Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-06-01

It issues have arisen which require thei
d attention and they intend to add sew
h eral planks to their platform that di'
: not find place there before. They hav
e in mind especially the question o
+ trusts. They will come out strongl,
: against them. At a so-called anti
! trust dinner at st. Louis last week, tn
I opening gun was fired. Bryan ant
e others spoke. Free silver was hardly
= mentioned, being only alluded TO onc'
incidentally. The whole burden wa
how to down the trusts. They wer,
attributed to the Republican party, o
course, and of course without the least
: particle of reason, Tor the Republican
party has never encouraged nor de.
Tended them in any way and they have
just as many enemies in one party as
the other Nothing that the Republi-
can party has ever done has given the
Democracy the least right to ascribe the
existence of trusts to it, and nothing
that the Democratic party has ever
done has given it the right to pose as
the antagonists of trusts.
These combines are wholly without
the pale OF politics. They are pure
business affairs. Men of all parties
are interested in them. They are gem
orally looked on with disfavor by the
people and for this reason and no
other the Democracy will try to make
a great hullabaloo about them for the
purpose of attracting votes to itself
As q matter OF fact, trusts are 50 indie
pendent of politics that il is very diff
cult, if not impossible, to reach them
by any law Federal law has failed
entirely.
Trusts, however greatly we may dis
like the word, are the natural product
or our modern business methods. |
They are generally combinations
formed by firms or corporations that
have been engaged in close COMPETE
ton for the purpose of conducting
their business more economically and
of fixing the prices Of their goods at a
level where they can make a reason
able profit. The idea is not perhaps
new, but the practical application of it
is. At first thought, it would seem
that such combinations were public
menace, because, having absorbed all
the producers or dealers, the trust
might elevate the price so high that it
would be extortionate In practice.
however, the contrary is shown. The :
rust dare not raise the price above a
igure that affords reasonable profit, :
'or if it did it would soon find itself
subjected to competition. IL can
not be claimed, however, that prices
would not be somewhat lower II it
we're not for trusts Cut-throat COM
petition would continue. The margin
between fair profit and none at all L
would perhaps benefit the consumers a
title, but ii would mean ruin to the |
Iealers. Communication and trans
'ortation and improved methods have =
'rought practically all the country to
he same market and a very little va ;
iation in price by single dealer must .
'e instantly met by others, or the one :
yho can produce a shade the least gets
he order. This process meant only
he narrowest of profits to the favored
ne, and actual loss to the others. IL
vas a rapid course of determination.
here could be only one result. A few
lrge firms would soon absorb every
hing and the rest would 90 into bank
uptcy Wages must 90 down in the
lid rush to produce cheapest
Then came the trust. Instead OF
eeping on in the struggle against
ach other. it was proposed that the
callers should combine, agree upon
Gale of prices that would mean a tair
roft to all and if possible check the
Onward tendency Some trusts
ave accomplished this and are meas
rably successful; others have failed
'r various reasons. II is like all the
leat dealers in town agreeing to
chedule Of prices which will allow
hem fair profit, instead of cutting
ach others Threats. Ii they attempt
% much, someone else will 90 into
usiness, but 50 long as they are not
unreasonable, being established and
aving presumably the best stands.
leir patrons win tolerate the combine.
uch trusts are not a public injury.
eople ought not to expect 10 buy so
heap that the one who sells is a loser.
great deal more damage results
hen this is done than even when
rices are too high.
But what about the consumers is