The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-15

Governor Pfnsree Points Out Some oil
the Dangers Created by Trusts.

Vice President Corliss. Of New York. pre-
sided at the evening session p. e Dove.
OF New York made a motion that the names
OF persons who had been admitted to the
floor since the organization was effected be
stricken from the rolls. A point of order
was raised and Sustained by the chair. who
then introduced Governor Pingree. of Mich
igau He said in part:
'In this Republic Of ours we are fond or
saying that there are classes. In fact.
we boast OF IL. We say that classes belong
To monarchies, not to republics. Neverthe-
less none OF US can dispute the fact that
our society Is divided into classes, and we'll
defined ones. too. They are not dis
tinguished by differences of social standing.
That Is. we have no aristocratic titles. no
nobility. The distinction with us is based
upon wealth. The man Is rated by the prop
erfy he owns. Our social and political lead
ers and speakers deny this. In doing so,
however, they ignore actual conditions. They
discuss what ought 10 be under our form
OF government-not what is.
1.-The strength of our Republic has always
been I'm what is called our middle class. This
IS made up of manufacturers, jobbers, mid
dlemen. retail ard wholesale merchants.
commercial travellers and business men gen.
orally. 1t would be little short of calamity
TO encourage any industrial development,
that would affect unfavorably this impor-
taDt class OF our citizens. Close TO them as
strong element Of our people are the skilled
mechanics and artisans They are the sinew
and strength OF the Nation.
While the business of the country has
been conducted by persons and firms. the
skilled empioye has held close and sym
pathetic relations with his employer. He
Eas been something more than a mere ma
chine. He has felt the stimulus and am
tition which goes with equality OF oppor-
mi fbrrto To fx1ol rn
rim a good citizen Take away that slim
uiUs and ambition and we lower the stand
ard OF our citizenship. Without good citi-
1T seems TO me. therefore. that the vital
consideration connected with this problem
of the trust Is its effect upon our middle
man and the skilled artisan and mechanic.
How does the trust affect them? II is adj
mitted by the apologist for the trust that
II makes II impc ssible for the individual or
firm 10 do business on small scale. IL
tends TO concentrate the ownership and man.
the hands OF very few. No one denies this.
FORCED INTO TRUSTS
This being so. II follows that the indie
pendent. individual business man, must en-
ter the employment of the trust Self
preservation compels it. Duty to his family
forces him to It, He becomes an employed
instead of an employer. His trusted fore
men and his employees must follow him.
They have been in close and daily associa-
ton with him. The new order of things
compels them to separate. They are both to
become a part Of the vast Industrial army
with no hopes and aspirations-a daily task
TO perform and no personal interest. and
perhaps, no pride in the success of their
work Their personal identity is lost. They
become cogs and little wheels in a great
complicated machine. There is no real adj
vance for them. They may perhaps become
larger cogs or larger wheels. but they can
never look forward to a life of business
freedom very select few may become