The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-15

In reality, therefore, there are no trusts
Today, but only corpora tons, small large
ana larger; and the whole question this
conference is called to consider is one Of
the effect of large corporations upon pub
nc welfare, as represented in the interests
OF consumers, wage-earners, farmers and
business men.
Effect of Combinations.
What then, Is the effect of these largo
corporations? Almost uniform experience
SHOW that they have given economy in
production, resulting in lower prices to the
pubic better wages to the laborers, better
prohts 10 the owners, and improved quail
lily of product. The consultations came
Just because they would give these results,
ana they will continue Just so long as
Iufther increases in size will give greater
economy and efficiency in production
From 1850 to 1890, according to the exhaus-
tive Senate report of 1893 in 40 groups
OF manufactured products prices fell from
o to 60 per cent, and wages. chiefly in
manufacturing and merchanile industries
rose 6S per cent. During the same period
htty-eight representative raw material
and agricultural products, not produced
by corporations, showed an aggregate rise
IN price, majority of them from 30 to
70 per cent.
Since it is no longer a ACQUISITION of
trusts but only of the size fvorporations,
what policy of destruction are we TO have?
The gentleman from Nebraska has pro-
posed that each state pass a law prevent
ing a corporation from doing business out
side that state without license from the
federal government. Think of this as an
opportunity for blackmail and corruption
II would put in the hands of a single Off
cial the power to destroy the value of any
industry large enough to do business in
more than one state, 1t would cut the
Union into forty-four little Industrial ter
ritories, none of them large enought to
sustain the best modern methods. Strip
ped of sensation, partisanship and class
feeling, the movement against so-called
trusts is really a movement against in
dustrial development and national pros
perity.'
He Was Interrupted.
During the latter portion of his speech
Mr. Gunton was frequently interrupted by
questions from spectators in the gallery.
How about the Standard Oil Company"
asked man in the rear
The speaker started to reply, but was
interrupted again, despite the chairman's
gavel.
Delegate Jones of Ohio and Delegate
Buell. of Illinois spoke in favor of fair
play, and declared that every speaker
should be heard without interruption.
Gathers Views.
Attorney General Gather of Maryland
was the next speaker. The following is an
extract from his speech:
'As well might we attempt TO turn back
the forces of nature as the forces of eco
nomic social conditions. The truth Is rap
idly dawning upon humanity that cooper
alton is the highest form of industrial ac-
tivty that civilization can develop When
this great economic axiom is being ac-
cepted by the capitalists of our nation, 1t
lis imperative that the great working
masses shall not blindly uphold its adop-
ton Competition Is no longer the life of
trade, it Is a destroying force to those en-
gagged in IL. Then, too, the country should
profit economically from the great benefits
which these comblna lions and consoida-
tons must confer. The favorable condi-
tons under which the production of COM
modities viii take place must minimize
the cost price of the finished article, and
enable the consumer to enjoy at least
percentage of the saving The use Of the
most approved machinery, and of the most
scientific methods which the best intelli-
gence can devise, necessarily minimize the
amount of human labor which is to be
expended, and at the same time insure
greater purity for the product. The sta
bility of business which viii be the out
come of the new order Of things will be of
lasting benefit 10 the country. Under
the competitive system men will sell to
firms of doubtful credit rather than be de-
prived of business, and the solvent mer-
chant Is always at the mercy Of cut in
prices by his recklessly nsolvent neigh
Dor. Under the new system the thou
sands of active country merchants, who
cover every hamlet of our great continent.
with their wonderful distributing facili-
ties, will be able to purchase their stand
ard articles at a uniform price, and one
which they can reasonably rely upon be-
ing maintained. The advantages of such
stability in business to the entire people
will In the near future prove enormous"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Gathers
speech the conference adjourned after the
announcement had been made that to-
morrow night there would be an address
by W. Bourke Cochran Of New York and
w. j. Bryan of Nebraska.
WILL PHI, THEM ON REC0Rn-