Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-04-27
TRUSTS.

The activity of the capitalists and
promoters during the last few weeks or
months In the formation of trusts has
never before been equaled or even ap-
preached. II 10 stated that new trusts
of aggregate capipal to an amount
much In excess OF the total amount of
money IN the country have been HOated
out upon the industrial waters. SO
bold and extensive have been these
operations that even the republican
journals Of the country are beginning
TO discuss tue question with an air Of
seriousness, With Topeka's starch
factory and linseed oil mill closed by
the trusts the commercial club has
taken up the affront and declared bat
tie. Lawrence Is also on It's metal over
the closing of itS nail factory.
The closing of these institutions has
of course thrown large Numbers of men
out of employment, damaged the bust
ness Of the towns and injured not only
the the laborers but business men.
The Kansas oil fields sometime ago
suffered similar fate. or course \
trust after securing all the factories In
the country operates only those neces-
sary to produce the stinted amount de-
termined upon that they may keep up
prices and naturally they keep the larg-
est and best equipped plants In opera
ton. In this way new industries are
not merely discouraged but prohibited.
and the development of the country
impeded.
However the trust is not perhaps nm
unmitigated evil. There Is hot par
ticle Of doubt but that trust operat.
ing on 80 large q scale, everything con-
solidated under one management, the
absolute prevention of waste and un-
necessary effort, cheapens production.
In fact 1t has often occurred that prices
even to the consumer have not been
raised after an article is trusted,
though the Profits Of the concern are
doubled or trebled. Trusts are the
natural product of modern inventions
and industrial growth. 1t ls the re- |
suit inevitably wrought in distribution
unconsciously forced upon us by the
accomplishments of the human intel ,
lect, directed along lines of production. |
IL 10 as certain to destroy the competi. |
tive System as wan the invention of |
gun powder to destroy feudalisnl. We
can no more prevent 1t than we can
turn back the hands of time. Anti
trust laws will be found as impotent
against these mountainous combine
tions % wOman's tears. Yet they are
The favorite psnacea OF the people, and
we must say we are In favor OF them
too. Not because they will break up
the trusts, nor very greatly relieve the
people directly, but because they will
be, II ever there Is an administration
that will faithfully attempt their exc
cution, the educator that will lead to
the proper solution of the question.
When these trusts are broaght into
court something will be learned of
their tremendous profits amounting to
robbery. Their business methods will
be disclosed to the public and the fu-
tillty OF attempted control will lead to
public ownership and operation. But
we must have a campaign of control.
Everybody will want to try that first,
but what inducement for vote can
republican offer, AL during this pc
riod of trust imitation they have been
In power untrammeled-a republican
law on the statute book, republican
president and attorney general to en-.
force 1t, and a republican Congress to
give more law II needed.