The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-01
An Attack on Trusts.

The case OF the Argo starch Com
pany, Of Nebraska City, to which Mr..
Bryan is at present devoting a consid-
cradle portion of his attention, Illus
trates the dangers which fiow from an
attempt to handle economic PROPOSE
tons from the standpoint Of partisan
politics. as well as the other danger
from hasty and ill-considered legisla-
tion. passed under pressure of an ar
tifcial public sentiment created for
partisan purposes by appeals to preju-
dice.
This Argo Starch Company had been
established for eleven years at Nebras-
ka City, and In that time had expended
some 100000 among the people of the
town. Its product is marketed all over
the world. and has an established repu-
tation. II is one OF the principal indus
tries OF the town, IL obtains it's raw
material from the farmers In the inn
mediate neighborhood. and the greater
portion OF its receipts are distributed In
that vicinity. But this Argo starch
factory recently sold out. The corpor-
alton which purchased II also owns
large number OF other starch factories
In different parts OF the country, so
that II comes within the definition OF
trust. as at present understood.
The Populist.c legislature OF Nebraska
passed law making 1t the duty of the
attorney general to bring action to
withdraw from any trusts the privilege
of doing business as a corporation with
In the state. Since the campaign open
ed the attorney general of Nebraska
has decided that the corporation own
ing the Argc plant comes within the
definition OF a trust under the Nebraska
drive II out OF business. IL the suit Is
successful. the result win be that the
corporation owning the Argo plant, be-
ing excluded from doing business in
Nebraska. will dlsmantle the plant, ship
the machinery 10 some other state
where raw material Is abundant and
the laws not so stringent. and Nebras-
ka City will be deprived OF It's princl-
pal industry. without any compensat-
ing advantages
Naturally the people of Nebraska
City are up In arms and are loudly pro-
testing against the attack on this In
dustry. They probably have precisely
the same prejudice against trusts as
the people In every other section Of
the country, but they have suddenly
walked Up to the fact that the remedy
which the Populistic legislature OF Ne
braska has proposed and u putting into
effect Is considerably worse than the
disease. However. they have Mr.. Bry-
ans assurance that II IL all for their
own good. and they win probably have
to content themselves with that assur-
anes.
The experience Of the Nebraska City
people shows simply that the trust mat
ter cannot be handled by n legislative
body hlindly and in spirit OF unres-
soninE hostility towards all corpora
lions, without working Immediate aud
serious injury 20 large number Of
communities. affecting ali classes there.
in alike. what compensation Is there
here Tor the workingmeu who will b,
deprived OF employment. or the farm
ers who win be derived ~ a profitable
market. BY the enforcement Of the Ne
braska ststutef In fact. what posi-
bic heneat win Il be q anyone save
citizens OF other states. who are seek
lng 10 secure Instead q TO drive our
corporations engawed In Industrial en-
terprtsesf
The Democrats and PopulistS % Ne
hraska made Tor themselves uttle
temporary political capital by caterin.
to The popular prcludlce against trusts,
but they are likeiy 10 have a serious day
Of reeSoning when the people %, other
places besides Nebraska city wake up
To the prospect that their iocai Indus
tres NAV BE- destroyed BY the working
81 ghe statute. The case throws some
hght on the census returns that show
a decreasing population tn portions %
Nebraska.
The New York Post. which has pre-
sessed 10 be frightened az the scare
crow ~ imperialism" auany admits