Willmar tribune., 1900-09-05
TRUST PLANK A FARCE.

mas Deen so widely heralded.
ADOLPH PATTERSON.
TRUST PLANK A FARCE.
How the Farmers Are Robbed by Mo-
Ropolies-Administ Placed
ON the Defensive.
Data showing how the trusts have
artificially advanced prices have been
collected and published by the demo-
cratic congressional committee. Here
is what a few of the combinations did
in 1899:
The linseed oil trust raised the price
from Al cents on January Z, to so
cents on December 80.
The menhaden trust raised the price
on menhaden oil from % cents on
January 1, to 27% cents on Decem
ber 30.
The Standard Oil company raised
the price on petroleum from $3.50 on
January Z, to $500 on December 80.
The sugar trust raised the price on
granulated sugar from 4.94 cents on
January Z, to S 1-8 cents on Decem-
ber 30
The chemical trust raised the price
of ipecac from $3.50 per pound on
January 7, to $3.65 per pound on De.
cember 80. The same trust raised the
price of camphor from 3sh cents on
January 1, to 52h cents on Decem-
Der 80. The same trust raised the
price of quinine from 21 cents on
January 7, to 80 cents on December
30. The same trust raised the price
of sal soda from 62H cents on Jan
uary Z, to 70 cents on December 30
The leather trust raised the price
of leather from 20 cents on January
Z, to 25h cents on December 30.
The calico trust raised the price
of calico from 2 3-S cents on January
Z, to 3A cents on December 30, for
print cloths, and from cents to 4h
cents on indigo prints.
The jeans trust raised the price on
jean cashmere from 271s cents on jan
uary Z, to 40 cents on December 80.
The jute trust raised the price on
jute hemp from 2H cents on January
Z, to 3ss cents on December 80.
The copper trust raised the price
of copper from 1874 cents on January
Z, to 1914 cents on December 30.
The lead trust raised the price of
pig lead from 1895 on January z, to
$4.65 on December 80.
The tin plate trust raised the price
on tin plate from So box on January
Z, to $5.25 on December 80.
The cement trust raised the price
of Rosendale from IS cents on Janu-
ary 6, to 95 cents on December 20.
They raised the price during the same
period on Portland cement from 81 90
to $2.25.
The nail trust increased the price
of nails from $1.10 on January 4, 1899,
to $3.50 on January 3, 1900. The same
trust increased the price of wire nails
from $1.35 to $500 during the same
period.
The Structural Iron company in
creased the price of structural angles
from $1.15 on January 4, 1899, to $4.2O
on January g., 1900.
The glass trust increased the price
of glass from s2.57 on January 4, 1899,
to $4.20 on January 3, 1900.
The price of boots and shoes, con-
trolled by the leather trust, shows
an increase during the year 1899 on
mems grain shoes from 81 cents to
SLIP; on Creedmore splits, from 95
| cents to $1.10, and like increase
on all grades of boots and shoes.
The prices of cotton goods increased
so per cent. White sheetings on Jan
uary II sold at $3.50, and on Decem-
ber 20 at $23.
All lines of building material, iron,
| stel, woolen goods, cotton goods,
leather and other lines controlled by
industrial trusts, although showing
great increase in price during the
years 1897 and 1898, showed even a
greater increase during the year 1899.
THE ONLY PRICES TO FALL WE'RE
THOSE OF FARM PRODUCTS. THE
YEAR BOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE FOR 1899, WHICH
HAS RECENTLY BEEN ISSUED.
SHOWS THAT THE FARM PRODUCTS
AND FARM ANIMALS IN 1899, AL
THOUGH VASTLY INCREASED IN
QUANTITY SINCE 1890. HAD FALLEN
OFF IN VALUE TO THE EXTENT OF
s7O6, 1863, 81. THIS ONLY COUNTS AS
FARM PRODUCTS CORN. WHEAT.
OATS. BARLEY, RYE. <BUCKWHEAT,
THE FARM PRODUCTS OF 1899 HAD
BROUGHT THE SAME PRICES AS DID
THE SAME PRODUCTS IN 1890, THEY
WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MORE THAN
THEY DID BY THE SUM OF s., COG, 437, ,5S4.
Thus the farmer lost in two direc-
tions, first by the positive decline in
the value of his products, and second
by the fictitious rise in the price of
products he must buy. There has
been a large increase of money cir
culation since 1897, and under com
petition the benefits Of the increase
would be shared by all. But through
monopoly of natural resources and in
dustry the trusts have managed to
appropriate nearly all the benefits to
themselves. And the trusts have been
able to exploit the people because the
republican congress and administra-
tion have fostered and 4 encouraged
them.-Dubuque Telegraph. .,s...
I. Attorney General Monnett, Of
Ohio, boldly declares that the repub-.
lican leaders are. in league with the
trusts to enable them to rob the peo-
pie and destroy the very foundations
of free government. He states the unt-
questionable truth that many st the
necessaries Of life are from so to 400
per cent. higher than they would be
if trust control were removed and that