The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-17
IT DOES NOT FOLLOW AT ALL.

ran across two items of news AMI etl-
torial comment that are worthy OF
more than a passing notice.
Recently ex-United States Senator
Roger @. Mills, of Texas, sold part of
his farm on which oil had been discovered
for $4,000 to the Standard Oil Com
pany. The Manufacturers Record pub
lished the item of news and made this
comment:
.sIf this report be true, Senator Mills
may possibly cease to wage warfare
against tie soulless corporations of the
country. How does the Senator fcel
on the subject now? Does he still hate
the Standard Oil Company as much as
ever?"
Is there any warrant for surprising
that because he has sold his oil wells
and farms for good sum to Inc stand
ard Oil Company ex-senator Mills VIII
change his views upon that giant trust!
Nothing in his long and honorable public
record justifies such a superstition. The
Senator owes no obligations To the oil
trust. They wanted his oil and ne was
ready to sell it. 1t is to be presumed
that they paid a fair price for the
oil and that they did not buy the con-
victiens Of Mr.. Mills with the illuminat-
ing fluid. Strange as it may appear to
some folks; there are men who can trade
with a trust without silrrender.ng their
convictions. The reference to Mr.. Mills
and his attitude ON questions affecting
corporations isrunwortRy of the Record.
He is an honest man who has always
dealt fairly both in public and pri-
yate, and nobody ever criticised his at
titude until his tariff bill denied robbcr
protection to infant industries that had
grown rich and powerful on government
bounties.
We take it that the sale Of part OF
his oil property to the Standard Gil
Company will in no sense affect Mr..
Mills's views upon that or any other
trust. He knows that it is the worst
OF all trusts and the father of theta
all, and if they thought he threw in
his conscience and character with the
oil we hazard the prediction that they
will realize their mistake
The other item Is the following which
we take from the Durham Morning
Herald:
MIR. Geo. w. Watts has given the
Baptist University of Raleigh $500. 1t
is hardly probable that 1t will be re-
turned because the donor is a member
Of the cigarette trust and it is a part
of his share Of the profits. People often
curse the trusts, but wad of its dough
tends effectualfy to shut their mouths I
That was generous gift and we took
occasion to express appreciation of this
act ON the part of Mr.. Watts who is not
Baptist. We do not believe he. gave
the money to .'shut the mouths Of The
friends of the Baptist Female Jnivcr-
sity on the trust question, and have no
idea that any motive except an honorable
one actuated the gift. Coming in such
a spirit the trustees could nonoraply
afford to take it and thank the donrr
II the suggestion of the Herald hal any
foundation in fact, the money would BE-
promptly returned. We know the views
and we know that some of them at
least would not shut their mouths
against the trust evil because of the
receipt of .wad of its dough-
1t Is unfortunately true that some col
lege and university officials seem to think
that a gift from trust stakeholder or
to either shut their mouths. or e
apologize for the systematic and. fnlaw.
full robbery Of the people practised by
all the trusts. The conduct OF thes'
men-happily few, we are glad II he.
levels responsible for the feeling thai
''wad of their dough- operates tc
''shut the mouths" of college professors
and trustees 1t is important - iht
virtue of every college and university
receiving donations from trust owners
to make it plain that no dough shut
their mouths. Valuable as education Is
no true parent can afford to send Ei'
child to any school where the instructor
have no righteous Indignation agains
the trust methods which are destroyin;
the hope of individual business iniepen
dence, making men tools instead q
thinkers, and reducing labor to tie .eye
of a machine.
The Manufacturers Record and il
Morning Herald are altogether wrenI