The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-06-29
oBJBCT LEssoN oN TRUsTs.
How PubIio Integrity Is Betrayed and
Cheated By the Rapaeity OF
The HoT6-Tuz

New York Journal
Ogdensburz, N IA ounce game
as neat as any practiced on the BoWery
is the latest development OF trust me-
thods. The "steerer7 10 this particular
instance is no other than Edwin Gould,
who sent his representative, Col Wal
lace A Downs, to Ogdensburg in 1895
and told the people what a fine thing it
would be to have another large match
factory employing 1000 or more hands,
whose wages would contribute to the
prosperity Of the town.
The people concurred heartily in
Edwin GouId's scheme, the papers
teemed with his enterprise and public
mass meetings sang anthems Of praise
to the name Of Gould. Col. Downs
gently insinuated that it would be
mark Of appreciation and a most
proper thing for the people Of Ogdens-
burg to furnish the site for the pro
posed match factory, as well as make
Mr.. Gould, who vas a needy and worthy
young man a present of $4,000, In re-
eognition OF his philanthropic pro.
pOsals.
Col. Downs carried the day, and the
hat was passed for Mr.. Gould The
subscribers to the fund numbered over
500 people. No one was sighted. The
bootblack, the cartman, the street
cleaner were an permitted to contri-
butte from g cents upward.
Clerks and cigarmakers, postofiee
employees, letter carriers, small dealing
but large hearted merchants, all chip
ped in from 81 to SO and upward.
Bankers, lawyers, clergymen, large
merchants and mOneyed men generally
sWelled the sum until it RRs large en-
ough to satisfy the generous Mr.. Gould.
1t took some time to collect the money,
for but few Of the contributors we're
men Of means. Most Of them were day
labOrers or small salaFied clerks and
town officials, and they had to wait
until they could spare the sum sub
scribed from their wages.
In some cases the gift was a decided
sacrifice. Women helped out the men,
and BY sewing, washing or working
in stores earned the money to induce
Mr.. Gould to build a match factory
here.
Over $500 was thus raised; lot was
purchased costing 5000 and turned
over by warranty deed to Mr. Gould,
president Of the Continental Match
eOmPsnyi 5000 contributed By the
citizens Of Ogdensburg was paid into
Mr.. Gould's hands.
In due time the building was COM
pleted. Hundreds Of people focked to
'OgdensbUrg to secure employment in
the match factory. Real estate men
built scores Of small houses to accom-
mOdate the factory employees, and the
town doomed in anticipation Of in
creased prosperity.
Property went up, and 1000 we're
added to the population of the city;
17,4I7.5O was the total sum to be paid
over to Mr.. Gould as soon as the wheels
began to move. The amount was sub
scribed and the people stood ready to
remit the unpaid balance as soon as
Mr.. Gould completed his part of the
contract, which was regularly drawn
up, signed by the trustee Of the city Of
Ogdensburg and the representative Of
the Continental Match company.
The city was on the tidal wave Of
prosperity. Another match factory,
the Adirondack, had already located
here, the people generously contribut-
ing 5000.
When the great buildings of the
Gould factory were completed, the ma
chinery in, and all in readiness to start,
then a great combination Of capital,
representing sI5,OOOOOO swooped down
upon the town, and Gould betrayed the
people who had put 5000 into his
pocket, and sold out to the Diamond
match trust.
The magnificent factory was aband-
oned, the thousands Of people who had
come here to earn honest wages we're
told they were not wanted, and scores
of newly built houses were left tenant
less. The blow to the town was stun
ner, and, though two years have passed |
the IabOring classes, real estate owners, !
and merchants have not recovered.
simultaneously the match trust sb- /
sOrbed the Adirondack factory, threw /
800 men out Of work and abandoned /
the buildings and dismantled the plant /
Thus two of the principal industries Of |
the town were wiped out at one stroke
and the 500 people Of Ogdensburg who |
had contributed so generously to |
GOuld's pocket we're hIohed Of their /
for despite the protests /
and demands and threats Of the sub
seribers and the board Of trade, Gould /