The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-07-13
MANY GOOD THINGS SAID


We clip the following extracts from
the Buffalo Express to show the many
different opinions held on the same
questions:
THE TRUSTS.
Willis j. Abbott, New York, speaking
of the trusts, said:
He said the term industrial monopolv
was synonym for trusts He did not
think it was the wish to frame a new in
dictment of trusts or add new charges tn
the old indictment, but probably it was
time to quash the Indictment and set the
prisoner free to work for all the people.
He saw some good in the trusts. They
had done away with a great deal of waste
of competition. AS to controlling the
trusts, he doubted if restrictive legislation
would interfere effectively: increased free
dom might do it,, although in free trade
countries and countries where government
owned the railroads, trusts were growing.
development OF the ethical sense amonp
the people might serve to check combina-
tons of capital, but it will be slow way,
even If ever successful The best possible
1orce that can be adopted is for the people
to recognize the advantages the trust sys-
tenn oners, to seize those advantages and
turn the profits, now going to the few, into
the general welfare. New conditions have
made necessary new remedies.
All are agreed on two propositions
said President Gates, of Iowa College The
trust is here to stay and we cannot get rid
OF 1T. One OF the greatest calamities to the
industrial world would be to crush out the
trust. I'm profoundly in love with the
trust, at the same time 1 hate it as l do
the devil. The trust is the Great American
brotherhood, Limited. All we need to do
Is to strike out the limited"
President Gates happened to be in at the
birth of trust IA years ago and he told
about it. The getting together of the man
ufacturers was thoroughly Christian. On
the other hand, once combined, they felt
their power and showed it, raising prices
until they doubled. He had little conf
dence in antitrust laws save to call the
attention of the people to the evils of the
trust. He mentioned department stores as
economic gains and said the evil lay with
the organization OF society which is lacking
in taking care Of those thrown out Of bust
ness by the department stores. The prin-
ciple of monopolies is wholly good and none
ought to fight against them. After they
have gone on until the limit is reached the
people will take them. President Gates
closed with this sentiment heartily APP
plauded:
II object to giving praise to man who
6oeS Oul giving MS lie 10 XIII dnOtner and
not recognizing the man who uses his abl-
ity as a captain of industry. If he dies in
his tracks he is worthy of more honor than
the man who dies with bullet in his
breast
Prof. Parsons. of Kansas and Boston, said
the trust was all right for those inside of it
and let all the people inside and the trust
will be all right Keep the advantages of
the trust and get rid of the disadvantage.
It's advantages are strength. economy. I'M
ion, cooperation. harmony and mutualism.
It's disadvantages are monopoly taxes
watered stock, excessive charges. corrupt
legislation. defiance of law and disregard
of public safety. A trust is power plus
strong interest antagonistic to public in
terest. Make the ownership and the served
the same. Bring them together in PUB
Lie ownership not GOVERNMENT owner
ship, the latter being. as in Philadelphia.
where the government may own. but the
people do not own the government. Direct
legislation, proportional representation and