Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-05-31

lIarprr's Bazaar gives an interest
ing account Of some Of the many
trusts which the people have to
reckon with in the matter OF the in
tlated cost Of living. The partial
list represents a capital Of S7l9,0O0,-
900, the dividends on which are OBJ
tanned by familiar trust methods
from consumers OF the products
named. The sugar trust, the first
one mentioned, is capitalized at
Sl25 100000 and the others are as
follows: : Dressed Beef and Packing
Combine, $l00,O00,00O United
Fruit Company, $20,O00,O00 Celery
Trust, 81 l,00o,0o0; American Flour
Company, Sl5o,0o0,o00; Farm and
Dairy Product Company, $l5,000,-
600; Preserving Combine, $l0,00O,-
900; American Ice Trust, $60,00O,-
900 the Milk Trust, $4,000, 900 !;
Coffee, Cheese and Biscuit Trusts,
$3.50, ,000,O GOO more.
The trust problem is, therefore,
the Bazaar argues, largely II woman's
problem, a housckccpcr's problem
also. 1t figures very largely in her
household expense account. ''Of
every dollar spent on food for 4
family it is estimated there is net
profit OF % cents to trusts" in view
of which estimate the Bazaar asks
and suggests, "Wh hat Of woman'S
war on trusts? The housewife has
Il tremendous power in the boycott"
The suggestion is vain, of course.
Whatever "powcr" housewives have
in the matter, they vii, not use it in
concert. The trusts have no more
TO fear from them than from the
house huSbandS-thc submissive citi-
zcns of the country who permit
themselves to be Systematically
robbed by the combines without lift
ing !ngcr in effective protest. 1t
is curious state Of things which is
presented, however, by the Bazlar'S
exhibit and others of same character.
In proposed government Of che
people, by the people, for the pco-
pie, a few groups of men have or
ganizcn openly for the purpose Of
taxing the whole people arbitrarily
and heavily on III" rs" or conSump.
ton of all articles OF necessity or
comfort, including articles Of food
generally, and it is notorious that
they are carrying their conspiracy
into effect in every part Of the coun-
try and in every HON" in it. Their
cXactiOnS arc more searching and un-
avoidablc than the taxes OF govern
mcnt itself none can escape them.
There is no appeal from them.
The Government declares It's inabli-
" to protect the victims makes no
effort to protect them; ; largely aids
the robbcr concerns by laws made
or maintained in their interest, and
is itself sub rct in large measure 10
their making The Styangost thing
about the whole matter, OF course, is
that the people themselves, VIII"
knew well the magnitude OF the syS-
TEN Of cXtortiOn, and who feel its
effects in their daily and hourly lii,, ,
and who have the power to cnd IT M
their pleasure, will not rouse them
selves to action and combine to put
an end forever TO the evils from
which they suffer. One Congress OF
men selected and elected by them
for that purpose would destroy tn,
iniquitous systems, ROOF and branch
and perhaps no other agency can
but there is no sign or suggestion a
yet OF Il movement to organize such
a body. 1t is not "a woman'S war !
it is not a politicians war it /, not
a corporations war; it is not a capi-
taIl,ts' war; it is the peoples wm
and tn" combines will have matters
all their own way until the Who'll,
people make it their war and wage
it as such.
Something can be accomplished
howrv"r by any considerable par,
OF the people, as those Of one STAT,
even, fighting on their own behalf
The people OF South Carolina, TO
example, cannot make any impress
sion on the power OF the Suga,
Trust or Standard Oil Trust, be
cause they have no resources thai
are not controlled by those concerns
but they can organize AMI fight ci
frcliVplN AGAINST others OF ihr sam,