The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-12


''The poor we have always with u.s."
But that is another story. The trusts We
viii have always with us, if the signs Of
the times mean anything. With the arm
OF the government paralyzed by a decis-
ion of the supreme court; with the gen
eral public Indifferent to the effect Of
trust dominion; with a tariff law peculiar
ly adapted to fostering combinations by
removing the element of foreign compe-
titlor, the body polite is in the best
shape possible to foster this germ of dis
ease.
We are not the only country, however,
where unholy industrial and commercial
alliances exist. France has foste-ed them
for a quarter of a century, and today
Paris is the home of more than one in
ternational trust. The great armor plate
shIp-building and gun trust recently pro-
jected is not new in principle, the Eu-
ropean zinc tEust was international in it's
character.
Germany is overrun with trusts, from
production of steel and the sale of sugar.
In Austria trusts have gained sufficient
foothold to excite the government to re-
strtctive legislative acts.
Russia boasts Of sugar and oil trusts
as comprehensive, if not as opulent as
their prototypes in the United States
In a study Of the trusts of Europe, the
fact is readily observed that the number
of trusts which limit production and con-
troll prices. is in direct proportion to the
restriction placed upon competition by the
various tariff laws. Germany and France
for the last twenty-five years have been
endeav6ring, by protective tariff legisla-
ton. to build up industrial communities.
They have succeeded, but with this sue
cess was engendcred overproduction-
the natural remedy for overproduction
is the trust.
Trust combinations are scarce in Eng
land. Why? Because the policy of Brit
ish manufacturers and traders has been
not to prey upon their kind at home, but
to seek foreign markets and let honest
competition stimulate trade.
With free trade in all ordinary com
modities, the world over. the burdensome
trust would gradually disappear. It is
true that a trust like the Standard Oil
and the salt trust, which control all the
output OF certain natural products, would
not be affected by a removal of protective
duties, but the government, if disposed,
has the power to regulate these abuses.
The problem of international trusts pre-
sents new elements. The question Of
trust regulation becomes, then, one Of
diplomacy in which all or a majority Of
what are known as industrial nations
must take part.
Not being hampered with constitution
and our peculiar relations between state
and federal governments, the European
nations can use drastic measures to curb
too ambitious combinations when they
menace the public good. New markets
and a complete abolition Of protective
duties, will do much to simplify the
problem
Germany and France, although brought
face to face with an Industrial depres-
sion will hardly change their national
policy for time. The United States is
committed to a high tariff and all that
such policy engenders for four years
more He who devises a means to defeat
the evil effects of the trusts without dis
turbing the equilibrium of the Industrial
will be hailed as deliverer.