The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-16
not subscribe some test by which we
could distinguish between the two.

not subscribe some test by which We
could distinguish between the two.
Suggests a Test.
Now, ladies and gentlemen. I think
1t is simple one, perfectly clear. The
test is to ascertain whether the COM
bination of capital f1ourishes through
government aid or without it, for nv
friends, you must see that any indus
trial enterprise which dominates the
market without aid from the govern
ment. must do so through cheapeninz
the product, or, as it is commonly
called, by underselling competitors.
An industry which at one and the
same time reduces prices and swells
its own profits must accomplish that
result by increasing the volume of its
production. On the other hand, an in
dustry which dominates the market by
the favor of the government, direct or
Indirect, cannot, in the nature OF
things, be forced to cheaper prices. be-
cause if it could dominate the market
by underselling competitors in an open
field without favor, it would not need
the government favor. (Applause.)
The interference OF the government
would be an injury and not a benefit
to it. An industry or combination OF
capital, or anything you may choose to
call it, that dominates a market
through a restricted competition, that
delivers the consumer to it's own terms,
necessarily depends upon a narrow out
put and large profits, extorted not from
the excellency Of it's service, but from
the helplessness of those with whom
it deals. (Applause.)
Three Ways of Interfering.
'rNow, there are three ways in which
the government interferes in the trade
of individuals in this country; one is
by patent laws. The other means by
which the government interfereS is by
tariff. Now, L believe that every person
can concede, whether he believes I'M
high tariff or free trade, that so far as
trusts are concerned, the tariff operates
to favor them in this way and in this
way only. 1t operates to restrict COM
petition in the production of any article
to those engaged in it in this country.
But if a trust or combination is to be
formed, manifestly it aids the enter
prise where the field OF competition isl
originally limited.
Under a condition Of free trade
every article which is produced is ex-
posed to the competition Of the whole
world. If you rely on the combination
to suppress competition, manifestly it
is easier to make a combination be-
tween the producers in one country
than in all countries, and to that ex-
tent the tariff favors (ApplauseO
There is still a third essential, with
which we can deal and which believe
is vastly more extensive in it's results
than this tariff in favor of trusts. And
/ refer to those favOrs which are ex-
tended to certain industries or from the,
corporations enjoying government
franchises which are none the less gov
eminent agencies because their stock is
owned by private individuals
And here we are face to face with
I .fs1rTcT ffr-cs4 II
sumo it a serious difficulty because il
is almost impossible to discover it. It
| is surrounded by secrecy. That it is
existing and does exist, everybody be-
Ieves.
The Governments Powers.
But. my friends, you must remem-
Der that no person can enjoy favor at
the hands of any company enjoying a
public franchise except at the expense
of another. 1t is true of every instance
where government favOrs an individual.
have said in many places and L say
here that government cannot at one
and at the same time be fountain Of
generosity and justice. (Applause.)
Government cannot create anything.
Now, if government cannot create any
thing, it has nothing of it's own to be-
stow. If it undertakes to enrich one
individual, the thing it gives to him it
must take from another. (Applause.)
IF it does a favor it must have a vic
| tim. And that government only is lust
and beneficient which has neither fav-
orites nor victims.
Now, have said that these favors
are extended by the common belief, and
1 have said and acknowledged that if
one person attains rates that are ex-
cessively favorable, if his goods are
transported at a loss, why, other men
using that same facility must make
good the loss What is the remedy2