The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-14

MASTER JONES To IHE WORLD.
Head of National Grange, speaking for
5000, 900 Farmers, Gives deroils OF
Movement Against Trusts.
(By Aaron Jones.)
Aaron Jones, of Indiana, Master of
the National Grange. voices the senti-
ment of 5000, 900 American farmers In
this wise:
II ann receiving thousands Of letters
from all parts Of the United States
from farmers mechanics, travelling
men, merchants, manufacturers not in
trusts, asking how they cooperate
with the grange in securing eHectlve
state and national Legislation that wiz
prevent the formation and successful
operation of trusts.
THE entire people view with alarm
the aggressive and quetionable methods
of trust combinations to arbitrarily con
troll to their own advantage the labor
and the product of labor in all depart
ments of productive industry.
TRUSTS DESTRUCTIVE TO IN
DUSTRY.
''The policy pursued by trusts in linn
iting the production in certain lines, in
shutting down factories under their
control, and in crushing out those en-
gagged in the same lines who do not
Join with them in their policy OF con-
trolling prices, is destruction to indus
try. To permit men to use capital TO
crush out legitimate competition is
against public policy and destroys the
independence and liberty of the indi-
vidual, and deprives him of the free use
and benefit of his capital, STILES enter
prise and progress. and If continued,
will subvert all the principles fought
for and gained by our forefathers.
'"The present industrial tendency Is
oroA +~ +hn nfnhi1itUy of tho Marion
Americans will not submit to pay enor-
mous taxes to support state and nation
al governments that are 1mpotent to
protect the rights of labor and of prop
erty and it's proper and legitimate use.
The individual citizen is unable to dis
tinguish the difference in effect be-
tween being deprived OF his property
by marauding bands Of brigands known
i'm ancient times and in the middle ages
as robbers, and the consolidation and
uniting of corporations under forms
known as trusts and used for the same
purpose, namely, of transferring, Dy
controlling prices, the property OF those
not in the trusts to themselves.
''The methods pursued by the trusts
i'm attempting to influence Legislation
and the decisions of courts should
meet with condemnation from every
honest, honorable and loyal citizen Of
the republic.
"HOw can we secure effective legis-
lation, state and national, that will pre-
vent the formation Of trusts?
Here is the advice we are giving to
those DESTROYS of organizing against
trusts:
"FIrst-Prepare petitions to congress
and circulate them to have them sign
ed by all the people who favor freedom
and the rights of property, and forward
these petitions.
'fSecond-Prepare like petitions to
your several legislatures in your several
states and demand strong antitrust
legislation.
cusses I'M whatever party you athllate
plank in our platform, and see to it
that every officer nominated shall be in
full sympathy with this plank.
"Fourth-Think more OF your coun-
try and he rights of labor and prop
erty than of of your party, and give all
parties to understand that all patriots
will stand together ON this issue.
This issue overshadows all others.
What difference whether we have free
trade or protective ;tariff-whether the
outlying islands of the sea, proximate
and remote, are made colonies or not
if the individual is deprived of the free
use and benefit Of his labor and prop
erty?
"Fifth-Give your party and the
country to understand that resolutions
alone will not suffice, but that effective
laws must be passed and enforced.
'tSixth-Supplement all this by being
active in educating the public to the
dangers that menace the industrial pur-
suits of our country. Our country,
which stands for liberty and freedom,
must protect the rights of the humblest
of it's citizens, must guarantee to every
man the right to legitimate use and
receive the full benefit of his labor and
capital.
"AARON JONES,
Master of the National Grange"