The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-06-22
As TO TRUSTS.

In their frantlC eHOItS 70 pre-
empt an issue the fusion democ-
racy has seized upon trusts and
monopolies upon which to train
their political guns, evidently be-
lieving that they can deceive the
people into the belief that the re-
publican party is favorable to and
persistently fosters these danger
Gus organizations. In only one
sense can this claim be even re-
motley maintained-and to that
degree the republican party will
admit it and accept the response
bility. Trusts are the concommit-
ants and sxcreScent outgrowths, OF
individual and general prosperity.
In hard times they are neither born
nor do they flourish. Under dem
ocratic supremacy they find no
place for that reason.
But that the republican party is
in any other sense responsible for
their inception or existence it ut
terly falSe--contrary to record.
Whatever national Legislation di-
rected at their control and over
throw has been republican, and the
fight is now on.
However, it remains to be seen
whether legislation can be framed
to reach the end which will not so
far violate inherent personal rights
and privileges as to be tyrannical.
The trust must be fought by indi-
rection as we'll as directly, and the
former method will doubtless be
most effective. The republican
legislature of New York, upon the
urgen request of that nerVy re-
publican governor Theodore Roose-
welt, has enacted a law bearing
upon corporations, and which, may
and will be extended to so-called
trusts and monopolies, which will be
most effective. Bring them within
the taxing power of the state that
it may lay It's hand upon the NOM
inal as well as the real value of
their capitalization, for it is upon
their capital stock that these
trusts and monopolies expect to
declare dividends. When a bak-
ing powder company-trust- cap
talizes. nminaIly for $4,000, 5000,
let the assessor accept the figures
for the purpose of taxation.
Organized effort in the socialogi-
cal field, too. will be effective in
breaking down these destructive
agencies; more effective than legis-
lation. The Northwestern Miller
of Minneapolis has the following
very. pertinent suggestion:
what is needed is national antitrust
league with branches throughout the country,
each member pledged simply and solely to
buy nothing made by trusts or similar combi-
nations even al the cost of some individua al
Inconvenience and loss. No one save those
Immediately interested. favors tbl trust. lis
friends are only those who profit by it. Tru rs
being usually over capitalized must nece s.
sarily make larger profit than the independ-
emit seller, and although they may for a time
juggle the profits of one branch to meet the
losses Of another, if at all points they were
met with the competition of the intelligent
independent seller backed by the support
which would be given him in preference to
the trust, they would quickly fail. Some as
titute manufactures are already realizing the
advantage they possess because of the anti
trust sentiment, and Not in the Trust is
being used with growing success on the signs
and in the advertising of the class we speak
of. None OF US save those directly interested
In trust and these are few, will willingly
buy of trust If we can by any possibility
secure other goods. This strong and increas-
ing sentiment needs but capitalization and
public expression to make foe to trusts
which will utterly destroy them