The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-05
Of the present month to finish their run

of the present month to, finish their run
and put out their fires.
This has been done for gain. 1t is
the intention of the trust to limit the
supply and regulate the market. In
cidentally it will save millions of dol
lars that otherwise might be circulating
among the laboring classes. The first
thing this combination did was to
destroy competition. Then it raised
prices. Next it discharged its work.
men all over the United States 1t
violated the best interests of the people.
1t is trying to cause a shortage in
window glass that it may the more
easily control the market henceforth. 1t
is gathering strength with which to
crush out every attempt to compete
with it in the future 1t has threat
ened the wives and children of its
operatives with starvation. At least
100, 600 people are at its mercy in this
way, while 100000 of people will be
compelled TO pay its prices or stuff bed
clothes in broken windows to keep out
the cold and wet.
1t was an easy thing for the trust to
accomplish this. 1t secured all the
factories it wanted, for it had I'M
limited capital behind it. This backing
also enabled it to reduce the price of
window glass until every factory not
included in the trust was forced to the
wall. No independent concern could
afford to stay in the business. The
owners were ruined financially and
their employees deprived of work.
Talk about anarchy Pirate about the
destruction of property and the killing
of men. What anarchist or army of
incendiaries ever threatened the peace
and prosperity, the very lives and hap
piness of the people, as these monopo-
lies are doing?
Every independent factory as we'll
might have been blown up with dyna-
mite. Every laboring man who is
thrown upon the world as a tramp
without the power to provide for his
children may pray for more violent
end before the end comes. For this is
only one trust and there are hundreds.
For this is only a beginning of what
may be expected.
newspapers in this republic that at
tempt to justify this restriction of
trade, this crushing of competitors, this
robbery of consumers, this brutal dis
regard of the laboring man, on the
ground that it is business, 1t is out
rageOus. And there ought to be some
way to stop this abuse that has grown
up under the fostering care of paternal-
ism. The administration says the anti
trust laws are inadequate, but that is
the Interpretation put upon them by
a trust attorney. Occasionally some
Republican organ admits that a re-
peal of the tariff schedule will limit
the ruthless power Of these combina-
tions that are injuring trade and
destroying the hope of the working
man. This is striking at the cause, to
be sure. But tariff reform can only
prevent other institutions of the same
kind from springing up. No doubt
those that have obtained the power
already will pay little or no attention
to tariff reductions, or, if they mind
them at ALL will prevent unsatisfactory
changes from being made by reason
of the very strength they have drawn
from the people through tariff legisla-
ton.
But some measure should be en-
acted whereby the country may obtain
relief from the bondage that is taking
hold Of them. The best plan seems to
be stringent and ample antitrust
legislation in connection with tariff
reform.
These things the Democratic party
has been calling for and advocating for
catrar.ol Nranrc