The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-29
THURBER FAvORs TRUSTS.
He Thinks They Are Useful in Widen
ing National Markets.
Chicago Times Herald.

chicago llmeS-heTdlu-
Francis B. Thurber, president Of the
United States Exporters Association and
chairman of the foreign committee OF the
New York Chamber of Commerce.. spent
yesterday In Chicago on his way to Wich-
tia, where he will attend the transmissis-
sippi congress. which convenes Thursday.
Mr.. Thurber has given a great deal Of at
tention to the subject Of trusts and has
strong views in regard to them.
Trusts he said yesterday. seem to me
to be one of the most important agencies in
Far from regarding them in the light Of a
menace TO the people. j am convinced that
they will help the United States forward
and enable us to lead the nations in the
march to commercial supremacy. They will
do this through widening our markets. The
large organizations can do all that is nee
in every part of the earth where a promls-
ing field is. offered. and the results they
obtain are far superior to those o~btainable
through individual effort.
IT believe that trusts will prove as bene-
fetal to the interests of labor as to those OF
the fact that the leading minds in the labor
world are inclined to regard them with
sharp suspicion. There have been Isolated
instances where the trusts have been detri-
mental to wage-earners, but there are many
more cases in which a rise In wages has
followed the establishment of trusts. and
there has also been brought about through
them a steadiness of employment which is
very desirable"
Mr.. Thurber deprecates any attempt to
UAbe lhNO thC rs
that they are rather an economic than a po-
litical subject, He said he was glad that a
under the auspices of the Civic Federation,
and said that he would attend If he could.
Continuing TO give his views about trusts.
Mr.. Thurber said: M own view Is mat
development. and that II is as useless to at
tempt to stop them as II would be TO stop
the action of the winds and tides. In other
words. I think that we should attempt to
steer them and not TO stop them. The con-
sumner certainly should not put himself in
opposition to the trusts. Tor their operation
necessaries of life. The development has
been so sudden that comparatively little OPP
portunity has been given for the study OF
the phenomena, and consequently we find
alarms raised without any foundation. just
as a horse SHES at a suddenly opened UNI
brella.'
Mr.. Thurber's study OF trusts has been. as
has been indicated, subordinate TO his work
on the broader lines In the interest OF for
eign commerce. In regard TO this ne SAID:
Nothing is more apparent to the careful
student of manufactures and
than that we must have wider markets
for our goods.
such resources in fields. forests. mines and
factories as We have. No nation has such
command of the forces c;es tina snat mnsoN now rule me NE
country has such ali ingenious and progress
sive population. We must find a foreign
ma r nt;it for or. our srse s"rptu ner prCeu of ov eteepTlss
markets, idle mills and all phenomena at
tending commercial crises.
lone thing which seems TO me most essen
tia! 10 the development of our commerce is
the establishment of an American merchant
marine. 1t is the wrong principle for us TO
employ a competing nation 10 do our carry
ing for us. Every vessel Is a missionary OF
trade. The cost of a ship Is IS per cent.
labor. The building. sailing and repairing
Of our ships would furnish constant employ
ment to a class of men who in time of war
become the safeguards of the nation"