The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-10-03
CRISIS HAS
BEEN REACHED.
Tariff Manipulated For Big
MOnOpOlies Crushing Out
COMPETITION IN INDUSTRIES.
Thousands of Men Daily Thrown out Of
Employment Editor of the United
Commercial Travellers organ
Discusses the Trust Evil.

| Discusses the Trust Evil.
Citizens of Canton will remember the
various excursions of commercial trav-
elers to Canton during the campaign of
1896 and the influence they welded in
bringing about the election of William
Mckinley to the presidency. Canto-
mans will also recall the promises made
to the commercial men by the candidate
and the contention that if they would
only support the Mckinley party great
prosperity would come to them. Since
his election the principal business of
Mr.. Mckinley and his administration
has been to coddle to wealth and it's
combinations and trusts and throw
commercial travellers out of positions
they held when they cheered for the
Hanna candidate in 1896, and place them
In competition with other fields of en-
ldeavor. A special from Columbus sets
the matter forth in a clear way. 1t
reads as follows:
This city being the headquarters OF
the United Commercial Travellers of
America, the sentiment now manifest
ed here by leading knights Of the
grip upon politt; ana econulni, al nues-
tions is very significant. That this
great influential element of the public
great, influential element of the bust
ness public is bitter in the extreme
degree against the evils of the trusts
Is demonstrated by it's representative
members.
One of the best known travelling men
not only in Ohio, but throughout the
entire country, is Mr.. John c. Fenimore
who resides here. Mr.. Fenimore was
one of the organizers of the Order
of United Commercial Travellers, and is
the editor of the Sample Case, their
well known and widely read organ.
Now man Of perhaps fifty years of
age, Mr.. Fenimore has ever been a
Republican. He was active in the last
presidential campaign, and was
chairman of the large delegation Of
travelling saesmen who called upon
Hon. William Mckinley at Canton then
as now, the Republican candidate to
, ascertain what he would promise for
the improvement Of their interests and
commercial affairs in general if he
+ were elected.
ACTED AS SPOKESMAN.
On that occasion Mr.. Fenimore made
the speech on behalf of the travelling
men of the country, introducing them
to Mr.. Mckinley and informing him
of their mission in visiting him at his
Canton home. Mr. Fenimore was the
First Supreme councillor of the United
Commercial Travellers, and has held
a number of positions of honor and
trust in that organization. In brief, he
has stood for more than a quarter of
a century at the front of the business
element he now so prominently repre-
sents.
At his home on Third avenue this
evening Mr.. Fenimore talked interest
L ingly of the political situation, state
Z q nd Of hn ~ H.,
/ trusts upon the economic welfare Of the
i masses. 1t should be understood that
ne spoke from an independent stand
: point, or indeed, personally, as a Re-
publican. He was anxious, Furthermore,
to sincerely impress the public that it
. is not the desire of members or the
- officers of his organization to have
1t in any sense become involved in tho
= nature of political factor. Indeed, 1t
is one of the primary principles of the
: order that it shall be free from political
Il influences or domination, leaving its
: members the right to exercise their own
l individual judgement as to how they
. shall vote. Mr.. Fenimore said:
MR.. FENIMORE TALKS.
It "It is particularly with regard to the
: effect of the trusts that the commercial
v travellers of Ohio and of the entire
e country are now agitated. The trust
lsystem as now fostered and maintained
r lby the present administration, il
simply taking the bread out of the
u mouths of our commercial class. / dC
not know what result the effect of the
: election in Ohio will have upon this
: action of the next session of congress.
y am inclined to believe that it might
: have a great deal of effect. But, be that
. as 1t may, the travelling men are up in
{ arms everywhere against the evils they
now suffer as a result of the presen;
policy OF the national administration
" While l am a Republican l must say
that the feeling among the travelling
men is that this is q time when they
should throw aside all political
affiliations, If necessary to enhance
their prospects of securing redress.
' ITO go back to the root of the evil
O it is plain to me that a high tariff, as
at present regulated, is what makes
possible the combinations Of industries
G and of commerce. If there were COM
8 petition insured by equitable adjust
y ment of the tariff it would preclude the
= existence of these great combinations
: and then there could be no trusts 1t
r is only under an iniquitous tariff sys-
J. monopolies as those which are today
: this country's greatest curse.
{ NOT FREE TRADE.
: II do not say that there should be
e Iabsolute free trade, or anything of that
( kind. / do say, however, that 1t is the
= lpolicy of the present national admins
!, tration to maintain such tariff schedules
T as will make possible trusts in certain
Y necessaries of life that come nearest to
the pockets and the hearth-stones of
the common people. Until there is
Y a tariff for the entire people, instead Of
I the favored few there surely will be
an octopus of trusts. The people,
find. in travelling over the country, are
b coming to a realization of the true
nature of trusts. That these monopolls-
tic combinations are formed for the
. direct purpose of increasing profits,
: and necessarily raising prices, is be-
coming Dlain 10 eVerVbOdV.