The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-23
Efforts of the Society to BE COncen-
trated on the Suppression of
Dangerous Combinations"
FIGHT AGAINST A COMBINE"
ANTHRACITE COAL OPERATORS TO
BUILD A ROAD OF THEIR OWN.
Sixty-Eight Concerns, Representing
S11O,OOO,OOO of Capital, Pledged to
Make War on Railways.

SPRINGFIELD, O., Nov. %. - The Ma
tional Grange, which has been in session in
this city during the past week, will ad-
journ sine die tomorrow Afternoon. 1mpor-
tant in to-day's proceedings were the re-
ports of the committees on trusts and
the merchant marine, both of which We're
adopted The trust committees report fol-
lows:
1.-The National Grange expresses its ap-
proval of the address or our worthy master,
Aaron Jones, regarding trusts and demands
the enactment by Congress of such laws
will protect the people against all combina-
tions Of men and capital inimical to pubic
policy
terests which merely lessen the cost OF
production. but We are decidedly opposed
combinations of capital give for the purpose
of destroying competition; controlling pro-
duction and arbitrarily debating prices OF
commodities. Associations as opposed to
legislation are one thing; combinations as
opposed to isolation are another. We are
opposed to all oorporations or & trusts s,,, which len
Standard Oil Company reach out their
arms and embrace all competition. Special
favors are granted them by railroads, thus
enabling them to underseH and force to
the wall the smaller dealers. who might
otherwise compete with them. We encour-
bra sfanch he of legitimate industry nc ar' and - demand
fair play. The construction of the Erie
canal benefited the farmer. Competition
has reduced the price OF TRANSFORMATION to
twenty-five years. The expansion Of our
territory and commerce tends to increase
greed and selfishness which too often
actuate men has become an element of dam
ger, and must be controlled: 1t must be
made impossible for so-called trusts to
cumulate millions by selling watered stock
without adding to the wealth of the coun-
sFirstNofhciai inspection of all corpora
tions as In the case of national banks.
No corporation should be tolerated whose
books cannot bear such inspection.
''Second-Prohibition of all rebates or dis
..Third-Taxa xation of all capital stock.
"Fourth-All capital stock should be paid
"Fisth,,severe penalties for violation of
imprisonment Of Of all public ocsis '1s whose %e
duty 1t may be to enforce the law and who
fail TO perform that duty.
Suggestions-We would advise many pc
titions to Congress to pass remedial legisla-
tion along the lines above suggested. We
ask the members of our body to secure
al laws, but suited to the peculiar require
ments OF their respective States. One of the
acon of trusts is their
This can be remedied by educating the peo-
pie; pieor Meanwhile we must control by the
worthy Of consideration has thus been
| stated. Whenever monopolies are based
| upon the acquisition of nearly the entire
| supply of natural treasures of any sort or
| upon the exclusive ownership of raw ma
terial of any kind, government ownership
OF the source of supply Is called for The
National Grange of the Patrons of Hus-
| bandry pledges its best efforts for the sup
preston of such dangerous associations
| and We invite the earnest cooperation of
every liberty.loving, sef-respecting citizen
| Of the Republic
The report is signed by Aaron Jones. In
| diana; G. w. Worthen, California; Oliver
Wilson. Illinois; A. B. Judson. Iowa: Oba-
| diah Gardner. Maine; George B. Horton,
Michigan; ]. J. Woodman, Michigan; z. B.
| Norris, New York; s. II. Ellis. Ohio; J. H.
| Brigham, Ohio; w. F. Hill, Pennsylvania;
| w. X. Thompson, South Carolina, and H.
| z. Huxley, Wisconsin.
The merchant marine resolution was TAX
| en- up, but after considerable discussion it
| was referred to committee with instruc-
| tions to draft subresolution which, in
| substance, was adopted as follows:
THAT We most heartily desire the up
| building of our merchant marine but we
are emphaticaly opposed to the principle of
| subsidy and believe the desired results can
| and will be accomplished without resorting
| thereto"