The times., 1899-06-15
Trnst, md the TnriG.

Whatever may be said or suspected re-
garding the bona fides of Mr.. Henry o.
Hayemeyers position as a trust champion
before the Industrial Commission, it must
be said that the statement he read before
that body yesterday has much TO COM
mend it TO American thinkers and voters.
Probably neither we nor many of our
readers will be inclined to regard the
Sugar Trust as an unmixed and oppressed
blessing which ought to have two or three
times the measure of protection it enjoys,
as one of its chief proprietors presents it.
Under some circumstances we might be
willing to challenge the entire accuracy of
his statement. that it only is allowed an
advantage, through the Dingley tariff, of
about three and one-haIf per cent, against
foreign refined sugars. We are not
in the mind to quarrel with him just now
on that score; but TO acknowledge that
there is a great deal of truth in his declara-
ton that it is the Chinese wall fiscal sys-
tenn of the Republican party which is
largely responsible for the establishment.
growth. and enormous profits of oppressive
trusts, and their disastrous effects upon
all small enterprises, legitimate competi
ton, and labor.
AS might be naturally expected, Mr..
Hayemeyer excerpts his own from the list
of trusts that are dangerous to national
prosperity and public policy. But he is
outspoken against most if not all others.
He says:
The mother Of all trusts is the customs tariff
n-
have been the occasion Of tine formation OF
all the large trusts, with very few exceptions,
inasnuch as they provide for an incrdinate pro
lection to all the interests Of the country-sugar
refining excepted Economic advantage incident
the consolidation OF large interests in the same
line Of business a great incentive to then
formation, but these bear a very insignificant
proportion to the advantages granted IN the way
Of protection under the customs tariff. There
probably IS not an industry that requires pro-
lection OF more than ten per cent ad yalOrem,
and it is 10 obtain what is provided over such
percentage in the tariff that leads to the torna-
lion OF what commonly spokcn Of a. trusts.
With protection 10 an industry not exceeding
ten per cent, all menace 10 the community Oi
trusts would cease This ten per cent would repre-
sent the difference in cost OF production and like
wise act as protection against surplus products
Of foreign countries being dumped IN our local
markets, thereby interfering with the regular
and economic working Of our industries Any ad-
vantage that might then accrue TO such c0mbi-
nations, they would be fuiI- entitled to, ara
the public would not be damaged thereby, as
any expansion Of price would be met By foreign
competition and relief.
II Mr.. Havemeyer had added that it only
requires the coordination OF the gold
standard and the Republican tariff sys-
tens to place the American people help
lessly at the mercy Of monopolistic ras-
cality he would have completed a truth
that he was bold enough to half tell. Be
yond any sort of doubt he is right in as
serting that the protective tariff furnishes
the prime motive for the organization OF
such combinations in restraint of trade
as those to which he refers, and it must
be conceded that his words are not without
value. as furnishing a text upon which
many useful popular sermons can be
grounded.
AS a sort of side issue. the suspicion
occurs TO us that Mr. Havemeyer may have
Z drop CT blood in his eye when he de-
nounces the Chinese system cherished by
his great and good friend Mckinley. and
his sometime political admiration. Senator
Hanna. We are not entirely satisfied that
the denunciation of trusts inserted in the
Columbus platform has not exerted some
influence upon the saccharine gentleman
from the refneries. II should be bOrna iD
mind that the Rockefellers are popularly
supposed to divide the honors of Sugar
Trust proprietorship with the Havemey-
ers. and the former family has been cruel
ly used in Ohio by its State authorities.
We do not say that this consideration is
sufficient TO justify the sugar king in de-
liyering 4 solar plexus blow at the Ad-
ministration, but he probably knows his
business. The numerous corporations and
combines which fatten on the tariff will
have TO be seen pretty soon in connection
with campaign contributions. They vii!
not like the critical. if not unfriendly at
titude of the Sugar Trust toward them.
and the latter is not at all pleased that
they should have the benefit of forty or
ffty per cent protection. against its own
alleged three and a half Such things