The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-10-13

~ ltttS uliI as an INDUSTRIAL SluNe
and thus saps the strength Of our de-
mocracy and citizenship. 1t corrupts
politics, legislatures, municipal coun-
ellis. public officers, the press and even
the courts
The remedy is what we are now
seeking. The Chicago trust conference
did much to bring US nearer to a rem
edy.
The newspapers, the ~monopolLsts of
all knowledge and wisdom, have treat
ed the conference and its members
with contempt and ridicule. They have
referred with sarcasm to the gathering
because the deliberations did not result
In Il remedy so perfect and complete
that the whsle country would rise up
and receive it with gratitude and
thanksgiving. Yet hardly think they
would expect a physician to diagnose
and prescribe Il remedy for Il new and
complicated disease upon his first visit
to the patient. l believe that the OPP
ponents of the trust will be wise to be
prepared from the beginning to con.
tcnd with Il hostile press. This is so
for reasons which are obvious. You
may recall the statements of the attor-
ncy general Of Ohio that he had in his
desk copies of Il large number of con
tracts between the Standard Oil trust
and Ohio newspapers for the control Of
their columns. The man of courage is
the man who proposes the best remedy
he al conceive. From all the contribu-
lions perhaps an effective remedy will
be evolved. Many have already been
suggested.
l lean more strongly to the method
of n federal law supplemented by state
laws.
have absolutely no sympathy with
those who say hat the trust is an in
dustrial evolution and cannot there
fore be suppressed or destroyed by
law.
1t is only the creature Of man. The
professors and corporation attorneys
may manifest a holy horror as to any
remedy which proposes to check by
law what they choose to call a natural
and Irresistible Industrial growth. |
refuse to be cowcd by rules of political
economy.
The trust can be abolished by law.
Public sentiment will compel it. What
form. therefore, shall that law take?
1t is COMPLAINED that If a state en-
acts n prohibitivc law the trust will
Immediately flee to another state. Self
ishneSS, therefore, compclS Il state TO
be good to the trust in order to Sccurc
for it's people the benefit of employ
mcnt by the trust.
Therefore, in the absence Of q uni
form state law. Il federal law is nrcrs,
sary. 1t should be a drastic law. !
have no sympathy with the sentimcn!
for regulation. That is the remedy of
the trusts. 1t would result in thei,
regulating themselves as they saw fit
Their attorneys and newspapers urge
it. Therefore it is open to suspicion
The people want no more furccs like
the interstate commerce commission.
No benefit will come from tanning
wild snakes. or course, If the people
had in their employ snake charmcrs
like Mr.. Cochran, with his powerful
oratory, 1t might be different. But tn,
trusts are the only ones able to retain
the services of such talent.
The only way to cure the evil is t.
stamp 1t out effectively. A federal Law
will do it. 1t Is a disease, and the sur
geon's knife is the only remedy.
Prevent the monopoly, and tn
trust will die n natural death. Fedora
law, if honestly framed, will do this
TO my mind the only question rcall.
before us Is the machinery Of such
law. Its construction Is largely ,
matter for lawyers. 1t should maxi
monopoly and excessive centraliZa
ton of capital impossible. Whether /
should do that by combining a corpora
ton to one kind Of business or limit
ing the size of its investments or 9th
crwise is one Of the problems to b.
solved. There should be public OK
animation to prevent fraud. The cX
Densc account should be open to in
spcction to discover the bribery fund
Inhuman methods Of destroying com
petition like those used by the OF
trust, by lowering prices and raisini
them when the competitor is forced on
of business. should be made impossl
BILE. The further discussion, though
and study OF the question, | am salts
fed, will enable congressman, if the
are honest and loyal to the people, t
frame a law to destroy the trust.
Our first duty, l think, is to direc
all our energies toward making sue
IL law possible and to accomplish it
cnactment.-lI. $. Pingrce in NeN
York Journal.