The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-21
HOUSTON. WEDNESDAY,, FEB. II.
TWELVE PAGES
THE KING OF THE COMBINE.

II the distinction of having created the
industrial combination known as the
trust is the property of one man 1t belongs
to John d. Rockefeller. the most marvellous
commercial personality In this or any
other country. He IS we believe, the rich
est man OF his day and in the accumula-
tion Of his vast wealth, has been from the
commencement of his career Napoleon
Of affairs with all Napoleons grasp OF
detail and acumen. but so alertly master
full IN the genius OF conquest as to have
never faced the remotest possibility OF a
Waterloo, He has dared legislatures. Fed
eral aud State, deaed the angry mutter-
ings Of his monopoly ridden countrymen
and held himself serene and confident 10
the presence OF courts, proceeding in the
name Of the law to convict him OF bust
ness methods In restraint Of trade and de-
structive OF the wholesome economy OF
competition. From all these extra ordinary
experiences he has emerged with the tan
talizing declaration, 1T is too late to
argue about the advantages Of Industrial
combinations. They have come to STAY"
This Is the startling statement with which
be cooliy slapped the Industrial commits
sion In the face. when summoned before
Il last January. Perhaps 1T is too late to
argue about the advantages of Industrial
oombna,i u.s." but It is opportune and
vital TO argue about their disadvantages
as they affect their tremendous army Of
victims. being daily recruited from the
ranks OF the plundered masses Have they
come 10 stayY Yes. II the republic an party
has come to stay. No. II the republican
party shall be driven from National con
troll to make way for a party that shall
not pick UP the reins OF government with
a hand nerveless in the cause OF the peo-
pie from having accepted campaign con-
tributiOns from the industrial combina-
tions. 1t was not, however. In the per-
petuation OF the republican party in the
administration Of government. It Is fair to
say that Mr. Rockefeller foresaw the end
less sway of the industrial combination
but in the greed OF men and In the devllsh
and unreasonable potency OF gold, He
did not so express It, and yet this is fair
analysis Of his testimony before the In.
dustrial commission In which he declared
the great desideratum of the combine to be
economy in the business" and extension
OF limits OF business" certainly at the
viii and pleasure of an absolute monopoly,
While subscribing TO these foundation
principles of the Industrial combination II
is refreshing to recall that the relgnins
king of the trust regime admitted without
reserve that combinations effected for
speculation in stocks were dangerous TO
the public. There are but few trust mo-
nopolies In all the long list OF combines
the stock OF which has not been matter
OF speculation to the end that commod-
ties controlled by them have been steadily
advanced In prices. The admission, there
fore. OF the monopoly magnate is quite
sufficiently significant to Justify and pro-
long stalwart enmity TO the combines un-
til thoughtful statesmanshIp shall be able
TO put a Curb on the iron jaw of the RAM
pant and vicious trust that will subject
1t to the control OF the government. Mean
while the extraordinary personality. re-
sponslble more than any other for the sys-
tenn from whence has sprung this monster
Of Unsuitable NAV. broken In health and
aged befofe his time. is compelled to aban-
don the aeeretion Of added millions In or.
der to warp the hickering taper of life.