The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-02-03
OF TRUSTS.

The department store is driving the
smaller concerns to the wall by tens
OF thousands. The great manufactur-
ing institutions are driving the small
factory out of existence. The great
miiiing combines are closing up all
OF the smaller mills, and the mines
are all being bought up and controlled
By great corporations. What does this
mean? Nothing less than a country
made up OF a few thousand masters
with millions of servants. one man
dictates, the rest must obey. ms Is
true; no man can fail to reallze II.
Now, we ask u readers, is THIS a
desirable condition to exist IN a re-
public? Will the interests OF the
families of these powerful plutocrats
be in common with those who labor
by the day? Will the laws governing
suffrage be equally agreeable to both?
viii the avs governing taxes be SUD-
mltted to by all with equal grace!
Will the plutocrat bow to the Will Oh
the majority if they pass a law whlch
he believes to be detrimental to his
Lie Ou1S III
to this question is to point to their
actions in the recent past. IT they DO
not take kindly to a proposed law or
a proposed policy, which is to be de-
termined at an election, what methods
will they adopt to effect its deteat!
What weapons have they to fight with?
We answer, coercion and corruption.
Having the power to employ or dls-
charge a mar would also, under that
state of affairs, carry with it his en-
tire future prosperity or downfall.
For under the blacklisting system, to
be discharged from one place would
disbar him with all others. This pow
erful lever has been felt in h past
enough to realize what would pc us
effect. Then those who could not De
driven or could be more easily o by
bribery could be controlled by that
means. Could the people win against
two such powerful agents? Never.
Some say yes. they will never submit
to such methods We answer, they
have submitted and are submitting at
this day. But they say: If 1t goes
too far they will revolt" If they dld,
it would be anarchy. Would it not be
wise to take steps to prevent this con-
dition rather than to be forced TO
resort to harsher means later? 1t
would, but there are grave doubts That
it will be done. The trusts will con-
tinue to grow, the small dealer forced
to close his shop and look for a JOB.
The poor houses will continue to
spread over more acres, until 1t
can be borne no more, when desper-
ate humanity will, in their frenzy,
tear down their houses because the
roof leaks, instead of repairing it."
They say it is a poor doctor who
diagnoses a case, but can prescribe no
cure. So We propose a remedy.
First. Let every state and the ma
ton amend it's constitution, providing
for direct legislation, thus insuring ma
jority rule, and taking out Of the
hands of judges the power to thwart
the will of the people.
Second. Let the civil service laws
be perfected and extended to cover
every branch Of public service.
Third. Enforce every law that stands
upon the statute books. If there is
not a sentiment strong enough in ia
vor of it to have it enforced, let it be
repealed at once. There is no stronger
incentive to lawlessness among the vi
ciously disposed class than to sec law
violated by those who pretend to be
la~w-abiding citizens.
Fourth. Let every public necessity
be controlled by civil organization tc
which it caters. Let municipalities
control their local car lines. light
heat, water, etc. Let the state control
it's lands II it's mines. Let the ma.
tional government control the national
railroads, telegraphs and other enter,
prizes in which all the states have ar
interest, on the same plan that oul
mail service is now managed.
Fifth. Let every franchise granted
to a corporation to do business carry
with it a provision that the state MAY
inspect it's books and that each EN-,
ploye shall be paid a wage in proper
ton to the earnings of the enterprise
And also to settle all disputes comins
up between the corporation and it:
employees.
Some will say, "This would checl
enterprise" No, it would not. but i
would check robbery; it would sto,
strikes, with their attending loss O
property, misery and bloodshed.
1t would give to the emplove til,
wage which justice demands that h,
,aoo;,o II would have ~-