Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-06-23
DESTRUCTIVE FOLLY.
TO BURN The HOUSE TO GET RID or
THE RATS.
Democrats Advocates Smashing All
Industries nd business as the
Proper Method Of Dealing With
Trusts and Combinations.


Trusts and Combinations
American tstness for self government,
so far as ii exists. means that the peo-
pie are both willing ana able to form
correct and just opinions on questions
affecting the public welfare, says the
New York Tribune. 4 good many vot-
ers, all know. are not fit for self gov
ernment, but the number is much
smaller than most persons imagine
Even the unlettered and plain people,
in Mr.. Lincoln's phrase, have been
judging between the conflicting repre-
sensations Of the two great parties for
40 years, and the result proves that
they have judged on the whole with as
tonishing correctness. Their task this
year in judging between Democratic
and Republican proposals regarding
trusts and monopolies and industrial
combinations viii not be, on the whole.
more difficult than many others which
they have met with complete success. 4
They We're not fooled by the greenback
craze in the years Is6S-T6. They were
not fooled by the tricks OF free traders
in 1880 or 1883 nor by the outcry for
free silver in 1896. The mistakes they
have made have been sufficiently costly
to help them in judging between the
opposing parties hereafter Once more
this year they viii be asked to put out
of power those whose conduct of gov
eminent has resulted in the highest
prosperity ever known and TO put in
those whose management resulted in
the worst prostration for half CEN
fury.
In particular they viii be asked to
smash up all industries and business
because certain abuses have appeared
to burn down the house in order TO get
rid of the rats. That is essentially the
nature of all Democratic proposals re-
speeding industrial combinations. For
all know that the consolidation of
many works and corporations has gone
so far and brought about so great
change IN tic conditions of manufac-
ture and trade that sweeping attack
upon all the combinations, good and
bad alike, would smash up business
after the fashion of 1858. One has only
to look with care at the declarations of
leading Democrats. at the laws enacted
in Democratic states and at proposals
by Democrats in congress to see that
they entirely lack discrimination be-
tween corporations that bless the coun-
Try and those that curse it. One pro-
posal by the Democratic leader in the
house would entirely stop the move
ment from any state into any other of
the products of any concern realizing
more than 4 bare interest on money
loaned The plainest of plain people
can see that thousands OF workmen
would have to be discharged and mil
lions of capital withdrawn for lending
in other countries If any law of such
purport should be enacted.
That is extravagant folly, it may be
granted, but no Democrat offers any
thing but eXtravagant folly or fraudu-
lent evasion. The Democrat who spends
so much time in denouncing monopolies
and truets never states what precise
thing he would attack. If it is monop-
oily or complete and arbitrary control
of prices, absolutely not one exists. If
ii is the advance of prices by agree
ment CT producers, exactly as farmers
agree TO get better prices for cotton or
wheat and workingmeD to get better
wages for labor, no law can strike
down one and not the other If 1t is an
unreasonable and extortionate advance
resulting from circumstances which no
manufacturer or combination can con-
troll, examples like that of the Steel
and Wire company show how swiftly
the circumstances may so change, even
while legal authority for action is be-
ing sought. as to alter prices and condi-
tons far more than any law could have
altered them. Any legal interference
would force the closing of works en-
ploying many thousand hands for an
indefinite time until the question could
be brought TO trial and that would on
ly force prices still higher while cut
ting off the living of multitudes.
Let any man look with care at the
proposals made by any leading Demo
crat or any convention of that party in
respect to the industrial combinations.
and he will find that they PROSTATE
business .and industries as the first
step, even by fear of interference, be-
fore thing could be done TO frame
new law or to enforce one. He will
find such vagueness of statement, such
incapacity TO define the thing assailed,
that the most worthy and beneficial
corporation would be threatened and
imperiled not less than the most grasp
ing and harmful. 1t win then be In or
der to reflect that the same party
which has promoted and guarded the
prosperity Of the country for 40 years
is quite as capable as it ever has been
to deal with such problems and quite
as sure to seek by any policy it. may
adopt the advancement of prosperity
first and all the time instead of blind,
laundering and vindictive warfare
againcf all corporo films pood and had.