The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-17
VICTIMS OF THE TRUSTS
How Great Combinations Have Af-,,
fected Travelling Statesmen. \.
THOUSANDS OUT OF EMPLOYMENT
-
p. K. Dove. of the Commercial Trav-s
elers' Lengue, Before the Industrial.
Comm ission--IIe Had Been Warned
OF the Danger OF Opposing Trusts.

p. X. Dove. OF the Commercial Travs
, elers' Lengue, Before the Industrial.
Conn ission--IIe Had Been Warned
ofthe Danger of Opposing Trusts.
i Washington, June 17.-P. Il. DOVE,
of New York. president of the Com
mercial Travellers National League,
was before the Industrial commission
yesterday. Mr.. Dove said the opinion
of the commercial men at large was
that the trusts were menace to the
community. He estimated the travels
ing statesmen In the United States at
$50, 900, saying that the census figures
of $4,000 were grossly incorrect. Tho
| formation Of trusts and combinations
vas throwing large number of these
men out Of employment. In giving
specific instances he said:
"The National Enameling and Stamp
| ing company. which depends for its
raw material upon the American Tin
plate company, has thrown gTeat
many out of employment, and those
retained have had their salaries re-
duced. The great tobacco combines
threw out about 5000 statesmen, and
the baking powder trust has dispensed
with all excepting half dozen men.
| know of two statesmen discharged by
the trust who were formerly in tha
employ of the Cleveland Baking Pow
der company, one receiving a salary
Of 81, 900 year. the other $500. Their
routes, with those of other discharged y
statesmen, are covered by one agent at Y
SIS a week. The bicycle trust wilf
am od,.ol ll.y aN
will cut down agencies in every city.
The chair trust will affect Immediately I;
more than 500 statesmen, by cutting N
them out of the line.
"The number Of statesmen out Of
work because Of the United States
Rubber company are 900; the salesmen
retained have been reduced to a salary
averaging 81 300 year. The American
Tinplate company cut off about 80 out
of every 100 statesmen. The Americana
Steel and Rod company discharged 300
commercial travellers in one day. In
giving these estimates | am not con- NJ
sidering the Office force thrown out
through trusts. Sugar and coffee mo-
nopolies have thrown out 1000 sales
men, the average reduction in salary e
of those retained amounting to $1,000
a year. The Standard Oil companN
employs fewer se4smen than any other
concern In the mercantile world o.
one-half its capital. yS
The umbrella trust failed four
years ago, but advanced prices while iM
existence. and after it's break up the
return to legitimate and healthy prices
caused a loss to the retailer, through
the stock on hand" zf@
Mr. Dove said that the trust COM
binatiQns had raised the prices of ths M
commodities they controlled from to y
100 per cent in almost every instance
except coffee and sugar. In these they
were still fighting for control of the
field. He said his figures in this lins
we're absolutely correct being from res
liable commercial acquaintances.
This witness concluded by saying
hat before leaving New York he haH
been warned by an acquaintance, u
awyer, indirectly connected with soma
If the trusts, that he was doing dam
serous thing in speaking before the VII WI
commission, as he was liable to s.h4
rushed like caterpillar"