The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-07-25
EDUCATION THE ONLY HOPE.

D6OpI0S U6COu0 0O0O0VOOS 086IC5S4V6
thinkers with original, home made
opinions rather than those distributed
by the party boss, then, and not till
then, can We hope for a just and prac'
ticable solution of the vexing problem
of trusts.
A few leaders may howl about trusts
until the heavens fall, but all to no
avail unless the masses Of the people
study and discuss the question for
themselves and learn to discriminate
between legitimate corporations and
greedy trusts, and between miserable
anti trust % legislation, such as was
produced by the last legislature, and
real anti trust legislation such as we
need. We venture the assertion that
at this time a heavier responsibility
rests upon the individual voter than
ever before in the history Of our Re
public. More depends upon his cour-
age, intelligence, and honesty. A cen
fury which has witnessed greater
progress in science, invention, and
government than has been made in
any other four centuries is fast draw
ing to a close, and the plain voter as
our only sovereign is called upon to
solve with no past experience to guide
him, the intricate problems which have
arisen as a result of our rapid strides
in the business and commercial world.
One of these is the problem OF trusts.
Recently Aaron Jones, Master of the
National Grange, sent u a circular
in which he said:
ITO 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
enterprise and progress and if con
tinued will subvert all the principles
fought for and gained by our toretath-
ers.
THE present industrial tendency is
q menace to the stability Of the ma.
ton. American freemen will ere long
refuse to submit to pay enormous taxes
to support State and National govern.
ments that are impotent to protect the
rights of labor and of property, and
it's proper and legitimate use.
The individual citizen is unable to
distinguish the differences in effect of
being deprived OF his property by ma.
rauding bands Of brigands, known in
ancient times and in the middle ages
ss robbers, and the consolidation and
uniting Of corporations under forms
known as trusts, and used for the same
purpose, namely, of transferring by
arbitrary controlling prices, the prop
erty Of those not in the trust to them
selves.
Think more Of your country and
the right Of labor and property, than
OF your party, and give all parties to
understand that all patriots will stand
together on this issue. This issue over.
shadows all others. What difference
whether we have free trade or protec-
tive tariffs Whether the outlying
isIsns of the sea, proximate and remote,
are made colonies or not, if the indi-
vidual is deprived of the free use and
benefit Of his labor and propertyT 2"
Commenting upon this ~utterance,
the Chicago Farmers Voice speaks our
sentiments by calling attention to the
matter to which we have just referred
the responsibility of the individual
voter, and the necessity for thorough
education as to the evils of trusts and
the remedy. The article is so full of
sound logic that we copy it herewith
in full:
"Mr. Jones urges all to petition leg
islatures and congresses and demand
strong anti trust legislation Agreeing
as WI do with the spirit of Mr.. Jones'
call, we shall not be understood as
criticizing, but merely, as one inter
ested with him in securing ends sought,
Offering q suggestion for consideration,
when we point out what seems to US
the utter futility of asking for IeRisla
ton Of an anti trust character without
setting forth precisely what ia meant
exactly the order OF legislation de.
sired. An indefinite petition, an mex
plicit demand, will serve only to con
fuse honest law makers and give to
dishonest mes just the opportunity
desired to evade che real Issue while
pretending to be The friends of the
people That ia one thing to be consid
cred. Another is that the people them
selves should take the initiative ID this
matter by making a thorough study of
all its phases before CJngress and the