The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-10
TRUSTS MUST Be DESTROYED
fBY c. A. EnWARDs.l

/ am not trying TO create the Issue for the
next campaign, but I am trying to get
people to fully realize that they are face
to face with condition. They must realize
1t or they must perish as freemen. That's
all there is to It.
Right here in the capital OF the Nation
where the laws are made. where the
machinery Is put In motion that executes
them and where the court OF last resort
sits in judgment upon everything apper-
tanning to them, the feeling is beginning
10 take deep root that the trust question
rs going TO be one OF the big issues Of the
next campaign. Ss
4 1t will not overshadow nor obscure the
II silver question, because they go hand In
hand. The right settlement OF the money
Question would be big step toward the
settlement OF the trust question, and the
reforms have suggested in former letters
would then be Instituted and the solution
OF the gravest problem that Will soon con-
front this people would DO at hand.
Some OF the democrats who are weak
kneed on the silver question are openly
advocating the trust question as the main
issue and say they believe we can win in
1900 on that issue alone.
They contend that the people can be
made to understand that the republican
party is the party of trusts; that It fosters
and protects them and that the only relief
can come to the country through the DEM
ocratic party. The thoughtful. patriotic
men OF the democratic party see the COM
ing Of the storm IL these combines con-
tinue to grow in strength for the next half
dozen years as they have in the past half
dozen years
One OF them, a distinguished United
States senator, a man who Is conservative
and nothing of an alarmist or pessimist
said to me the other day that they, the
trusts. would force a revolution upon US
for the point would ere long be reached
when the people would revolt against the
aggressions of these monopolies which are
everywhere and every day levying tribute
upon the country.
This Capitalization of capital is driving
men of small means out of business be-
cause they can not compete with the great
combines that control freight rates; 1t is
closing up the little industries all over
the land which give employment in the
towns and in great measure sustain small
communities. The battle for bread Is be-
coming too bitter and the people will some
day throw patience to the winds. The rich
men who are every day pacing the marble
halls OF the Nations capitol and having
legislation enacted by republican con-
gross that further increases the power of
wealth are relying once too often upon
the so-called conservatism OF the Amer |
lean people. They are dancing upon the
thin crest of a volcano that will some
day crash through with sound like the
crnck OF doom and they Will be engulfed
in the fierce Gehenna fires that burn
within.
| am not trying to SOW the seeds of |
dangerous discomfort nor fan the flames
In the superheated imaginations of alarm |
lists, cranks and pessimists. l am simply
4 writing colby the way things look here
to me and to others who are better able
to judge OF conditions than /, and after Sc |
/ rious talks with labor leaders and men |
whose names are synonyms of states
manship. conservatism and integrity.
| 1t is simply case OF facing the music.
You can't make a dynamite bomb innocu
Gus by denying It's existence and you can't
| stop cyclone by ignoring Its approach
Therefore you can't stop the rayages of
the trusts by simply saying they are doing
no harm. and the Sherman anti trust law
has proven the abortiveness of National
legislation to curb their growth or control
| them.
You can't temporize with violently |
insane man. The only way to handle
MIN Is to incarcerate him. The only way
to deal with trusts is to destroy the cause
that produces the effect.
Here they are-the trusts-look at
them!
These eleven trusts illustrate the gem
eral character of all these concerns. A
study OF the figures given shows that these
eleven trusts are capitalized for $3.50 $780,
900 and bonded for S43, 900, 900; yet the
total actual investment was Sl75 1000, 900,
In other words. the people of the United
States are called upon to pay in increased
PiSeo VI tnc COnmOultleb controlled by
these eleven trusts, dividends and interest
on s3l5ooo,ooo more than the investment.
Assuming that the watering process has
not been employed any more extensively
in other trusts. then the people are con-
tributing their earnings to the payment
of dividends annually on fictitious stocks
watered to the amazing extent of thou
sand million dollars.
Here are steven trusts selected:
Common
American Cotton tsi
company ........,... 2N,y3T100 $40 los. 600
American Spirits Manu- II
featuring Co.. 26.49i 600 Csc $40
American Sugar Rein
inS 90. ....,.......... 3b,96S,O00 ~, 9bS, 900
American Tobacco
company ...,,......... ls,I7s.ooo i2,li1ooo
General Electric com
pdny .......,........-. 0,46O.p0O 900 ,
National Lead COM
pany .,.,........,..... IL, eoo. 900 II, 900
National Linseed OIL
company ,,...'.,,..... 1s.75o.ooo ls.7bo.ooo
National Starch COM
pany ...,..,...-.,..... 4,4oV,IO 4,uob,2O
Standard Rope aud 1,
Irvine company. ...... i2,000.o0U .........I
United States Leather
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