The St. Louis Republic., 1900-11-04
Product Limi,ed; Prices Fixed.


| "Cnis Investment Guide sets before the
! public :, similar history OF many equally
large corporations engaged in other lines OF
business. ! think the aforementioned cor
| roratons fall within the popular definition
uf Il trust. \ corporation that controls
I from 20 90 % per cent of the entire product
I Of any liue ri business IL undoubtedly Il
trust IL the most objectionable sense OF
! that term.
| destroys competition in the production and
| price of the trust-inade article. Take the
| American Salt Company, 4 corporation with
! lm!tlcss capital, producing 70 per cent of
| all the salt used In the United State9 II is
| plain that no competition can enter that
| !.rid with any prospect of success. The
! American Steel and Wire Company, with
ninety millions of capital, producing 50 per
/ cent Of the entire wire na!l output of the
| country and guarded as 1t IS by protective
| tariff is practically free from competition.
! 1t can, and does. limit the amount Of the,
product and fixes the price thereof;
Prior To the organization of this trust
per cent higher. Stoves and ranges are 4o
per cent higher than they We're two years
ago; Scythes are 10 per cent dearer; In
seed of is 10 per cent dearer tin plate is %
, per cent dearar. and rope and cordage have
advanced 50 per cent. All these articles. L
! am Informed, are trust-madc.
The chairman Of the Republican Ma
tioHai Committee certainly is not ignorant
.t the existence of these powerful monopo-
lies or trusts. Senator BeverdSe and other
Republican leaders agree with air. Hanna
that there are Eq trusts, Eut Senator Scott
and other representatives. of that party say
they believe in trusts. that they are a good
thing; although these gentlemen must know
that every Uust-rnade article nov on tile
market has advanced in price from ~ TO
100 per cent. y German Republican NOR
chan; told me that two or three years ago
certain grades Of woo!en goods sold at IS
cents per yard, wholesale. The same goods
. to-day cost 81 cents per yard, wholesale.
! Three years ago granu;ated sugar retailed
at eighteen to twenty pounds for Il dollar;
"a NII sal "a -
fifteen pounds for dollar.
/ IN view of the opinion of these distn-
expect the Republican Congress under pres
ent leadership would interfere with these
libe rally contributing Of their abundan; rev.
cnUes to Mr.. Hanua's S%0.0Jh.tND campaign
fund, which is 10 be distributed with a prod
;Sai hand in close districts in order To s"-
cure the election of Republicans 10 Con-
cress. No person suppuses that these great
/ corporations are making these princely con-
| tributions without the hope and ex1ectation
or reward. In the event of Republican
majority in the next Congress the trusts
! would probably, receive ample compensation
/ for their contributions in the way of favor
able national legislation.
! AS an indication OF what we might ex-
psct we find that Republican Congress,
. the command Of the Sugar Trust passed
! the Porto Iican tariff law. which many dis
| tinguished lawyers, including ex-President
! Harrison. believe to be unconstitutional.
| The reasons given by Mr.. Cannon of Hi
nos and other Republican leaders for the
necessity of this law are flimsy and trivial
/ In the extreme and do not do credit to their
ability when compared with reasons given
! the trusts had bougtA up all the sugar ard
! tobacco in the island and the passage OF
! this law was necessary to prevent them
I from making Elcat gains. This law i'm
poses tariff or tax upon all the sugar and
| tobacco coming from the island TO the
States. 1t is not likely that the trusts had
bought the crops TO he raised for two years
fyn ha nf Ia
| be true, the trusts have brazcnly entered
the domain OF politics and haushtily de-
mand of their employees that they vote as
| the boss directs. VIII Intelligent American
| labor submit to such dicta,ion?
| As to the Philippines.
! clares that all Governments derive their
! just powers from the consent of the gov
/ erred. But the present Republican leaders
/ are seeking by their conduct in the Phil
I ippine islands to set aside this time-hon-
| ored and sacred principle, and to establish
! that the stronger may govern the weaker
| without his consent and against his Will.
| Shade of the immortal Lincoln! He whose
magic pen struck the shack!es of bondage
! from the fettered limbs Of millions Of
J slaves! How his great soul must be OPP
/ of the sainted dead are accessible to such
, emotions in the glory world. when he con-
! templates this great Republic engaged in a
| fierce war for the purpose of conguering by
force. taxing at viii and governing at pleas
! ure three times the number Of human be-
| by military force. to tax the conquered at
| the will Of the cpnquerer and to govern that
people without their consent and against
thcir viii has always been REGARDED by