Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-25
TWELVE PAGES
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 25, 1899.
THE LABOR AND PRODUCTS OF
THE PEOPLE.

There Is no question that comblna-
tions have effected great good in the
world; but this is only to say that pow
er has accomplished much benefit and
af 1t be agreed that combination and
power be necessary in many cases of
enterprise and advancement, this is not
an admission that they are desirable or
allowable in all cases OF that n check
is not necessary 10 their operations and
a limit to their power and capital. Cor
porations. under every prudent gov
eminent are thus curbed in their char
tiers, which are their only leases of
life; but the trusts and other huge
combinations of tho day are CONSOLIDATE
cd concerns. In the nature of corpora
tions. wholly unauthorized, and that
claim the right To form themselves and
carry on their operations without leave
or license Of any government.
They combine Individuals. firms and
corporations in one associated asglom-
Grafton. though the parts are not char
tered or licensed TO do anything of the
kind, and they proceed to raise a cap
ital and do n business that none OF its
constituent parts Is empowered to do.
Heretofore individuals who desired to
form corporation had to do 50 either
under the general laws. by application
to some court. or under Il special act
OF corporation. Obtained from Congress
or tho General Assembly of n state.
But these gigantic megatheriums of
trade and manufacture, arrogate ex-
emptlon from all law. and set about
doing as they please. controlling every
body and everything within reach, to
their will and profit.
Even mutual benefit societies and la
Dor unions and farmers oranges must
dlsbnnd before them, because they in
terferes with the arbitrary rule of the
trusts; and these lawless leviathans
even have the audacity (while assert
ing their own mon9trous independence
to appeal to the law against these hum
BILE unions OF labor and production for
self defence against organized capital
power, chicane and speculation, as
criminal conspiracies against the sacred
right OF big fish to devour the smaller
fry. The wonder is that the land grab
beers OF Virginia have not instituted
suits, or procured informations or in
dictments, against these infamous per-
sons who have Joined hands TO protect
the poor landowners of Virginia
against land piracy! There Is no doubt
that II businessmen anywhere unite in
q mutual protective association for
their personal and business rights and
Interests against the intimidation
duress. power and coercion OF trusts
these freebooters and buccaneers will
seek and (probably) obtain judicial in
functions commanding the business
men to dispense, dissolve, dlsband. and
quietly submit to be sucked in by these
trusts. or get out of the way.
The right OF seif-defence IS ncverthe-
less recognized in every civilized sys-
tenn OF Jurisprudence. and upheld by all
just Judges; yet from the very begin
ming Of the controversy about oomhina-
tfons, chartered or unchartered. ordi
nary or extraordinary. the trusts ana
their champions have sought TO justify
their assailants and assaults by the eX-
amples of the se!f-defenders aud their
efforts TO repel the attacksl Nay, In
effect. they hold that DOWN guard is
illegal. II 1t he Illegal TO organize a
band of robbers to ransack the town!
No wonder that such men cannot see
and comprehend the distinction be-
tween the rights of the laborer TO his
. labor and of the original producer 10 his
products, on the one hand, and the
rights Of employers, spectators and
consumers. ON the other hand. to this