The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-12
THE TRUST PROBLEM.
The Cause OF the and
What May He Expected Of Them.

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
am not cxpounding the merits Of any
socialistic, anarchistic. cooperative or trust
idea, but only calling attention to certain
relevant points which have been omitted in
the many views taken of our prevailing trust
question. The common conception of its
outcome is that it will throw our country
into disruption. our people in revolution and
anarchy, and Socialism will reign supreme.
So far as Socialism is concerned this Is true.
Most of us are Socialists at heart. without
the courage Of expression. as the terms
anarchy and socialism are confused by
many. In reality they are diverse one from
another. Anarchy means mo law social
ism means more law"
Another of the unthinking minds concep-
lions is that Socialists ask capital to go
down into It's pocket and divide its wealth
in hand equally among members Of the
universe. AS a fact they only ask a divi-
sion of natural resources, and not the In
fation of or speculation in their values.
In other words, TO the producer belongs the
spoils.
The trust is the natural o~utgrowth OF
competition, the unnatural and demoraliz-
ing condition in business. Business Il sup
plying one ana another's wants-and of
course under a competitive regime it is
necessary 10 employ high salaried travelling
men and other expensive and unnatural
measures TO create business and seek pat
rorage. AS a result the trusts are formed.
Blackstone says: "A corpora ton has neither
a soul to be damned or a body to be kicked
This is very true. but il is also true that
organizat ton is more efficient than disor-
ganization. In the case or the Standard OH
Company, which is the father of trusts, the
consumer has been given the benefit Of
economy in administration.
Trusts and labor saving machinery are OF
a parallel nature. The latter We have had
with us longer and are better able to see
its results. The same view as of the trust
situation was taken at its advent, but II
and consumer. II Is a matter of history
when the first sewing machine was intro
claimed, Think of the poor women this
contrivance will throw out Of employment"
To-day, in the factories of Indiana alone.
there are 5000 women employed In front or
To carry the Socialist argument to a con-
clusion it is discovered that interests. prof
its and rents are all wrong because they VINO
receive them produce nothing, and are. con-
seQuently, parasites in a community OF pro-
a~iization of all Industries. They will CEN
tralize and concentrate. money Itself Will
CONCEAL into a common eofdsr and thus nus
can be seen by the recent and radical re-
auctions In interest rates. Trades and In
Soat t S Sisl n sencs Wit assume unSsr lis Es natural
state Of supplying one anothers wants, the
division of resources. will be equal. and every
Del0k NIL DC SuDplcQ ~ tAt
and ~luxuries of life according 10 productive
ability, including the money lender, pront
getter and rent collector Under these con-
ditions the necessities OF life VIII require
the expenditure Of but little energy, and or
course ali classes will have more time TO
devote TO artistic and intellectual pursuits,
and thus IL all tends 10 higher civilization.
In New York to-day there are 300 trav-
cling men out of employment. DUE. or
course, to the trusts. i am not undertak-
saw that the cities have been developed at
the expense Of the agricultural districts
The manufacturing and mercantile estab-
the farm, and there must be an nfiux In
the other direction. 1t Is a simple matter
to put a seed in the ground and produce
grain: 1t Is also a simple matter 10 milk a
cow. put the milk in a churn and produce
butter; but to produce good butter. GOOD
grain, and produce them economically, 10
on the farm for the same scientific study
and economic principles as are exhibited In
the city mercantile and manufacturing es-
istry. BY the recent discoveries in the
cheap production OF ammonia 1t Is now por-
a dsSls to farm ss9upeIr ands 'o os w sSe Nsw an Hn sssni
States. Snow IL a natural fertilizer. n Its
containing large proportions OF ammonia
an artifciai fertilizer. OF course, farm life
means the sacrifice OF social and educa-
tional advantages OF the city, Blu the de-
ton, ouch as telephones. electric lines,
suburban trains. horseless vehicles. BIZ
cycles-this objection Is being eliminated
an essayist has said OF all Inventions OF
modern times. the alphabet and the print
ing press alone e-xcepted-these inventions
which abridge distance have done more Tor
civilization. Another essayist has SAID:
There are three things which make a ma
ton great and prosperOus-fertile fields.
busy workshops and easy means of trans
portauon for men and g2oas from Blsce 10
place" DAVID GIBSON
Indianapolis. June 8.