Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-09-28
Trust Conferences.

The past two weeks have witnessed
two somewhat notable gatherings, as
sembled to discuss the question OF
! trusts. The first of these was under
the auspices Of the Civic Confederation
OF Chicago and held at that city The
latter was a meeting Of governors and
attoney-generals, called at st. Louis
by Gov. Sayers Of Texas. Both gath
erings were supposed to be non-pati-
san. The one at Chicago was largely
attended by delegates appointed by
the governors of many states and was
Of more consequence from any point OF
view than the one at st, Louis, which
embraced officials from eleven states
only, and which turned into Chicago
platform political meeting, disgusting
the republicans present so that they
withdrew.
What have these conferences amount
cd to? In the first plaee-and in the
last place, too-there was a great deal
of talk, Men Of prominence and learn
ing from all over the country, and with
all sorts of notions as to trusts, We're
present All had something TO say
and all had an opportunity to say it,
and the result, especially at Chicago,
was siX-days' go-as-you-please talk
ing match which ended as it began, in
just talk, that was all. Though order
and deeorum were maintained, there
was such diversity Of opinion that
harmony, or anything like it, was out
of the question and the committee that
was to have reported a series of reso-
buttons. calculated to serve as beacon
to a benighted country, threw up its
hands in despair and wisely concluded
not to report anything.
And yet the Chicago conference was
not futile. The talk hurt no one
Ideas were exploited, exploded, in
terchanged. battle-dored-and-shu
cooked and a thorough airing of the
whole subject given in a way that may
prove of much greater ultimate benefit
than ill-considered action, certain to be
greeted with factious opposition. 1t
was really a wholesome and helpful
affair and should not be derided
The Chicago conference properly
considered what trusts are. Their
constant and rapid growth during the
past two years was commented on 1t
was shown how great proportion Of
the industrial system of the country is
already included within the so-called
trusts and how they are still reaching
out for more. Their immense capital
Misunderstanding into the billions
doubtless far in excess OF the present
actual values Of the interests-was
commented on and generally admitted.
Then came the great question as to the
benefits or injuries of trusts as whole.
Some-the minority-held that trusts
were the natural outcome of our mod
ern business methods, the only saliva
ton from the maddening, self-destroy-
ing effects of close competition. They
held that trusts constitute no danger
and that the country viii be the gamer
by them. Another and larger portion
detained against combines OF all
kinds calculated to stifle competition
and fix prices. They want the old sys-
TEN to continue, whereby all producers
in any line of industry wage unceasing
war on each other to the end that those
in other lines may profit by it. They
are opposed to anything that looks like
arbitrary restraint of trade or produc-
ton. Great aggregations OF capital.
under a single management, they view
with alarm. As their spokesman, Bry-
an, said, monopoly is despotism. There
may be difference in despots, but it is
all despotism. Still another party at
the conference held to a middle ground.
With them, trusts are good or evil
according as they benefit or iniure. in
special eases. Thus. where a large
monopoly has succeeded in greatly re-
dneing prices instead of raising them.
they would view it as not undeserving.
while in other cases cited where theef-
feet has been contrary, in their opinion
the people are harmed. This class aid