Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-04-29
the TRUST DANGER.

lowing very sensible editorials:
"Col. N. C. Wetmore of St. Louis,
president of tine Ligget and Myers
Tobacco Co., which this week re-
luctantly sold out to the tobacco
trust and which wac the largest to-
bacco concern 10 the world, makes,
statement about trusts that the
Capital suggested recently and that
promises to see its fulfillment un-
less the people take this wrong Sc
verely In hand.
ut 10 matter of time, Gays Col.
Wetmore, when organizations of
trusts will reach the point of com.
bination and collision among them.
selves. thereby forming one gigan.
tic combine trust controlling the
industries of the country.
"Col. wetmore might even 60 fur.
Their and say that II the trust mania
continues II will reach such point
that there will be a large popular
demand for the turning over of in
dustry to the government, making
a political trust or socialistic COM
monwelth. This is the reason
practically all socialists view the
trusts with equanimity az tending
in the direction of their hobby.
Like Mr.. Henley, owner of the
Lawrence wire mill, Col. Wetmore
sold out to the trust against his
will and simply In preference to be-
ing driven out by the pressure that
this gigantic combination 10 able
to bring to bear on all opposition.
In a speech to the 5000 employees of
his factories he denounced trade
combinations and warned them
against the consequences of their
arrogance In attempting to control
production and distribution and
dictate to individual manufacturers
what business they may be permit.
ted to engage their brain and cap
itai in. In letter TO the Chicago
Tribune he says further:
The trust system 10 more danger.
Gus to the country than anything
that now confronts us. In my judg-
ment all the wars that have ever
been fought by the government
sinse lite foundation do not equal in
importance the gravity of the trust
situation.
The men who are promoting and
engendering trusts claim az an
argument that the day of the indie.
pendent manufacturer aud dealer
and producer has gone, and that we
are on new order of things, and
that there 10 great economic force
behind the movement for consoli-
dating and pooling, but in my opin-
ion It 10 really principle of greed
and cupidity, and not one of econ
omy.
Tue trust system in my opinion
is more menacing to the country
than any war, no matter how stu
pendous, that the country might be
engaged in; in fact, the great war
of the rebellion was not half 90
dangerous to the institution 70 this
country as this system of pooling
and combining.
The trust IL the one great question
now before the people, aud in my
opinion 10 of vastly greater impor.
tance than the money question.
1t should be the leading issue in
the next national political cam
paign, aud the people may be relied
upon to settle Il, and settle II right.
~, as they have settled every great
question that has bee presented to
them.
"These are not the words of
political demagogue or disturber,
bat of a highly eminent aud sue
cessful business man, who years Of
effort sees himself complied to
abandon q profitable business, at
the behest of a gang of gamblers
interested more in manipulating
stock exchanges than in improving
industrial processes. They are the
words Of soberness and all political
parties should take note of them
Cor Aha IN ~, nm ;svn V,awf vaarD