Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-09-14

That the agriculturists are taking an
active and intelligent interest in the matter
of the trusts and giant combinations of
capital and enterprise may be readily APP
preciated by careful reading of an ad
dress made by Mr.. Aaron Jones, Master of
the National Grange of the Patrons of
Husbandry, to the five million farmers of
the land In this address Mr.. Jones says !:
am receiving thousands of letters IRON
all parts of the United States, from farm
ers, mechanics, travelling men, merchants
manufacturers not in trusts, asking how
they can cooperate with the Grange in
securing effective state and national legis-
lation that will prevent the formation and
successful operation Of trusts.
The entire people view with alarm the
aggressive and questionable methods Of
trust com binslions to arbitrarily control to
their own advantage the labor and the
product Of labor in all departments OF pro-
ductive industry.
The policy pursued by trusts in limiting
production in certain lines, iH shutting
down factories under their control, and in
crushing out those engaged IN the same
lines tho do not join with them in their
policy of controlling prices is destruction
to industry. To permit men to use capital
to crush out legitimate competition is
against public policy and destroys the
independence and liberty of the individual
and depriyes him of the free use and bene-
fit of his capital, stiles enterprise and
progress, and, if continued, will subYert
all the principles fought for and gained by
our forefathers.
The present industrial tendency is
menace to the stability of the nation.
Americans will not submit to pay enor-
nous taxes to support State and national
government that are impotent to protect
the rights of labor and of property and its
proper and legitimate use.
The individual citizen is unable to dis
tingnish the difference In effect between
being deprived of its property by maraud
ing bands OF brigands, shown in ancient
times and in the middle ages as robbers,
and the consolidating and uniting of cor
porations under rms known as trusts and
used for the same purpose, namely, OF
transferring, BY controlling prices, the
property of these not in the trusts, to
themselves.
The methods pursued by trusts in at
tempting to Influence legislation and the
decisions of courts should meet with con-
domination from every honest, honorable
and loyal citizen of the republic.
How can we secure effective legislation.
state and national. that will prevent the
formation and successful operations OF
trusts?
Here is the advice we are giving to those
desirious OF organizing against trusts:
Flrst-Piepare petitions to Congress and
circulate them to have them signed by
all the people who favor freedom and the
rights of property, and forward these
petitions.
Second-Prepare like petitions to your
several Legislatures in your respective
States and demand strong antitrust legis-
lation.
Third-Attend your political caucusses
in whatever party you affiliate and demand
a strong antitrust plank in your plat
form, and see to it that every officer
nominated shall be in full sympathy with
this plank.
F0arth--Thlnk more of your country
and the rights of labor and property than
of your party, and give all parties to
understand that all patriots will stand
This issue Overshadows all others What
difference whether we have free trade or
protective tariff = whether the outlying
islands of the sea, proximate and rem ote,
are made colonies OF tiff the individual
is deprived of the free use and benefit OF
his labor and property?
Fifth-GiTe your party and the country
TO understand that resolutions alone will
not suffice. but that effective laws must be
passed and enforced
Sixth-Supplement all this by being
active in educating the public to the great
dangers that menace the industrial inter
ests of our country.
Our country, which stands for liberty
and freedom, must protect the rights of the
humblest of its citizens, must guarantee to
every man the right TO legitimately use
and receive the full benefit of his labor
and capital.