The age-herald., 1899-09-15
Commercial .FeudaIism


 ness. ... ..
 Commercial .Feudalism
 Commercial feudalism is the logical out come of the trust. The trust managers are the feudal barons.
 These may perhaps be harsh characterl- cations, but who can deny their truth! Honesty to ourselves and loyalty to our country and it's free institutions compel us to face and recognize the situation.
 We cannot be true to our republic by ignoring these things. We cannot be hon. est to the people either al this conference or in legislative assemblies by confning our deliberations to the commercial ad- vantages and disadvantages of the trust
 "It is better to be forever poor, but in- dependent and happy as individuals, than to lay the foundations for industrial ty- ranny and slavery.
 Personal liberty is rather to be chosen than great riches.
 Equality of opportunity to all men Is better than the control of the world 8 trade.
 "The effect of the trust upon our natl onal life and our citizenship will not be sudden, perhaps It will rather be a silent and gradual change. It may not be ob- served at once, but its influence will nev- ertheess be felt.
 "The warning with which the history of the decadence and downfall of other na tions furnishes us, mag not be needed now. If not we may pay the usual penalty of slavery to commercial avarice and greed 'Increase of the wealth of the country is generally to be desired, but if the peo- pie are to be degraded to industrial slavery, wealth under such conditions is curse. ''If our independent and intelligent busf- ness men and artisans are to be crowded out of existence as a class by the trust there is no remedy too drastic for the trust
 Some may think it too early to sound a note of warning of this kind, but the time to check evil tendency is when it l first shows itself.
 We have given the private corporation too much rope. Some say give it more rope and it will hang itself. In other words, they claim that the trust problem, ii left alone, will work out it's own solu- l tion.
 q do not believe in such a policy. There | is too much at stake. The most important element of our citizenship is in the bal ance We cannot afford to sap the strength of democracy in order to forward an | experiment.
 q favor complete and prompt annihila- 1 tion of the 'trust'-with due regard for property rights, of course. 'I care more for lhe independence and | manliness of the American citizen than | for all the gold or silver in the world. It | is better to cherish the happiness of the | American home than to control the com merce of the globe.
 "The degrading process of the trust 1 means much to the future of a republic | founded upon democratic principles A democratic republic cannot survive the l disa ppearance of a democratic popula- tion."
 1 Former Governor Foster
 Former Governor Foster, of Ohio, was 1 the next speaker. He said: ''Denounce 1 trusts as we may, they have come to stay. | Why? Because the gigantic business op- erations of the present and future cannot | be carried on without them. Through the l trust the enormous waste that is entailed upon business operations by competition Is | saved. Labor will have the better oppor- tunity of enhancing wages and shortening | the hours of toll, as is so signally illus trated in the railroad service of the eoun- | try"
 MT. Foster suggested a bureau of govern 1 ment or a board, similar to the interstate commerce commission for the regulation of | trusts
 l The terms of their license, he said, should | provide against overcapitalization, and an
 profits beyond per cent. should be taxed
 for the benefit of the government | Committee on Resoi, tions
 The committee on resolutions. as an- | nounced included the following dele | gates:
 | F. Forbes. National Grange. Patrons of | Husbandry. S. H. Ellis, of Ohio; Ameri- | can Federation of Labor, Samuel Gompers; ployes union, Lee M. Hart; United Garment