REPUBLICANS.
Hon. J. w. LOvett on Trusts, Hon. w.
ID. FOuIl<e ON Expansion, Hon.
Will Cumbacl< Praises Carthage.

or MS remarks said:
1T cannot be denied that the great man.
ufacturing interests of this country are the
outgrowth Of protective tariff laws brought
about by the industrial policy of the Re
publican party Had we continued our ma
tonal existence under Democratic policies
we would have remained an agricultural
people, tilling the soil and sending the prod
ucts of our fields abroad in foreign ships
and receiving in exchange the products of
foreign shop and factory. Our aggregates
wealth would have been many times less
than II IS. our mines would have been un-
developed and our vast resources would have
remained dormant, and we as a people
would lack the civilization that belongs to
fully developed and many-sided nation The
wisdom OF protective policy cannot be
In its first national platform the Re-
publican party advocated this doctrine and
has at all times since strictly adhered to
the same. IT was contended. in the out
tOnal resources 1t would secure to the Amer
lean workmen renumerative employment
dignity their labor and raise the standard
Of their living. How these predictions have
been fulfilled and these Results have fol-
lowed is matter of history and are too
Well established to admit of debate. 1t may
therefore, be taken as an assured fact that
the Republican party. so long as it shall
continue to exist, will hold to this doctrine
as one of the leading tenets of it's faith
There are, however, at this time powerful
agencies at work to defeat one of the main
objects of protection and to prevent the
American mechanic and wage Garner from
receiving the full share of the benefits of
American trade and tariff laws to which he
is entitled.
The unequivocal industrial tendency to-
day is toward the formation of gigantic
corporations. the aggregation of large
wealth under one management, the so-called
(but niSnamed) trusts. The purpose of these
Organiza tons is to obtain absolute control
of the staple products of the mines and
factories of America and thus destroy
competition limit production, fix absolutely
the price OF the product without regard to
cost OF production and determine by sched-
uIe the wages OF their employees without re-
ton. Already many of the great staples
are under the absolute control of these
trusts: other great organizations are being
formed for controlling other commodities
and this tendency, If not checked in some
way, will soon reach and appropriate every
Dranch OF manufacturing industry. There is
no gainsayng the fact that the trust is
based on economic principles. That 1t is
commercially successful needs no demon
stration, for the promoters of these enter
prlses need but a few years to become mil
honaires; If they were controlled by men
fair and reasonable prices 10 the consumer
and at the same time were willing to share
profits with employees or fix such fair sched-
ules of wages as the earnings of the bust
ness would justify. they might be blessing
instead of curse to the communities in
winch they operate and to the Nation at
large. We find. however, that in practice
no rule of equity and justice guides the con-
duct of affairs. The first thing done by
the managers when the trust is established
and in full control is to revise the schedule
Of prices adding from Is to 100 per cent.
ule of wages and cut the same from 10 10
40 per cent. Thus do these thrifty managers
at one directors meeting largely increase
the cost of the article to the consumer and
decrease the cost of its production. The
result result OF TINS policy Is TO make the prohts
The workingman, who should be benefited
by the advantages afforded to large aggre
cations OF capital, is made to suffer loss of
wages and the consequent hardships grow
Ing out of changed conditions. The avarice
and greed of the magnates of the trusts
no dc NhGir> an do N he
cry Of distress or the demand for fair treat
ment that come from the tolers in their
mills, Their eyes are blind TO the scenes of
distress about their employees homes. That
these changed conditions in our industrial
life demand the best thought and efforts of
congress and our State legislatures cannot
be doubted.
Heretofore it has been the policy of
manufacturers engaged in producing the
same staple to form combina tons and en-
ter into elaborate agreements to regulate
the quantity and fix the price of the prod
uct. We have had legislation on this SUBJ
1ect. Laws have been passed 10 prevent the
formation of these trusts and combinations.
making it unlawful to enter into such agree
mentS ana liking heavy penalties for
violation of the law. To avoid the penalties
of the antitrust laws and to more effectual-
~ accomplish the purpose than ii could be
done under the old plan, the great corpora
lions and monopolieS have been and are
being formed. 1t is imnerative that the new
move be met and thwarted by proper legis-
laton. 1t is contended by the Democratic
party orators and free-trade political writ
ton, and that under revenue tariff law
they could not exist We submit that this
contention is not well grounded, and that
ire trade and commercial history or the
world shows that trusts may be established
e nd prosper without protective laws to aid
and abet them Trusts have long existed
in England. the leader OF free-trade nations.
competition has been stopped and the prices
or many staple articles of manufacture and
the schedule OF wages paid the workingmen
have been fixed by the arbitrary rules of the
coInpine IN the United Kingdom. Syndi-
Gates and trusts flourish in continental coun-
tries organized and maintained for the same
purpose as are the associations of kindred
nature In this country. Are we not, then.
Jusuhed by the facts in the case in denying
the charge made by the Democratic party,
and could not these trusts be organized in
this country under any system of revenue
laws? But If we admit. for the sake of the
arsument all our opponents claim to be
true namely, that these great corporations
could not be successfully formed and man
lpuiated except Tor the duties levied on like
products made abroad that seek a market
~, IN inns country; that it would be physically
enough to control the markets of the world
and limit the production of all countries:
that IN me great iron tin, glass and other
staple industries it would be fmpracticabIe
at least to organize under one ownership
management and control the factories of the
world without protection against foreign
competition, and that these great corpora-
tons could not control our markets and ar
bitrarily fix the schedules OF prices and
wages as they are able to do still II
IS no reflection on the protective tariff
laws and no reason why they should be re-
pealed.
The wisest statesmen could not and did
not forsee that the cunning and ingenuity
OF the American tradesman would devise
way of taking advantage of wise and
henefcent laws. The protective policy OF
this Nation cannot be abandoned The |
home market must be protected. The wages
or American mechanics and workingmen
must be maintained The Republican party.
II true 10 it's principles and traditions must
IN some way meet and overthrow the |
powerful forces Of organized capital: must |
8rapple with this new enemy to American |
prosperity, as it once grappled with that |
other foe to American labor-African |
slavery. Must devise some ways and |
means to prevent the evil that must result |
from the so-called trusts being permanently |
fastened on Our industrial life How this |
can De done IS the problem that must be |
soyed By the Republican party through its /
representative In the national Congress |
and N the State Legislatures. That IL will |
De able TO meet the exigencies Of the occa-