The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-10-07
WHO IS ITS MOTHER?
Henry o. Havemeyer's Assertion Re-
garG:Hg Tariffs and Trusts Pro-
duces Results Not Contemplated.

SUruIHS lIFl-AS uhu lrusts Iao-
duces Results Not Contemplated.
Mr.. Henry o. Havemeyer's intemper-
ate declaration that THE mother of all
trusts is the custom tariff has been
so completely disproved since the dec
laration was made that it is unlikely
that even Mr.. Havemeyer would ven-
ture to repeat it even if he should be
provoked to make retort discourteous
by criticisms of the sugar trust and its
methods.
The customs tariff is not the mother
of all trusts; neither is it the mother of
any trust, in the sense of fostering such
combinations, or indeed in any sense
whatever. The genesis of trusts is
greed Greed was the origin of the
most gigantic trust ever formed in this
country, the Standard Oil trust. The
sugar trust had precisely the same in
ception, and Mr.. Havemeyer and his as
sociates, instead of devising an entirely
original plan, copied closely the same
methods which were pursued by the
Standard Oil trust when that combina-
ton was organized five years pre-
viously.
No one will pretend that the customs
tariff was the mother of the Standard
Oil trust, and it would be equally alb.
surd to claim like maternity for the
sugar trust. The success of the sugar
trust was chiefly promoted by excessive
overcapitalization. Twenty sugar re-
fineries, with q capacity sufficient for
meeting the requirements of the trade
and having a combined capital of not
exceeding $10,000,000, were united I'M
der the sugar trust, which was organ.
lied with a capital of $4,000, O00-an in.
lection of $40,000,0O0 of water into the
combination. This water was, it may be
noted, manifestly necessary in order to
conceal the enormous profits of sugar
refining, as the water injected into the
Standard Oil trust was necessary for
the concealment of the profits of oil re-
fining.
With the $40,O00,O00 of water as the
nucleus of $25,OO0,0OO more of water
which was subsequently injected when
the capital was increased to $75, 100000
the sugar trust Immediately became
formidable, so formidable, indeed. that
50 far from soliciting tariff legislation
by congress, the managers assumed a
position of offensive dictation which has
since been maintained. This position OF
defiance and hostility shows clearly
that the sugar trust acknowledges nc
debt of gratitude for favors past and
has no hope of favors to come. 1t is in
conceivable that if the managers of the
sugar trust felt that they were in the
least degree dependent upon or indebt
ed to the customs tariff, either for the
inception or the future operations Of
the trust, they would imperil their in
terests by the offensive stand taken by
Mr.. Havemeyer, but would, on the con
trary, be humbly submissive-an atti
| tude, it may be observed, which has
never for a moment been assumed.
! The customs tariff has not been il
the least degree essential to the success
of the sugar trust. The operations o
this combination have been conducted
in such way that under all tariff con
ditions sugar refining has been i'm
mensely profitable. The industry ha
prospered under the Mckinley tariff
under the Wilson-Gorman free trad
tariff and under the Dingley tariff, ant
the degree of prosperity which tn
sugar trust has enjoyed does not seer
to have been perceptibly changed b.
the operation of either free trade or pro
tective tariffs. Mr.. Havemeyer an
his associates are evidently indiffren
to tariff legislation.
The indictment of the sugar trus
before the bar of public opinion and tn
arrogant and offensive manner of tn
trust whenever it has been called upo
from time to time to plead to the in
dictment have done much to bring int
prominence the sugar trust as the chic
among the injurious monopolies of tn
nineteenth century. 1rritated by thi
accusation, Mr.. Havemeyer retorte
with the Incorporate and unfounde
assertion regarding tariffs and trusts
The assertion instantly claimed the a
tention of the country as one to b
classed as important if true" an
doubly important if not true. Event
tend to show that its lack of truth col
stitutes it's chief claim to importance
IT is curious illustration of the adag
about lie travelling faster than tn
truth. with the additional peculiarit
that the lie has served the very usefl
purpose of bringing out the truth in til
clearest and most unmistakable ligh
Thus it falls out that Mr.. Havemeyt
did not lose his temper and his hea
wholly in vain.
Higher Wares for $4,000.
AS result of the final conference
Detroit between the representative
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