Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-07-05
PUBLISHED WEEKLY .
JOHN M. vR0OMAN, Editor and Proprietor
ABOUT TRUSTS.

The assertion OF Henry o. Have
meyer that 1.-THE mother Of al trusts
g the customs tariff BILL" would be
Important II true. Mr.. Havemeyer
Is a Democrat and consequently Is
not In love with a Republican a
ure, especially when 1t does not serve
the sugar kings special interests.
Fortunately Mr.. H~avemeyer was not
permitted to dictate the tariff sched-
ules OF the Dingley bill as 1t relates
to his trust az was the ease with the
last Democratic tariff. Hence these
tears. But the statement that the
tariff Is the great trust breeder,
whether uttered by Havemeyer or
the Democratic press, In not horne
out by the facts. The greatest trust
in the United States, the Standard
Oil trust, has not the slightest pro-
lection on its product. Neither has
the copper trust, the anthracite coal
trust and cotton oil trust. Besides
trusts formed on the various prod
ucts Of this country there are trusts
which embrace traffic, telegraph and
telephone lines which have M bear
ing on or relation to the tariff what
ever. To raise this cry to prejudice
the people for party purposes, Is
strictly In line with Democratic
methods.
Trusts are the product of the pres
ent industrial situatiOn-the sharp
competition and strife for ~trade-and
are not confined to America but exist
in free trade countries as well. How
far they will go and what the remedy
will be, il a question now receiving
the attention of the ablest minds In
the country. The matter is too deep,
the problem To grave, too be solved
by a demagogic press or the mere
passing Of denunciatOry resolutions.
Neither are trusts easy to reach by
legislation or the courts, for when 1t
comes to interfering with the rights
of individuals to combine their CAPT
tai and interests il will be found that
there are constitutional limitations
to contend with. Possibly ii IL can
be proven that "a certain trust was
organized to restrain trade and raise
the price OF the necessaries Of life
there may be ground for successful
action In the courts. But this IL not
always easy Of proof or demOnstra-
ton. The Standard Oil combine
drove a great many middle-men out
of business because the latter could
not make a profit In competition
with the combine, but this did not
injure the cOnsumer-at least for
some time. OF course, the danger IL,
that when competitors are driven to
the wall or taken into the trust, the
products may be raised outrageously
In price. But this Is not always the
case, as a slight advance In price on
the great volume of business greatly
enhances the profits.
But, on the whole, trusts are a
menace to the business interests of
the country IN they tend to place all
productive industries in a few hands
and give men with limited capital a
poor show in the industrial world.
IN is n question that will require
the wisdom OF our profoundest
statesmen to settle, and it may yet
be necessary to amend the federal
constitution to successfully combat
the evil.
Jhat there will be a great deal OF
harmful and futile legislation directed
at trusts there is already evidence.
ONE or two Southern state legisla-
lures have enacted drastic measures
that will do the common wealths
more harm than good, as 1t IL certain
that tine trusts will find IA way of dis
posing Oh their wares In the states
without contributing much for the
privilege, though the cost may be
still greater to those who must have
them.
1t Is a matter of fact that the Re-
publican party is the only party to
enact antitrust legislation. The
Sherman law stands to its credit and
1t was made as strong as possible
SO far az federal authority goes in
their control. 1t remains to be seen
what state laws can do to check
their operations. Why didn't the
last Democratic legislature OF this
state pass a law to regulate trusts?
The Independent says it was a "cor-
poration-ridden body" Possibly
that il the reason. II so, this fact
should cause the Democratic press OF
this state to be a little modest about
charging the rapid increase OF trusts
upon the Republican party. But
modesty and veracity are not char,
acteristic of the leading party organs
of this state.
Mr.. and Mrs. b. Lackamp, ElstOn
Mo, write: zone Minute Cough Cur,
saved the life OF our little boy wheI
- -.tNL " L.