The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-06-27

i've the people cheaper goods or better
oods. 1t is competition that gives the
eople better goods and cheaper goods.
Because men know that they can only |
70 able to outstrip their competitors by
elling cheaper goods or better goods,
hey strive continually to improve their
or cheaper their wares. They
10 neither, where they have everything
heir own way-have monopoly.
The truth of this is shown by the |
results Of the formation of Trusts, so far
rs we have had experience. Nearly
every man, without exception, has to
pay higher for Trust goods than he had
to pay for the same articles, when COM
petition was free. In the publishing
business it comes home to us. The
paper trust made $15, 900, 900 off the
publishers of the country, the first year
of its existence, by running up the price
of paper. This did not all come off of
us, but it was enough to hurt Take
the Standard Oil Company as another.
illustration. 1t claims to be a blessing
to the country, because, it says, it has
reduced the price of oil and improved its
quality-all of which has Injured to the
welfare of the people who have to buy
oil. But their assertions are contra
dicted by facts that cannot be answered.
If they made better oil than others,
that fact would sell their goods, and
they would not have to resort to dis
reputable methods to crush out small
competitors, as has been the rule. If
they sold cheaper oil, that fact would
enable them, with their immense capi-
tai, to crush out opposition; but they
have made determined fight against all
opponents who attempted to enter the
market by selling cheaper Or better oil,
and have crushed them or forced them
out of the business.
When the shepherd lets the wolf into
his fold because it tells him it will pro.
tect the fold, then the people may
believe that Trusts are being organized
for their benefit.
Controlling billions of capital, these
monopolies are buying up newspapers
to make false defense of their iniquity
and paying for it by the line, to appear
as editorials or at least having the
endorsement that publication gives
Some of these articles are prepared ant
sent out by newspaper syndicates, ant
published in many papers. One o
them recently appeared in the New
York Journal, and is having the run o
the Trust newspapers. 1t might b.
dubbed "the baby argument" for NOR
reasons than-one. 1t holds that Trust
are good thing, and the people will
see it, after while; latter they are pow
erless to help themselves,) that tn
people who oppose Trusts are a goo
people, well meaning, but they hav
not kept up with the progress OF tn
world, and don't see things right.
holds that they are like people wh
would try to push back the teeth of
babe, because they didn't know wha
they are for; or would condemn bab
because it could only crawl, and nc
walk. The article is interesting onl
as showing the weakness of the defens
/; Of Trusts.
The people know enough now of th
iniquity of Trusts, even if Trusts al
| only in their infancy. If an infant hs
8 yellow fever, or leprosy, or smallpox,
8 ought to be quarantined for the publ
r good; and so all organizations tn,
8 work evil to mankind should be qua
: antined where they can do no harm
the people-whose rights are above a
s others rights.
t If the people lie on their backs, lii
9 infants playing with their toes, whi
the house is being filed with wolve
II their cry for pity will avail nothir
e when the whole pack are turned loo
t upon them.