The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-07-07
The Household and the Trusts.
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post
For many years Harper Bazaar has been
a publication devoted exclusively to the
interests of women. 1t has been far in the
lead as the arbiter of fashions, it has been
accepted as the wade mecum in social at
fairs. and it has welded an influence in
proportion to its excellence Very re-
markable as it, therefore, to find in the
columns of this paper an editorial which
touches directly upon question which is
to be an important factor in the approach
ing campaign.
It is true that the editorial does not pro
fess to be political in its tone. 1t simply
discusses the trust issue in its relation to
the household, ignoring all reference to
platform declarations and congressional
legislation, but its attitude of opposition
and the reasons it advances for this hos
tilitv will have all the more weight be
cause politics have seemingly no connec-
ton Herewith According to the Bazaar
the mothers of the country have per
sonal interest in the trust question because
following upon the formation of trusts IN
the several industries there has been rise
in prices of all these articles of household
consumption. Figures are presented to
prove this statement, and it Is argued that
the low price of sugar and of oil does not
offset the advance in other articles OF daily
use. Ii is human nature, says the Bazaar,
for men to make money, and when few
persons control ninety or ninety -hye per
cent. of business supplying the needs OF
whole country they will put up the
prices Just as high as they dare, aud they
dare do just about what they place be
cause they are so strong they can crush
out any individual resistance
The matter of increased cost Is not how
ever, in the opioniou of the Bazaar, the
most dangerous feature Of the trusts. Far
more serious is the fact that the field Of
opportunity for the growing boy Is almost
entirely removed. the chance for indiyid-
ual effort reduced to minimum Upon
this point, the Bazaar SAYS in vigorous Ian
guage
Take the Standard Oil company, for
instance The profits of this concern Tor
the current year are estimated al S92. e.
000. 600. Would not Mr. Rockefeller
smile if Your son set out TO establish a
business that would snatch the power ,n
fix prices cut of Mr. Rockefeller hands
Precisely there Is where trusts have moth
ers by the heartStrines. Il l. not 81 bad
about prices-we may struggle and meet
this-but trusts impose upon our suns 4
future Of seridom The individual enter
prise that i possible under a reign Of trusts
is a resort 10 the economic conditions oi the
/ barbarian. The alternative l. seridom--a
clekship. if you will, managerial position
at handsome salary in the trust concern,
perhaps, but he Is the minion Of the sugar
/ king. the cool baron. the trust that employs
/ him He Is a creature of the trust With
no hope. no future in which he may be
master of himself. This Is woman cause
/ for hating trusts. for fearing monOpolsjlc
tendencies of every sort Her boy. yours,
and yours are hefrauded Of their American
birthright-hbetty and independents
while trusts operate to create a royal de
scent Of money kings 20 rule the ''o'm-
mon people Wonans enmity against
trusts Is not on economic grounds Il
stands on the American principle of liberty
aud equal rights, aud the strength VI iI q,
the force of a mother pride in her s'a.
This l. view Of the trust situation
which has been but little emphasized up e.
the present time Expressed, as !, Is, BY
a publication which has no political bias
and which has always been an arkuowl
edged representative If womanhrod, q
| must he regarded as As utterauce Of great
Importance The women, Of course, have
+ no vote, except in few commonwealth
/ but if the ideas advanced by the Bazaar
1 find lodgmcnt in every household q power
/ full influence viii be active during the
campaign. 1t will be silent. but II viii b.
none the less effective; aud Il viii b. ia
rected against the political party uudeT
whose administration the trusts have pJu-
/ perei