The labor world., 1899-05-27
1.-THE LATEST NEWS!'
"ALL ABOUT THE GREAT COMBINES" 4
SERVATIONSs OF DR. PENROSE.
7 T were quietly sitting in the
BY Paul Williams.

" reading room az our ho'ci
when a newsboy passed by,
announcing as one of the items OF the
davis news: ss.All about, the great com
lnne."
AS the Doctor is always in readiness dine
to discuss any question, antl2as he has
clearly defined ideas on many Of the
prominent issues of the day, s said It9 q
him: .t-5
s.Doctor, what is your opinion abon1t; bout
trllsts?'' ~
.sYous,have reference, I suppose : re-
Piled the, Doctor, .''sto the great com COM
hines in which all factories, engaged
in the manufacture of certain lines OF
goods, combine for the purpose o.
economy % s.: .s:,s;. Z.
ssWell, yes. Perhaps primarily they they
do combine for economys sake. -At "a: !:
any rate they combine and IN IN. such q
manner as to drive out competition. z.
What will be the effect 2
..The result will be beneficial cal .
mankind. z Z :s5s s5y
..But, Doctor, consider fora moment nome 1
The combine will result in Withdrr lr w v
ing from circulation hundreds u 4 q q.
thousands of dollars now spent for al az:
yertising and travelling statesmen. sale *. y
will mean that combining fifty fac; fac,
tories, improved machinery viii pc
nut IN and only thirty fac tories VIII VII
be necessary to make all that can lel1 = nei
consumed. This must result IN Inc q
discharge and the sending into idle
ness of hundreds of thousands OF mem en-
..Yes. that; will be true, and i seems ms
mi ,fortunlte, but the law Of con compen-.
sation will make every thing ight.sSlo g.
many people the thought of g Icllmate;
Where nothing can be grown '' from the
soil for several months each year 'lt seems. ms.
q bad condition, and yet.$people. i've I've
and prosper in just such climate ina las
this, In fact the highest ciyiliza 7lis Ton
ON earth is in that zone where Mother Moth
Nature gives nothing from the me SOIL lsl'o1 lof
our sustenance for six months n th'' y!
year.. =. s S. .s INC s.t,5 s a. 81 .s,3
..True, but what has that Etofdos ts': VAIN q
the trust that combines many separate rat.
company institutions into one as
o,,o zoos men. nuts up the price on
articles sold, and centers all wealth Walli
in few hands %
.,rhe first thing to be considered IS :
competition necessary :? 3 4 I'll III
.Certainly, it is. The desire to ex--' ei-
cel others lies at the foundation OF all 81
.nrooress. The orotorical contests are r'
improving methods Of public g. speaking. fge'
Athletic exhibitions are making men men
physically stronger. Invention, no. me- me-
chanics, railroad building. speed, art,
literature-all owe their rapid 'Ell ad-
vancement to competi titieo'nf. IN 3.
..ronld we not achieve these results
without pitting men against. ss'1: each
other?' said the Doctor.
II think not 1 replied. "one5 eirtees'. mer-
chant opens a store. gets ~ l1!.i1as ascertaln
class Of goods, sells at high price, tl'' Is s,
slow in waiting on customers ana !
lacks the spirit Of accommodalt nm 5lsltl datloh. q
Another merchant comes in. supplies
better goods, charges less, and =
pleasant and accommoda ating in mar mar
ner. The result is that the first mer-
chant is compelled, by this compet.,- +
ton to be. more accommodating anu anu
sell better goods at less price: How
can this be accomplished except by
competition ?" :.s. IS. u s. 4.
ssLet us see," said the Doctor. ibid
you ever see a paid fire department.
run to fire and-think that these men
are not actuated by and money con-
siderations. Your merchants were
competing for trade. and had money
in view, but the firemen never thought
of it though they did their very best.
The letter carrier who delivers your
mail so promptly is not thinking OF
money. All the intellectual and sport
ing contests are generally carried for
word independent of pecuniary condi-
TONS"
''Well, what of that:" I continued.
sLet us hold to the subject of trusts.
Combines which are formed for the
purpose of money-making, restricting
production, shutting down factories.
raising prices and turning their work
men into idleness.. Let us hear where
in it is or can be beneficial
Eyes, we will consider that. simp-