The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-27
MIR. BRYAN ON TRUSTS
TIONAL STARCH COMPANY.
He WouId Shoot 1t to Death Because a
Plant i'm His Own State Joined
the Combination.
ST. HE BECOMES PRESIDENT
THE STARCH COMPANY NEED Ex-
PECT NO MERCY FROM HIM.
May Call Out the Troops and Force 1t
to Disgorge the Concern at
Nebraska City.

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb., Sept. CIV. j.
Bryan spoke here TO a large crowd to-
night The speech had been looked for
ward to with much interest because Mr..
Bryan had announced that he would deal
with the trust question as affected by the
suit instituted by Attorney General Smythe
to annul the sale of the Argo starch works
of this city to the National Starch Com
pany, popularity known as the starch trust.
Mr. Bryan came from Lincoln this after
noon. He was accompanied by Mrs. Bryan
and personal friends. and also by quite a
number of supporters from Lincoln and
other towns on the way. The party occu-
pied a special train. and was met at the
railroad station by two or three marching
clubs and by large number OF admirers,
who escorted the party to the Grand Pa
cifc Hotel. When the meeting began, at
$50 o'clock, there was light rain falling.
and the weather was extremely chilly. The
unfavorable weather did not, however,
have the effect of dispensing the crowd.
They held on bravely, most of them re-
naming to the end. There were not many
unfriendly Interruptions. but evidently
some had been expected, for previous to
the meeting the mayor OF the city issued
IN Oruer Saying there ndu Deen TufnOIS OF
trouble. and warning against it.
The meeting was held in the courthouse
grounds. and the people stood under the
trees and much of the time in the rain
while Mr.. Bryan spoke. He plunged into
the local trust question at the very begin
ming Of his speech, saying the at
torney general had commenced pro-
ceedings in the case of the Argo Starch
Company. not to destroy local manufac-
turing establishment. but to prevent the
manufacturing establishment from entering
into trust. In this connection ne noted
the different steps which he said had been
taken. The Argo Manufacturing Company
of Nebraska City was a prosperous cor
poration- AS evidence Of this he quoted
from the Conservative published by ex-
Secretary of Agriculture j. Sterling Nor
ton. of Nebraska city,. which said in an
editorial May 25 1899. tina; no trust had yet
been able to buy. bully or wheedle the Argo
Company.
about the LIST Of September of 1899. few
months after the editorial comment which
I have just read" said Mr.. Bryan. "the
Argo Company Joined the United Starch
Company. About year later. that
IS. in August or September OF this year.
1900. the third step was taken, and the
United Starch Company joined the trust.
First We have independent company.
growing and prosperous upon its merits:
second, this Independent company joins
other companies TO night the starch trust,
and third. this Independent company. with
Its assistants. joins the starch trust and
competition is at last destroyed
Mr.. Bryan then quoted extensively from
editorial articles in MIR. Mcrtons Con-
servative. showing hostility to trusts.
Commenting In general way Mr. Bryan
said: IF the people OF Nebraska City
defend the starch trust they must be pre-
pared TO defend all the other trusts. for
IL is impossible Tor them 20 destroy trusts
located elsewhere and defend a trust To-
Gated In their own city The people OF your
town have already seen a distiliery closed
down by the whisky trust. What is TO
prevent the ArgO Company from being
closed down by the starch trust? When all
the factories belong 10 one corporation the
closing down or one factory does not bring
loss the corporation because the work
can be carried somewhere else; but the
Argo Company a. an Independent company
Gould not close down without serious loss
therefore. the chances are greater in favor
OF the local factory being closed down IN
der trust than under independent man
agement-
Under the trust system strike in one
factory brings no loss TO the company but
Il does bring loss 20 the employees. Let me
give you a case IN point. The Birmingham
Age Herald Of Sept. Il contained the fol-
lowing dispatch from BesseIner. Ala:
Work was resumed at the Central T0pn-
dry company's plant yesterday. The men
who went out on strike early last week
returned 10 work on the companys terms.
The management here ~ NOT Responsible
for the reduction I'm wages. X having been
ordered by the head Office In New York
the reduction prevailing throughout all the
Otpe plants belonging 70 the company. II