The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-14
sIrrEtior strtement.
..,rrusts Are a Good ThinE."

When Senator Scott Of West Virginia Ut
tered the cheering and momentous words
az the head of this article he evidently
knew whereof he spoke From the monop-
olist's point of view. which is that OF Scott,
a better thing could not be conceived The
trust system has displaced competition,
which when the latter was protected by
law. the Federal authorities, and the
courts, made the former impossible. It has
been Yexed question before the American
people for years, whether the change is
desirable one or not It has led to the rapid
extinction Of non-trust producers, small
manufacturers. merchants, commission
men, and travelling statesmen. Many per
sons have supposed that the violent denial
of Industrial and commercial opportunity
to the many that the few might be enor-
mousIy enriched, through monopoly Of the
manufacture and sale Of all commodities of
prime necessity, and control of the quasi
public facility of transport, was, and is,
had instead Of good thing They are no
longer in doubt about the matter, as the
verdict OF the country on the sixth Of No
vember is excellent evidence
Having accepted monopoly in the place Of
competition as the basis of our Industrial
and mercantile actfy tiles, ii is the duty of
al good citizens to bow to the majority,
and, of course, to tie trusts. When law
and sentiment eoajoined to impose and
maintain the rule o. the greatest good to
the greatest number" 1t was right and
proper to observe the principle it repre-
scented Now, when The nation, by an over
whelming vote has 7eereed that hencefor-
ward it viii be guided by the doctrine of
the greatest good 10 the smallest mum
ber," it is equally necessary that all per-
sons-Anarch:sts Fopulists, and Indians
not taxed ceJted-shouId consent with
amiabIe seTrility.
We are sorrT to learn :aat the new
law has not been received with glad
ness, or in q spirit of obedience IN
some places One instance which has just
come TO our knowledge is particularly
painful. Some local capitalists in Chatta-
nooga, Tenn, thinking to take an IN
fair advantage of the Soil Pipe Trust, by
availing themselves of an exceptional or
portunity to get their raw material at a
low cost, were both impudent and impru-
dent enough to organize the Chattanooga
Pipe and Foundry Company, and to erect
and equip the finest soil pipe plant in the
United States. For what they are about
to receive, these lightning defiers have
no reason to be duly thankful; but they
have brought it on their own heads. The
Pipe Trust has gone out of its way re-
peatedly 10 invite the Chattanooga con
eern to become one of its members, and
On terms vastly liberal to the trust
These overtures have been rejected. and
The consequences are beginning to mate
Tial1Ze- This would have happened be-
fore; but the tr',st magnates deemed it
inopportune TO take action until they
could be sure of trust Administration
in Washington for the next four years.
Now, however, they are proceeding Wig
Orously and selling soil pipe in the terri
tory of the recaicitraHt at a price less
than the Chattanooga plant has to pay
for its pig iron.
No one can doubt what the outcome
Will be- These green but unbending Ten
nesseeans who imagine that the trusts can
be made to let anyone live but them
selves. viii shortly take what the charity
OF their masters may accord, OF fall INTO
total ruin. Their sad but deserved fate
IS lesson which needs no expounder It
teaches itself