Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1900-07-25
SAM JONES ON TRUSTS.

The Rev, Sam Jones has a good un-.
Outstanding of human nature. and
therefore is a good political economist.
In recent article on trusts in the
Manufacturers Record, of Baltimore,
Mr.. Jones does not perform his usual
feat of jumping on" somebody. He
commends trusts, and says they are
good for the people and he gives rea-
sons, and sound and satisfactory rea-
sons, to back up his assertion,
Mr.. Jones has grasped the fundamen-
tai principal that the machine-call it a
trust, call it corporation, call it a
company, call it a firm, what it is
that brings good to the consumer for
less money than he formerly had to
pay is desirable something to have
in country.
1t is better that electricity shall
pull street cars than mules; it is
better for one man to pillow and
NOW hay field than ten; it is
better that wheat be stored in elevators
by machinery than that a thousand men
strain an toll to place it there. All of
this Is progress, and the man or men
who get in front of the car of progress
go down. It is inevitable.
The trusts-we speak of the legiti-
mate combinations of capital and
energy to perform some Industrial
work, not the criminal trusts formed
for the purpose of manipulating
the stock market to-day or tomorrow
and fleeing the public-are a develop
ment of the age. They are product
of our civilization. But they have
come upon us quickly, and any change
from and established order causes dis
satisfaction and discomfort.
The problem is to see that in this
new dispensation opportunity is not
stifed and that consumers as we'll as
producers share in the benefits which
accrue.
The Standard Oil Compay, in that it
brings the consumer oil for 10 cents
per gallon where he once paid so cents
per gallon, is valuable institution.
But when it prevents other companies
from selling oil it is dangerous instr
ton, aud its acts are contrary to the
welfare of the nation. When the
sugar trust gives US sugar for cents
per pound where we formerly paid
10 cents per pound, it is a benefit to So
ciety, but when the sugar trust, by its
power brides the Senate of the United
States to enact tariff schedule of its
suggestion, it is distictly preJudicial to
the public-interests. Ifalegislator can
be corrupted for one thing he can be
corrupted for all things and the inter
ests of the entire country, therefore
are in danger.
One says then, What shall we do?
You say some trusts are good; that
combinations are product of our civ
ilization; that they cheaper products,
economic labor, are beneficial and
are here to stay. But that on the
other hand they destroy competition,
lessen opportunity and frequently cor
rupt legislation. What then?
Questions of this magnitude cannot
be settled by any man scheme The best
plan is to elect men to office, to Congress
especially, who are first sincerely for
the public interest, who are intelligent,
and who are without narrow or pre-
JUDGED views. Having these things,
corrective legislation will sooner or
later appear When we want to do
thing, we can usually find means to do
IT. Nashville American.
Never taunt your wife with her ig-
norance. You wouId probahIv he sim