The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-16
4 Popular Institution, to Attack
Which Is to lndiCt The Nation.
ONE CAUSE OF OUR EXPORTS.
A Cause Of High Wages, Which
Would Drop il Trusts Ceased,

ItESnt ITO" II 1FubtN "htUh "tEo
Really Trusts and which Have Been
Declared IIeEaI-Democrstic Party On
laughtS Inspired by DemagoRism-Ne-
cessity for Combinations In Order to
Reach World Wide Observation-Disclosures
of Direct Benefit to All tho People
Tend to Production in New Fields-Op-
position OF workingmen to Them Ceas-
inE-To Abolish Them Would stop Prog
ress and Set Back Industry and civilian
tion - Danger of Overcapitnlization-
Some Now Companies and Their Fields.
No subject Is attracting more general atten-
tlon just now than the industrial combinations
commonly called trusts. The multiplication Of
the number OF trusts and the increase Of their
capital are going on at an unprecedented rate.
The movement was greater last year than ever
before. 1t went on during the first two months
Of this year at a rate six times greater than last
year. and in March at a rate that has not been
computed. but which has served to draw in
creased public attention to It.
The trust idea has percolated through the
entire community OF the United States. and
the result OF this infltration has been the union
OF persons OF all classes and all sections in COM
bipations to take advantage Of this improved
I'll Va oubihobs ~ bcSuEt tltctlNo
conduct OF the industries In which they ore in
terested and moro efficient operation OF the
agencies OF civilization which industrial and
commercial progress has developed. The trust
10 not q creature Of the cities and the financial
centres. although without them II could not
come into being. but II has been taken up and
recognized and furthered throughout the land.
wherever the percolation Of the trust idea has
carried incentive to larger enterprise and wider
spheres OF activity. The logic Of events points
TO a not far distant time when. instead Of tho
trust being abolished by law. the major BUSH
ness OF the country will be carried on by means
OF II, and the system OF combination. CONSOLE
dalton. or the industrial trust. will be the
governing method in productive industry and
mercantile business.
There was q time when to destroy the trusts
or great business consultations would have
entailed no serious business disturbance.
There we're only a few OF them. such as that in
Standard Oil and Sugar. But the situation Is
very different to-day. The principle OF con-
eolidation has 80 spread throughout the coun-
try and has become established in so many
and various industries that to attack CONSOLE
dation In to attack the national industrial life.
To punish the trusts with disinteGration would
be to punish the nation. I'VE are all in trusts.
Keep your hands of us" would be the general
response 10 any Sucn Undertaking.
The last anti-protoction Encouragement Of
the tariff was followed by widespread misfor-
tune and disaster. II consolidation were for
bidden tomorrow the result would probably
be more disastrous still. since the agencies
that could take up the broken pieces Of bust
moss. run them independently and extract
profit from them would be found only after
great difficulty and delay.
Down with the ~trusts,'' is the Democratic
platform. Possible results they have not cared
to weigh any more than they have paused to
reflect upon their own attitude toward the
nation.
If the Democrats could have their wish and
force the disintegration OF the trusts. so
called. what would be the effect upon business
interests and upon tho country generally %
was asked Of q number Of leading men Of diff
ferent eallings In New York.
Progress would stop. that's ALL" q WELL
known constitutional lawyer said.
Wages would drop immediately"
I'VE should be out OF the worlds markets"
Exporting would cease: we should be I'M
able to export our manufactures"
THE business OF this country could not be
carried on on the Chicago platform: 1t would be
impossible. The conditions on which the coun-
try's business has been built up and on which
alone It was possible to build it up would be
destroyed and 1t could not be continued. We
are not the first to face this agitation. and If we
succumb to 1t We shan't be the first. England
has been through IL and gained wisdom. and IL
We have to undergo 1t. regret over its folly
won't make the experience any pleasanter."
This was from a man who. although identi-
ned with one OF the big trusts" has expressed
himself over his own signature as favoring
legislation to prevent evils which a perversion
Of the power Of combination might cause.
The March reports OF the movements spread
applied to all parts Of the country.
This brings up a fact lost sight OF or wilfully
ignored by the rabid decriers OF these combi-
nations. who carry on their propaganda OF
demagogism as though they were combat
ing. in the interests Of the many. a few indi-
viduals who had formed the combinations
They point at the trusts as though they were
the work and sole property Of a few wealthy
men and could be singled out from the affairs
Of business and industry and destroyed.
not only to the benefit Of the rest OF
the people but without disturbing their lives.
Not one In the littlencss OF his mind has recog-
nized the fact that the people OF the whole
country have gone into the trusts. have formed
the trusts and are forming them-to say moth
ing Of the further fact that in all quarters they
are coming to realize that they are benentin9
by them In daily affairs OF home and business
0nu tnat, OnSeQlently the arrangement OF the
trusts by a few se!f-seeking aRitators is an in
dlctment Of the country by a self-constituted
and interested jury.
Il 10 not . few men al the centres Of capital
who compose the trusts and at whom the
walking delegates and stump speakers In and
out OF Legislatures strike. but business men OF
every section who have gone into the combina-
lions and the thousands OF persons who rejoice
In the increased wages which the trusts" are
paying them. II is not the trusts Expressing
the general population, a few opposing them
selves to the many;i it is the people OF com
munities scattered from one end OF the country
TO the other at every point of the compass
forming the trusts for their Joint advantage
and the general advancement. The assault
upon the trusts Is a blow at the people. not in
their defence; a charge that all around the
country the people are doing wrong and hurt
ing them selves because they do not know what
In good for themselves. not a thrust at oppress-
ing patrioians.
II there were q Sugar Trust and a Salt Trust
which there are not-at whose mercy the con-
suming community lay, an attack might hn
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