Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-10-18
GOMPERS on TRUSTS.

III Inere u HnNtnlnR the DclllOcThtlC
party IL strong on Ii is i'm its pre-
tended sOliciCude for labor, although
it has done nothing hut oppose legis-
lation that has been enacted for the
benefit Of labor in the past forty
years. The press and the political
jawsmiths are quick to take up any
issue they think will arouse the preju-
dices of the laboring class and work
it as often and strongly az possible.
regardless Of any element of justice
or fairness to all concerned. In their
TRADES against trusts and corpora
tions they have looked at only one
side of the question, because they
thought there were more votes in it..
Possibly they will change their tone
somewhat just as soon as they dis
cover that organized labor Is not
with them in some Of the radical and
destructive remedies proposed. The
hope or expectation that labor lead
ers would jump out ana take up the
Democratic slogan. down with
trusts" seems to have received a
serious setback and sent a chill down
the spinal column of the ubiquitous
demagogues, according to IA Wash
ington special. A dispatch, dated
Oct. 10, says:
Following close upon the declara
tions Of labor leaders before the in
dustrial commission i'm favor oi
trusts, Samuel Gompers. president Of
the American Federation of Labor,
has written an editorial for the ur-
rent number o. the official organ of
the federation, which may have an
important effect In tending to pre-
vent he trust issue from assuming
Importance as a political issue. Mr..
GOmpcrs takes strong ground against
any antitrust legislation in anyfnrm.
He says he is cOnvinced that the gov
eminent Il not capable OF preventing
the legitimate development of nat
ural concentration of industry. and
that NIL the propositions to do so
which have come under his obscrva-
ton would, beyond doubt. react with
greater force and injury upon the
working people Of the country than
the trusts.
Mr.. Gompers' contention mt least
shows the question to beoneof great
magnitude and very delicate to han
die lest injury fall upon u very worthy
class. Possibly Mr.. Gom7ers is too
apprehensive, but this may he due to
the u%nreasoning and fanatical utter
ances OF demagogues who can al
ways be found willing to feather
their own nest ut any cost. This
question must he handled with mod
Grafton aud consideration for all con-
ccrned. The country has passed the
period OF individualism in the indus
trial world. 1t could not return to
it ii it desired. Combinations of cap
ital are necessary to construct manu-
factories To supply the demands of
the people. II it were not for these
thousands would he out of employ
ment. Mr.. Gompers can readily see
this. However, there is no good res
son why corporations and trusts
should not he regulated by federal
and state laws, with provisions SD
strict that extortion could not be
practiced upon the people. No man
has yet found the true solution Of the
question, though many plans have
been suggcstel-good, bad and in
different. But America has the fac
ulty of settling all such questions
within the bounds uf justice and
honor, and when legislation in this
direction is inaugurated the right So
luton will be evolved. In a fair and
equitable adjustment men Of all par
ties are agreed, hence the attempt to
make it a political and make
the tariff responsible for trusts is
purely Democratic demagogism. The
attempt to array the laboring classes
against the Republican party on that
iasua will nroye futile.