Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-03-02
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1899.
AN AGE OF TRUSTS.

The overthrow of trusts formed to
interfere with the natural laws OF
trade, Is a consummation devoutly to
be wished. But those who declare
that the next national campaign
should, on the part OF Democracy
be waged in opposition to trusts seem
to forget that the financial plank In
the Chicago platform - which still
stands with the regulars II enacted
into law, would legalize trust, the
avowed purpose OF which Is to double
the price OF silver--a trust which IL
not only u trust In itself, but one
which would harmfully affect every
department OF commercial life. John
Maggie, the able editor of The Manito-
voc Pilot, treats the subject in the
manner following:
ut IL fully as sensible to attempt to
destroy trusts by Legislation which
ignores their origin, III IL IL TO try TO
destroy noxious weeds by laws which
are not enforced. IL IL the age OF
trusts, but the trust il the natural out
growth OF illegitimate business meth
DDS. The theory upon which business
has been conducted by the larger In
stitutions whose influence IL such that
legislation eau be controlled by them,
IL to look for profits outside OF the
line OF legitimate procedure. The pro-
tective tariff grew into an agency for
increase of profits, beyond what com
petition made proper, and It's bcne-
iiciaries insisted that the benefits they
derived were distributed equitably
among oil those engaged in industrial
pursuits This theory met with such
acceptance that 1t has become the
settled policy OF the country, 1t has
debauched industrial sentiment to such
an extent that trusts have grown into
N recognized policy OF industrial life.
The trust IL an open avOwhl OF what
projections concealed purpose was.
Those who approve protection cannot
consistently disapprove OF trusts.
Each seeks to secure an advantage
by Interference with the natural laws
OF trade; each seeks to increase prices
by artificial means. They both want
more than can be had In nm open, free
and unrestricted market.
''The desire to get more for pro-
duet than 1t will bring In the open
market il manifest In the attempt to
declare by law what the price OF silver
shall be. 1t IL sought TO double the
value of silver by legal enactment.
The trust seeks to control the market
by destroying competition. The silver
mine owners demand that the law
double the price OF their product sum
marily, and millions of people APP
prove. just W. protection was made
to appear u policy beneficial to the
laborer, Is the doubling the price OF
silver made to bear tho aspect of n
movement In behalf of the common
people. And many of them believe IL.
Their Judgment Is clouded 10y pleas
for double standard and the issuing
Of more money. The bald and dis
honest fact that the value of silver il
to be doubled by law, Is not stated
with the clearness which would reveal
the object. II IL not free coinage of
silver rs gold Is coined, that Is
sought, but free coinage of silver at
double It's commercial value. The
trust has for its acknowledged pur-
pose increase Of prices of the commod-
tiles In the manufacture of which II
interests itself. But II does not ask
for an increase in price of 100 per
cent This the free silverite docs.
Can any one consistently denounco
the trust and countenance FREQ coinage
of silver vt u ratio which will double
its price? Which of tho two Is the
less defensible Interference with laws
of trade?
"Iho yard Is the unit Of long meas
urement. Does any wrong result to
the manufacturer Of foot rules or
chains of greater length? Is anyone
looking for u double standard In
measurement? 1t Is not double
standard the silvcritc cares for, 1t Is
IN increase of profit through the oper-
alton of law, and that not the law of
trnIn ~