The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-15
CAUSES OF THE TRUSTS.
THEIR RELATION TO THE TARIFF
DISCUSSED At CHICAGO.

Various Other Theories as to tho Rise and
Proeress of These business Combina-
tions- Railroads nre Blamed for Their
oriRin-EI-Gov. Foster Defends Trusts.
CHICAGO Sept. 14.-This mornings session
Of the Trust Conference at Central Music Hall
resolved itselt into debating society in which
the anti-trust faction and the wing which
10 supposed to sostcr the trust octopus.
talked sharply at each other. There was
an attempt by the antitrust faction.
headed by the Texas delegation. to swing the
conference to It's side. which resulted In q vic
tory for the conservative element In the adop-
ton OF q m otion providing for Committee on
Resolutions 1t 10 probable that no resolutions
will be allowed 10 como before the conference
befo re Saturday.
The motion as adopted provides that tho
Committed on Resolutions shall be composed
OF one member from every State and national
organization present and that each delegation
shall select It's own representative. The reso-
lutions submitted to the conference will be re-
ferred to the committee without being read or
discussed.
One Of the spokesman Of the Texas delees-
tion which frankly avows Itself against trusts
In any form. charged that tho trust sentiment
predominated at the conference. and that II
was the intention Of the majority to shut out
the so-called radicals. W. Bourke Cochran,
Editor Rosewater OF the Omaha Bee and
Gov. Atkinson denied these charges and
demanded open and fair consideration
OF the questions subject to discussion.
Mr.. Cochran expressed himself In favor OF the
adoption OF resolution by the conference
giving to the country fair. practical and rep
rssentative expression OF the sentiment on
trusts entertain ed by this conference.
The appointment OF the Committee on Reso-
lutions. 1t is believed will insure the adoption
OF some expression Of opinlon on the matter
OF trusts.
Gov. Atkinson. OF West Virginia, asserted In
his speech last night that two OF the mammoth
trusts were controlled by Democrats. In
answer to the question IS to which Of the
trusts he referred to. he said to-day that
he referred particularly to the Standard
OIL Company and the Sugar Trust. The
Governor declined 30 specify what Nom bers Of
these two corporations are Democrats. but
reiterated his statement.
The idea that intended TO CONVEY" said
Gov. Atkinson. was that there are as many
Democrats as Republicans in trusts and the
two MANN 9th trusts alluded TO In my re-
marks were the Standard OIL Company
and the Sugar Trust. have It from tho
most reliable sources that the stock holders
who manipulate and control these two comb
nations are Democrats. and believe that Mr..
Rockefeller and Mr.. Havemeyer are both
Democrats However. 1 am not positive as to
their politics, and do not care TO say ANYTHING
further on that point. As to my statement
that these two great corporations are controlled
by Democratic, will adhere to 1t as my firm
belief. and am confident that such is the case. +"
THE Tariff in It's Relations to the Trusts"
form ed the topic for discussion at the loren Don
session. Free trade and projection locked
horns In q sharp debate. The anti Trust end
Of the question was presented by E. Lawson
Purdy, OF the Reform Club. New York and
Byron W. Holt OF the New England Free
Trade League. The ground taken in each Of the
speeches was that the tariff is the mother Of
the trusts and that the trusts are nalevolent
institutions to be combatted by Federal and
State legislation. THE trust is not wholly
and entirely the result OF the tariff" said Mr..
Purdy, but the tariff undoubted does assist
the developm ent OF powerful and malsvolent
combinations OF capital"
Mr. Holt said:
That the tariff by shielding our manufac-
turers from foreign competition. m axes 1t easy
for them to com bine. to restrict production and
to FIX prices-up to the tariff limit-ought to be
evident TO every Intelligent man. 1t ought
also to be evident to all here that tho greatest
objection to trusts Is due to their ability to
raise prices above q normal. profit producing
point. That the trusts raise prices whenever
possible to what they consider the maximum
profit point Is certain.
1T is asserted BY the trust advocates that
trusts can produce more eheaply than ind-
vidual firms and that they have lowered
prices Out OF 400 trusts which have enum-
Grated do not believe that ten have lowered
prices. II there Ia one industry m ore than any
other to which the proteetionists have al
ways pointed with pride 1t is the Amsri-
can tin plate industry. There are two
points OF view-that OF the manufacturer
and that of the consumer The protec-
tionists bravely tell ua that the tin plate
tax is paid by the foreigner and that u we were
not producing our own tin plate the Welsh
trust would be charging us Just as much as
our own manufacturers The fact that prices
went UP under the Mckinley duty. down under
the Wilson duty and up again under the Ding
ley duty upsets the plausibilIty OF this theory
The only way in which tariff duties can benefit
labor ia through q double trust composed OF
both manufacturers and their employees and
this has occurred only temporarly and in A