The labor world., 1899-10-21

DIS TO pFdCClCdl meals OIL SeCLlnS the
trust problem. Bourke Cochran says
thtat only bad trusts should be con-
demned, Bryan says the states must
cooperate with the national govern
ment in debarring them from their own
borders. He also thinks some limita-
tion should be placed on the amount Of
money permitted to be invested in cer-
tain lines of business! Mr.. Pingree
claims that all trusts are SO bad that
the only hope for the country is to an
initiate them, utterly, for, he says,
that which the law creates that can
the law destroy.
These men possess intelligence of the
first order. At least two Of them are
widely read and are conversant with
the principles Of logic. All three have
plenty of common sense, yet they diff
fer widely on a question of great pub
lie moment and in which they are par
ticularly interested in arriving at a
common conclusion. Unfortunately
neither of them has been able to shake
off the slavery of an idea which has
nothing but age to commend 1.-THE old
conception Of competition adjusting all
Industrial differences through the laws
of supply and demand. Each worships
at his decayed shrine and they believe
liberty consists in the right Of anyone
to cut anyone else's throat-industrial-
ly-unless attempted on too large a
scale. The latter possibility they unite
in ternaing monopoly.
This is that philosophy which makes
of life a battlefield on which mans
physical necessities are made to play
the part of his enemies for some
shrewd schemer's profit. Any attempt
to devise order in the miserable chaos
in the only way possible is, to these
teachers, an evil thing needing to be
crushed in it's very inception.
For how else can industry progress
unless through civilization? The per-
manence Of Society, the close interc-
curse Of mankind, the facile methods
of communication, science, invention,
nay even human desire itself are draw
ing us so close together that the old
ideals have become puerile-futile. We
are face to face with the inevitable
and the inevitable is order. Industrial
order is coming in spite Of vain plead
ings of shallow reactionaries, however
sincere they may be individually.
If history tells us anything definite
ly, anything beyond all power Of cavil,
it is that man has grown from bar
haris Individuality to complex social
Intercourse. The story is traced with
"a master hand and even he who runs
may read it., Each century finds us
more dependent on each other. Sys-
tenn has developed in proportion as the
past has been discarded Industry,
left for ages, to the operation of blind
chance at last clogs the increasing or
der around it. Man has reached out
to rectify the error. He utilizes those
agencies which are most available. He
did not turn to politics but rsted con-
tent with the means at his disposal.
Taught, hitherto, that the ideal Of in
dustrial life is the destruction of COM:
peritors, he studied until a way was
found to accomplish this at one fell
stroke, avoiding the tedium Of pre-
vious methods. This. was easily dc-
ce mplished by uniting the stronger and
more sensible Of his commercial enc
mics against the balance whomsoever
they might be. Thus came monopoly.
The position Of that gentle body
known as the general public was in no
wise altered. The principles Of politi-
cal economy affected 1t the same as
formerly. These mysterious laws re-
quire that when demand is great
prices must be high, or when demand
light prices must decline. These grave
propositions which a wiser genera lion
will think humorous, are the root and
branch of the system about us. being
embraced in the truism Of competi-
ton: demand govern price.
Observe that si,e cost Of production
mas nothing to do with it.!
Monopoly has not taken issue with
these principles. It merely cOnserves
the profits to a smaller number. Now
when it is remembered that the E,lm-
Der participating in the profits OF in
dustrial exploitation has always been
an insignificant fraction of the, total
population, it surely can matter very
little if the fraction be somewhat re-
duced Monopolist and auti-Monopo~
list being united on the broad PROPOSE
ton that the public exists to be fleeced
the antis are somewhat unjust to rall
lit their larger colleagues who do their
work so eXpeditiously and we'll.
The point to which we would respect
fully call your attention is that the
two parties above alluded to exist for
a common purpose and differ only in
degree Yet the weaker side expects
lis throw ourselves madly into the
strife and applaud whenever anyone
proclaims himself an anti-monopolist.
Anti trust agitation is important for
what it will lead to-, not for what 1t
seeks to accomplish. It's aim is i'm
possible and absurd and a little read
ing after it's leading lights shows. their
involuntary recognition of this. The
names advanced at. the head Of this
article are foremost in the, fight,
Cochran alone excepted, though he too
wants to join the contest so soon as ne
becomes assured that no real danger
threatens the trusts. In spite of their
prominence before the public they are
unable to advance a set OF principles
nor will they ever do so. Unity will be
hoped for from the common hatred of
combinations. Every vagary possible
to a mind set on ignoring the truth
will appear and as final result, what
ever practical is assayed will be in the
nature of Il compromise. If practical
lanl ides give them power they will
feed their votaries with laws which no
court can conscientiously enforce, or if
the lower do attempt it the supreme
court will set their rulings aside.
But while the fierce sham battle is