The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-15

AtstS liseiA ID Dy leSlSiaIlO1 WHICH Is IN
tended TO keep corporations and their
products out of particular states; that leg
isature which takes the form of bills which
permit citizens to buy goods and with i'm
punity to refuse to pay for them. This Is
a premium on dishonesty.
In other states the attempt is to ex-
clude articles which are of prime necessity.
If the producers of such articles were to
follow the lead and combine to keep their
commodities out OF the state it is easy to
see what would result, /. e., either the peo-
pie would be compelled to go without or
they would be forced to pay an inordinate
price.
Trade has always taken care of itself,
and always will. II left to pursue ordinary
channels it will not have any extraordinary
advantages. 1t is only where the state in
terferes that situation is created of which
advantage can be taken against the inter-
ests of the community In these days there
are two forms and only two forms of
monopoly; one that results from patent
and copyright 1t is universally recognized
that this is in the interest of, not against
the interest of the public. The oUaer comes
from unfair tariff discrimination. Tariff for
revenue need not be considered. The ex-
penses of the government must, of course,
be providd for. Tariff for the purpose OF
equalizing against foreign bounties or for
eign discrimination does not need to be pro-
vided. There is no excuse for giving to one
industry a protection of 100 per cent.
against per cent. for another or any more
than 10 per cent The result is that the
government feeces the community at large
in the interest of some favored industry.
1T must be kept in mind that this is
rich country, not a poor one. 1t must be
kept in mind that the object of every one
is to make the government stronger,
Weather, more important, more influential.
The hostile action to which l referred, leg
islature against corporations, If followed to
its legitimate results, would make the
country less powerful it's people less pros
porous and would destroy the influence
which comes from the richness of the land
and it's people.
"Citizens are divided into two classes
the industrious and those who wish to live
on the industry of others. 1t is they who
are without capital who are hostile to it."
Havemeyer Questioned
The next three hours were devoted to
questions asked him in rapid succession by
members of the commission. He at first de-
clined to state whether the company was
making money at present, saying that was
the business of the company alone, but he
afterwards made an incidental statement
which the commission construed into an
admission that the business was not
profitable now. The witness confessed that
his company had very little regard for the
the prestige, ability, experience and wealth
would win in the long struggle, and that
trusts We're an example OF the survival of
the fittest in business.
THAT is true he said, land the sooner
you realize it and quit trying to create it
by legislation, the better for all concerned.
man cannot expect to have himself con-
tinually wet-nursed by the government.
If men don't want to buy our stocks they
need not. They don't need government
protection. If they wade in and get stuck
let them get out and if they wish to wade
INT again let them do so. The fate of rival
concerns in their own affairs, not ours"
Speaking of the ethics of life suggested
by member of the commission, Have
meyer said: II don't care two cents for
your ethics l know nothing about them.
L am talking about business" He de-
clared that the tariff enabled the steel rail
trust to mulct tn public to the extent of SO
per ton and said incidentally that Mr..
Carnegie had not yet stated what he was
gong to do with his money. He said the
laboring element was forced to form or
carnations, but that in doing so they sacri-
need much independence and the unions
mad the effect of bringing other men down
to a low level" He contended that he was
friend of labor and said that good
men IN the employ of the trust were paid
III per cent. more than they could get else
where. Havemeyer said that many things
were uone IN business which looked cold
blooded and harsh, but that business con-
dlt1ons often required conduct justifyine
such characteristics.
Farmers Trust
The farmers, he thought ought to estab-
nsh trust for their protection He de-
cl1ned to say whether he was interested in
the Mollenhauer and Nash refineries. and
also whether recent dividends of the trust~
We're paid from current receipts or accumu-
lated surplus. He declared that his COM
pany had not gone into combination with
any independent refineres. Reports that
such combination had been effected were
untrue. Replying to a question as to how
he could conduct business at a loss and
still declare dividends, Havemeyer declared.
laughingly, "One is an executive act and
the other a matter of business" The wit
ness expressed the opinion that it would
be a good plan to expose the business
books to government inspector. He closed
with a protest against what he called the
tariff determinations against sugar. re-
iterating that it was due entirely to the
feeling against combinations in business
1.-The sugar refineres have never had a fair
hearing at the hands of the ways and
means committee" he said. 81 came here
as an individual; they were willing to
give me anything; but when I came as the
represer zhtive of a company of five times
the Importance, acting for an adequate
tariff I was told to get out and received no
consideration. Yet the day of the individ-
ual is past. IF the mass of the people profit
at the expense of the individual he must