The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-15

siule only through the action OF individuals
themselves possessed ot unlimited capital.
II " easy to see what in the latter case
would happen to the community.
One form in which hostile action mani
tests itself is by legislation. which is in
tended TO arrive corporations aud their
products out OF particular States, This
legislation In some states takes the form
OF bills which permit citizens to buy goods
and with impunity refuse to pay for them.
This is a premium on dishonesty In other
States the attempt is to exclude articles
which are OF prime necessity II he pro-
duoers OF such articles were TO follow the
lead and combine TO keep their commodi-
ties out OF the state it is easy TO see what
would result, either the people would
be compelled to so without or they would
be forced to pay an inordinate price,
Trade viii always take care of itself,
IL it Is left TO pursue ordinary channels
4 Will see TO it that p does not have any
extraordinary advantages. 1t is only un-
Ill the State interferes that a situation is
created OF which advantage can be taken
against the interests of the community.
In these days there are two forms
only two forms OF monopoly. One that
results from a patent and copyrights. It
is universally recognized that this is In
the interest Of not against the interest OF
the puDllc. Inc otleE WulCp comes from
unfair discrimination.
Tariff for revenue need not be consid-
cred The expenses OF the government
must of course, be provided for Tariff
for the purpose of equalizing against for
eign bounties or foreign discrimination
does not need to be justified. Beyond that
there is no excuse for giving to one indus
try protection OF 100 per cent as against
4 per cent for another or any more than
10 per cent.
THE result is that the government
heeces the community at large in the in
terest of the small favored industry. This
must be kept In mind, that the object of
every one is TO make the country stronger
Weather, more important more inhuen-
tial
The hostile action to which | referred
in legislation against corporations. II fol-
lowed to its legitimate results would make
the country less powerful, its people less
and would destroy the inHu
ence which comes from the richness Of the
land and its people
Citizens are divided into two classes
the industrious and those who wish TO live
on the industry OF others. II is they who
are without captal who are hostile to it."
Mr.. Havemeyer's statement aroused
great interest and the next three hours
were devoted TO answering questions asked
him in rapid succession by members of the
commission. He at hrst declined to state
whether the company was making money
AT present, saying that was the business
OF the company afuhe; but he afterwards
made an incidental statement which the
construed into an admission
that the business was not profitable now.
The witness confessed that his company
had very little regard for the welfare OF
rivals In business, saying that prestige,
ny1
in the long run In tine struggle, and that
trusts were an example of the survival OF
the iittest In business.
That is trade" he said "and the soon
er you realize IL and quit trying to control
1t by Federal legislation. the better for
all, man can not expect to have him
self continually wet nursed by the gov
eminent, II men do not want TO buy our
stocks they need not, They do not need
to be given protection. They wade In
and get stuck; let them get out. and II
they wIsh-ro wade in again, let them do
so The fate Of rival concerns IS their af-
fair, not ours"
Speaking OF the ethics OF life, suggested
by member of the commission. Mr.
said; II don't care 2 cents for
your ethics. / know nothing about them.
am talking about business"
He declared that the tariff enabled the
steel rail trust to mulet the public 20 the
extent OF 50 per ton and said incidentally
that Mr.. Carnegie had not yet stated What
he was going TO do with his money
On the question OF labor Mr., Havemeyer
said the laborlng element was forced TO
form organizations, but that in doing SO
they sacrificed much independence ana
he unions had the effect OF bringing
other men down to a low level" He COM
tended that he was a friend OF labor and
said that good men in the employ Of The
rust were paid 10 per cent more than they
'euld get elsewhere. Mr., Havemeyer sald
hat many things were done in business
which looked cold-blooded aud harsh, but
that business conditions often required