Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-10-12
Have We No Trusts
The trail of the serpent is upon them.

IItIc are lIO VI usl5
in the threat of the Illinois Steel
Mills, of Chicago and Joliet, to shut
out $1,000 men, and the notice stimuli
taneously given by the Carnegie Steel
Co., of Pittsburg, that not till the LIST
OF january will they be able to an
nounce the new wage schedule.
The Illinois company's threat is spe-
cfc, and as voiced by its president,
T.. J. Burlington, for publication, is as
follows:
1--WE have shut down our Joliet mills
for lack OF orders. Possibly we shall be
compelled to shut down other mills with
in the next ten days for the same reason,
although we hope to continue most OF
our mills in operation. AS The Presiden-
tial election approaches many OF our
best customers are postponing pur-
chases for the reason, they state, they
wish to wait until they are certain OF
the result OF the election before placing
large orders"
That seems plain and specific
enough, but some other officials Of the
company remove all lingering doubt,
if any exists, Of the sole intent of the
shutdown, by declaring
awe cannot give you employment if
the Democratic party is in power aiiee
next November. Vote for Mckinley
and the public will again give us orders
for goods, and that means employment
for you"
That the conspiracy is the result Of
accumulation of corporations is shown
BY the announcement of the Pittsburg
company, which is to postpone its an
nual notice of wage changes, which is
made in October OF each year, till after
election, conveying thereby an intent
to make the Presidential election the
arbiter Of the scale adopted. AL
though not as brutal and direct as
President Bufington's announcement
of intent, it is no less ominous OF
trouble if direction OF capital is in
the least circumscribat by an honest
demand for just treatment by labor,
through its p.erogative of the ballot.
The same plan was successfully
adopted in 1896, and that encourages
the attempt now. II appears that
there is some degree of timidity felt
even by the calloused power that turns
the screws, or they would not be so
anxious to make it appear that their
action is the result of trade conditions
they do not control. Now it is fact
we'll known in business and political
circles that the Illinois Steel Company
has had more orders than it could fill,
and there is not the slightest necessity
for the late reduction of operatives
and still less for the further suspcn-
sion threatened unless political events
give promise of keeping n trust ad-
ministration in power.
Still Hanna says he does not know
of trust in the whole country. Now,
with the above plainly-made threats
in mind let US study the definition of
the word trust as generally understood
and clearly defined by one of our lat
est photographers, the Standard Die.
tionary:
"rrust: An organization or asso.
citation of industrial corporations, a
majority Cat least) of the stock in each
of which is transferred to a central
committee, or board of trustees, who,
while issuing to stockholders certifi-
Gates showing their interests and right
to dividends, exercise the voting power
OF the stock in electing boards of d.
Yectors for the various associated cor
porations and in other ways, and thus
direct their policy for the common OBJ
ject of lessening competition, regulat.
ing production, lowering cost and in
creasing profits; a corporate trust"
The difference between a corpora.
ton and a trust is, therefore, it may
be seen, that the former is combina-
ton of individuals and the latter a
combination OF corporations, and the
existence OF the latter is amply shown
by the simultaniety and sameness of
action and methods, which show both
agreement and cooperation. During
normal conditions, this authority is
exercised in suspensions of activity to
regulate and maintain high prices for
products and secure low cost of man.
ufacture, a procedure which reduces
the wage-factor to the lowest possible
figure land whenever a political con.
test which might affect measures for
adjustment and equalization of the
rights of labor as we'll rs capital, to
institute plans whereby the poor man
is met with threats OF starvation for
himself and family, if he does not d.
rect the weapon provided for his saliva
ton (the balloD against himself.
Oh, no; there are indeed no trusts
in America! But the spectre will not
down at the bidding of the big boss,
and the workingmen have been dashed
to a frenzy by the high-handed out.
RACES of organized capital and have
resolved to down the monster at all
hazards. That is the cause OF pertur.
baton in high places.
The wholesale clothing manufac-
turing firms in Chicago, have adopted
a novel method of securing fat for
Hanna's try-kettle. They assess two
dollars per week upon their journey.
men employees, which they can pay or
drop the goose" As usual, might
wins. The plan was adopted BY a