The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-09-07
Standing Army of MOnOpoly.
(MissOuri WOrld,)

Standing Army of Monopoly.
(Missouri World)
The year 1899 will be remembered il
American history as the year of the biz
trusts. In his celebrated speech
against the ratification of the Paris
treaty. Senator Hoar declared that thu
downfall Of the republic would date
from the administration of William Nc
Kinley if his policy Of Imperialism was
sustained. The trusts of the United
States are behind Mckinley in his for
e1gn policy, and are ready to spend mill
ions In re-electing him. They have
never been so audacious as at the pres,
ent time. If the American people do
not awake from their lethargy and safe
guard their liberties by ousting McKin-
ley from the presidential chair, what
Senator Hoar predicted may come to
pass. The Republican party has fos-
tered the trusts for many years and they
now assume formidable proportions.
The people are at their mercy. If left
uncontrolled they will prey on the con-
sumers Of the country, and ultimately
pauperize them. The following article
from the New York Journal will give an
idea of their power for evil:
When Ignatius Donnelly, in Caesars
Column" looked into the next CEN
tury and described state of things in
which a group Of capitalists, with it's
own private armies and aerial navies.
had become the ruling power of the
world. reoucing the nominal govern
ments to the position of rudimentary
survivals, and when H. G. Wells, ii
When the Sleeper Wakes" foresaw q
similar condition Of things. with coun-
Gil OF administrations Of a worldwide
private estate as the power above presi-
dents and kings, they were not wan
dering very far from the limits of the
practicable
suppose, for instance, that the recent
railroad consultations should 20 on to
their logical conclusion, and bring the
whole transportation system of the
United States into the hands of one cor
poration. That corporation would then
have in it's direct employ at least a MILL
ion men-the strongest, hardest, most
resourceful and self-reliant men in
America
The wages of railroad employees in
1897 ran down from an average of 1884
per day for the 1880 general officers to
an average of $1.16 for the III, 1852 track
men. Suppose the men in control of
the new combination should resolve
upon a change of policy. Suppose they
should determine, instead of grinding
down their employees. to identify their
interests with their own, and turn them
into mercenary army devoted to it's
leaders. Suppose they should saw:
Hereafter the minimum rate of pay on
our roads shall be IS a day, and the pub
tic can foot the bill"
What could the unorganized public do
then? Where would "anti-monopolists"
In Office be when. instead of dealing
with few unpopular millionaires. thew
had to deal with a disciplined and en-
thusiastic voting, and, If need be, fight
ing. force of million railroad retain
ers? Who would be the government Of
the United States, the president and
congress, or the Vanderbilts and Rocke-
fellers?
And 1t must be remembered that the
same power that would control the rail-
roads would also control the principal
Industries of the country, with their
hundreds of thousands of EMPLOYEES.
The Standard OIL interests, which are so
1eep in the Pennsylvania and other rail-
ways, control, in whole or in part, the
American and Red Star steamship lines.
he Cramp shipbuilding yard, the prin-
;ipal shipbuilding establishments and
steamer lines on the lakes, the iron
mines OF Minnesota, great steel works
It Cleveland, copper mines in Montana.
gold, silver and lead mines in Idaho.
winter hotels in Florida, and unfyersf-
les In Chicago. Syracuse and elsewhere.
These enterprises, with the scores Of
'thers OF which they are samples. would
doubtless add another million hands tn
ne million marshaled by the railroad
rust. Where would the nat,ona,
tanding army of $4,000, 100000 or
ven 100000 men be against such a forca
8 that? Did Pisistratus, Caesar or the
dedici ever have such advantages for
he overthrow of a republic?