The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-09-21

can be hoped for from that party. In
stead OF pointing out the evils OF trusts
the republican leaders spend a,, tns,s I'M 1hs
trust Is a part OF present conditions, and
Nj. Flint. from which l have already
quoted. declared that the iorma,oh Oh
|portant features OF he dsscribed as
the present business activity. III republic
an leaders really regarded private monop-
oily as an evil: III they really Intended TO APP
ply an effective remedy, they would NOT
hesitate to ~denounce trusts and suggest
express far more solicitude for the corpora
ton than for the people at large. one -
reminded OF the picture which a mother
his youthful mind the surerings OF the
Christian martyrs. who were being thrown
into the arena and torn 70 pieces Dy the
lions. The boy looked at the picture Tor q
moment. and then his face frightened up
as ne thought he caught the idea. Pointing
down INTO one point OF the picture, ne SAID:
that isn't getting a Bit IL is even so with
the republican leaders. Their sympathy
goes out freely 10 any corporation. which
In their opinion Is not getting It's share. but
they are not moved by the hardships i'm
posed by monopolies upon ell VINO are out
side OF the charmed circle. Three sessions
since the presidents Inauguration. and yet
he has never recommended "A specinc meas
ure looking toward the overthrow OF
monopoiles-
Paper Money Trust.
AT the opening Of the last session OF
congress the republican leaders pressed
through the house and senate a bill Great,
ing a paper money trust and surrendered
into the hands OF the national banks COM
plete control OF the national currency;
Just as congress was closing a farclai ana
hypocritical attempt was made 10 deceive
the public by the Introduction or an anti
trust amendment, and an antitrust bill;
The amendment was not necessary and
was Intended TO deprive the states OF the
power which they now possess. ratner ina
to confer upon congress new authority.
This vicious amendment was defeated In
the house by the democrats. The repub-
lican leaders then confessed the amend
ment unnecessary by introducing an anti
trust bill. which was supported by the
democrats. but which died in the senate.
Just as II was expected TO die. The repub-
1ican majority in the senate referred the
bill to the judiciary committee against the
protests of the democrats. who urged It's
immediate passage. The republican party
draws its contributions from the trusts
during the compaign, and pays back its OBJ
legations by leaving the people at the mer-
cy OF the trusts between campaigns.
"Let us note briefly the effect OF the
trusts upon various classes. Reference has
already been made 10 the commercial trav-
eler. the hotel keeper. the railroad. the NV
eryman and the newspaper.
The Effect of Trusts.
THE lawyers are finding hat with the
growth of trusts the business Is RravftAt'
Ing toward the Offices OF the big corporation
attorneys. while less fortunate practition-
ers ara becoming law clerks.
r. actors suffer from the theatrical
trust.
menaced by the trusts.
"He does not know at what moment some
large corporation will attempt to monop'
Ollie the business In which he Is engaged
and give him his choice between bankrupt
cy and participation in an Industrial con
spiracy against the rest of the country
Many have been driven into the trust or
ganization by the larger corporations en-
gagged In the same business. or by trusts
formed TO control iron. steel, tin plate. OF
some other product used as a basis for fur
ther manufacture. In what business car
your son safely invest a small amount o.
capital to-day? If he starts into any indie.
pendent business he will find IL difficult. Il
not impossible. 10 compete with a large or
ganization IL II attempts TO undersell hin
in his territory. because II can sustain IL
OF the country. II he suppresses his mora
objections and takes stock In a monopoly
he does not know how soon those In charg'
may attempt TO freeze out the smaile'
stockholders. \
THE merchant is losing his independ
ence. The trust fixes the terms upon which
he shall sell. and often binds him by con
tract not TO sell a competing article. Whel
the monopoly is complete credit Will b
shortened. and the merchant will be com
PEELED to bear all the risks of trade. Whel
the trust raises prices. the merchant usual
~ has to divide the advance with his Gus
toners. so far as stock on hand Is con
market and tren lets the price fall. tn
merchant must bear the loss on accumulat
ed stock. When. for instance. the Ame-i
of its factories a few months ago and threv
some 5000 employees out Of work. !
dropped the price OF nails and barbed wiz
In order to work of a surplus stock which
had accumulated because the high price
had lessened the demand. Every merchan
lost money on the nails and wire on hand
There Is already overproduction 4
many lines. The supply OF common chair
Is now considerably In excess of the de
mand. but lest the republicans may try {
explain this upon the theory that the pee
that there Is also dullness in the shoe trade
The Iron Age In a recent issue pointed on
thai the production of iron was falling on
the decrease then amounting to more tina
1000 tons per month. Dun's repor Of Jul
81 stated that the wooden mills were run
ming AZ less thai half their capacity: an
have been threatening to either reduc
wages or shut down temporarily. Accord
Ing 70 n Duns sr rspert, s .ns pu saeh m fa,thf 8
1900 than they were during the same month
OF last year. and this occurs In the mids
OF good crops. and when two wars are !
progress.
Trusts and Arbitrary FLUCTUATIONS
THE contractor can figure with some az
curacy so long as natural laws control. bu
he cannot protect himself against the al
bitrary fluctuations. which are not onl
possible but probable when a monopol
controls the market.
.sThe farmer is one of the most impol
tant factors In our national life. Some or
has said TO him: The hand that guides m
plowshare feeds the world He Is not
stakeholder IN any OF the trusts. but h
feels the extortion practiced by them all.
am not farming on a large scale. but IN
misleading reports which have been circt
lated concerning my oat crop justify me
making reference to my own experienc'
} The New York Tribune recently printed
dispatch from Nebraska to the effect tina
/ had just sold 1900 bushels OF oats at
cents per bushel fsupposed to be the yiel
! Of 40 acres). and that the amount receive
for the oats was more than double n
price paid for the land. The Tribune articl
then proceeded to dilate upon the prosper
!. ity Of the farmer. using my experience a
5 an Illustration, and asserted that the farm
ers OF Nebraska were becoming so opuler
, that they were joining the republican pa
) ~. The facts are. first: That ! had fv
acres of oats instead OF 100 acres: secont
/ That the oats have not yet been threshe'
{ so that the yield Is not known: third: This
) oats are selling for less than p cents In Oh
cago. instead of 80 cents in Nebraska, an
fourth: That the land upon which the oa'
were raised cost me over 500 an acre II