Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-10-27
HANNA'S GALL.
He Defends the Piratical Trusts In a
Cleveland Speech

He Defends the Piratical Trusts In a
Cleveland Speech.
Senator Hanna made a speech in
Cleveland on the night of the 18th
inst He devoted a small portion of
his remarks TO trusts" 1t is a SUBJ
ject on which be does not delight TO
dwell He asserted. however, that the
trust" is beneficent organization.
and said: The trust is an evolution
in business They have been found to
be necessary. The trusts have the
best men in the country at their head.
1t is said that the trusts are against
your interests. That may be, but if
they are you may depend on the Re-
publican party to look after that"
Mr. Hanna has On tap the largest
reservoir of gall of any man in Ohio,
or elsewhere The trust" is an or
ganization in which Mr. Hanna takes
the largest pleasure. He is a ground
floor man, and takes his nibble at
every one of them that comes within
his reach No man knows better than
he that trust" is good thing to
those who share in the profits which
arise from Its operation. He also knows
that it is injurious to every man who
is user or consumer of the product
of trust" He further knows that
the aim of trust" is to manufacture
an article at the lowest possible cost
to the trust" He further knows that
a low cost price is secured by econo-
manufacture of the product. He also
knows that there is but one way in
which this economy can be made, and
that is using less labor, and by getting
cheaper raw material He has the ut
most faith in the trust being able
to practice that kind of economy. BY
concentration the trust" aims to save
the cost attending the conducting of
the business. 1t centralizes business.
1t does not need proportionalIy, more
than so per cent of the skilled labor
formerly employed in the respective
plants. The small plants are shut
down. The capacity Of the central
plant is enlarged. In secretaries, cash
love nd fpaH-aliro
men it is discovered that Is to so per
cent can be dispensed with. 1t is also
discovered that the trust" can, to
large degree, fix the price on labor and
raw material. Being constituencies, it
is not capable of pity. 1t discharges
employees without a thought of their
necessities. 1t closes down plant
without giving the least consideration
to those who, for a generation, have
helped to build it up. And. further, it
destroys competition-it takes the
market to itself. ana not only controls
the cost of production, but he price
of selling. Thus it has gained power
the exercise of which beggars small
community of the means of liveli-
hood 1t does not lower the cost OF
The product to the public. 1t is strin-
gent on that phase 1t has the mar
ket Purchasing from it is a neces-
sity. The price is raised until the last
penny is strained from the consumers.
Mr. Hanna thoroughly understands
what a trust" is. They have grown
into power under Republican auspices
they are greedy to the last degree.
Their appetite is never satiated. Not
withstanding the highest wisdom dis
cussed, and the best patriotism enact
ed, the Sherman antitrust bill. is it
not notorious that the attorney general
of the United States, member of the
cabinet of William Mckinley. has
openly declared that there is no power
under existing law to regulate or mulct
the trust" organization? In view of
that fact does it not appear ridiculous
for Mr.. Hanna to say: 1T is said that
trusts are against our interests? That
may be. But if they are. you may de
pend upon the Republican party to
look after that" On, the almost in
finite gall of the Ohio junior senatorI
@Ann H@n %enI