The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-03-09
TARIFF AND TRUSTS.

One of the points which the oppe-
nents of the tariff always make against
it is, that it is the real cause of the
trusts. 1t is apparent that this is their
wish rather than the real facts in the
case. 1t may be possible that there are
instances where the protective tariff
somewhat aids the trust, but this fact
has'not been shown as yet to be positive
fact. 1t has not been shown by those
| who advocate the. removal or the re-
duction of the tariff as remedy for
trusts, that the trust will disappear
with said removal, and that it will not
then assume an international form,
with the same abuses it presents now.
Foreign countries are as plastered over
with trusts as is America, though the
abuses there from them do not
seem to be as great as in this country,
doubtless because the governmental
regulations regarding their formation
and control are much more strict. But
they are there just the same and con.
troll and regulate trade, as will be seen
by the following from the Washing
ton correspondent of the Minneapolis
Journal. He says:
Notwithstanding the opposition of
the American public to the so-called
trusts, there is no suggestion, even re-
mote, that the trusts haYe not come to
stay; and in adopting this idea of con-
solidation and organization the bust
ness men Of America are following the
example which is being set all over
Europe. England and Germany years
ago turned towards the trust as the best
means of overcoming the competition
of the rest of the world in the world
markets. The gigantic aggregations of
capital brought together in those two
countries, quickly drove out business
men from the rest of the world who
were operating in smaller way, and
enabled England and Germany to prac-
tically monopolize the most desirable
parts of the foreign trade. France soon
saw the drift of matters. and followed
with trust organizations. And then the
idea took root in this country, and has
been fourishing notwithstanding the
opposition of the public and the threats
of one of the great political parties.
Austria is the latest of the big
European countries to take up trusts
and exploit them as benefit to the
mercantile trade and as a necessity if
that trade is to hold its own in the
markets of the world. The American
consuls in Austria report the organiza-
tion of the hatmakers, the paper fac
tories, the makers of sugar and sac
charine products, the shoe manufac-
turers. makers of knit goods. etc. Only
a few weeks ago successful effort was
put under way to combine all of the
gas companies in Austria. In nearly
every instance, these combinations have
been followed by raise in prices, the
argument being made that times are
improved, wages increased, and the
people in better condition to pay living
profits than they were during recent
periods of depression. What will be of
interest to American politicians in con-
nection with the Austrian situation is
the announcement that Austria has no
protective tariff, except on a very few
articles cigars and tobacco, for in
stance, the traffic in which is govern
ment monopoly. The almost prohibit
tive duty on canned and bottled food
articles is not protective in CONNER
cial sense, The high tariff is imposed
becaused the sealed goods cannot be ex-
amined, the same articles in bulk pay
ing but small fraction of the sealed
case. The high tariffs of America,
therefore, according to this view, do
not altogether explain the American
trusts.