New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-15
ICEBERGS AND OTHER TRUSTS.

ICEBEhGS AM OIHER 1hC STS.
The efforts of opposing policies to express
with accuracy and effect their differing opin-
ions about 'the trusts have become peculiarly
difficult for the Democrats. For men Of all par
ties there from the first the apparently in
surmountable difficulty of combining statements
to facts. But when the Van Wycks, the CAROLS
and the rest of the leaders Of the Tammany in
terest found directly connected with
powerful monopoly, and the organization which
professed to be of the people and for the people
is forced into direct consideration of the fact
that consumers who pay so cents for ice far
outnumber the financial managers and office
holders who have pocketed large blocks of
stock and taken heavy dividends thereon, the
puzzle becomes for New-York Democrats par
ticularly troublesome. If the financial manage
ment of the Democratic National party is 10 be
run by the monopolists who grind the faces of
the poor. while the other end is to be conducted
by the multitudes who are plundered by the
monopolies, the party will have admirable pros
poets of success.
1t is not exclusively for the purpose of prod
ding the adversary that the Republicans Guilt
vase their acquaintance with the statesmen and
the leaders who command the iceberg Democ-
racy of 1900. Perhaps there is no other thing
OF greater practical Importance in connection
with the coming campaign than to know what
the real people, the plain, everyday voters who
make up the political parties are intending TO
do about the trust and monopoly" business If
the people are hostile to all these organizations,
with profound conviction that in every case
WHARF party has been tarred with the monop-
oily stick 1t is sure to serve the interests of the
few against those of the many, then most Of
the results of the next election can be counted
in advance. 1t would only be necessary to
search out with some the particular trusts
and monopolies in which Democratic nominees
and leaders have held interests. But IL the pres
ence Of we'll known participants in the various
trusts both sides of the political field is to
count for no more in the future than it has In
the past, and if the great body of voters shall
continue to discriminate with as much good
sense as they may have between the vicious
and hurtful corporations and those which do not
prove vicious hurtful, then a strong measure
of support will be secured for the Republican
policy Of dealing with the entire question
through a constitutional amendment
or course. 1t is only the part Of the cheapest
and most reckless agtators to claim that the
industrial organizations all behave alike In the
exercise Of such powers they possess over
markets. There may first be set aside a few
corpora tons which, even In the unprecedented
excitement and rise Of last year, never gained
complete control of the markets. Where the
constant excess OF demand over supply was as
great as 1t was during almost the whole of that
year combinations were easily found which
secured for the time complete control over
prices and which have to this day retained this
control. If when prices begin to decline In these
branches the combination Is found to consist Of
nothing more than mere conference between
practical men Of extensive informant and #
Il appears that such conferences have held a
real control rather longer on the whole than any
formal organization, that fact will also be con-
sidered by the plain people.
Thus there are to-day Just three fractions Of
the iron and steel manufacture In which prices
have not been reduced at all from their highest
point One of these, the tinplate manufacture
is controlled, and until more competing works
have been finished will doubtless be controlled
by single corporation. Two of them the steel
rail and the steel structural conferences have
no organization whatever. The different makers
merely consult each other by telegraph or tele-
phone and decide what they will do from time
to time The Steel and Wire Company has
failed to maintain prices which it formerly de-
cared 1t would maintain during the year. and
has shown good sense in withdrawing from such
an undertaking. So with the Sheet Company
and the Western and Eastern Bar Association
and the Bessemer Association Of the central
region and the Southern pig iron corporation;
all these concerns appear to be doing useful
service in giving reasonable steadiness to the
market and preventing violent and panic
stricken changes. but in great measure the mar
kets are actually controlled by the demand and
supply. and not by the corporations. I'm like
manner il will be found extremely hard in
coming campaign 10 deny that the price of
petroleum has been first advanced greatly and
then reduced in harmony with legitimate de-
mand, or the price of lead or glass or most other
products which different associations have to n
greater or less extent controlled. The truth is
that the history Of the last year has gone far
TO break down the idea that combination Is able
always or generally 10 control prices to the in
jury OF consumers, and to give strength 10 the