The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-15
Circulation Statement
senator Allison on the Trusts.


Senator Allison IS reEsrted as saying
that men Of brains are IN charge of the
great corporate industries of the coun-
try, and that he thinks the combina-
tons of capital viii increase as the
country grows. This statement is made
by the Senator III connection with some
very optimistic remarks concerning the
prosperity of she country present and
prospective, ana there is no room for
doubt that he regards such combine
tons as contributing factors to the pre-
vaiIing good times This undoubtedly
represents the view of the Republican
leaders generally
business revived in 1897, j few months
after the inauguration of President Nc
KinIey. Therefore. according 10 Re.
publican philosophy, the Mckinley Ad-
mInfstTatfon brought it. and hence
every. element Of the business situation,
the trusts included, must be working
for the c,EIntry's veal This is not very
satisfactory logic, but It is about the
best that can be offered on behalf of
Republican policies at this time The
Senator. therefore. may safely be count
ed upon in opposition to any such meas
ure as that proposed by Mr.. Babcock,
taking off the protective duties from
trust-produced articles And why
should he not oppose legislation against
the trusts If he regards them as good
things? And how can he oppose such
legislation unless he claims that the
trusts are beneficial 10 the coUntry2
The Iowa Senator appears TO see
nothing wrong in the sale OF American
manufactures abroad more cheaply
than they are sold IN the home market
for he is at some pains first to admit
and then TO explain the matter with
manifest approval He says that the
sale Of agricultural Implements TO Ar
genIina was Investigated some years
ago, and the fact disclosed that the Ar
gentine wholesale dealer did get farm
implements at lower prices than the
dealers in this country were compelled
10 pay, but that the Argentine dealer
had to bear the cost of distribution, 50
that by the time local freights had been
paid the consumer there had to pay as
much as the American farmer.
II may be that Senator Allison can
satisfy the Republican farmers with
that sort Of an explanation, but # 50
they must either be very stupid or they
must feel it a patriotic duty to be rob
bed for the political advantage Of their
party The explanation" is one that
absolutely fails 10 explain It simply
shows that the American exporters sold
the goods so much more cheapIy TO the
foreign wholesale dealer that after
water carriage Of thousands Of miles
and heavy local cost for distribution
the Argentine farmer bought them as
cheapIy as the American farmer could
almost at the door Of the factory that
produced them. In other words the
American consumer is entirely deprived
Of his local advantage and made to pay
as much as the foreign consumer does
who lives thousands OF miles away.
The point for Mr. Allison 10 explain
IS why the manufacturers cannot sell
as cheapIy TO American dealers as 70
foreign. That is the charge that IS
made and admitted Il is no answer to
say that by reason Of freight charges
and local costs Of distribution the for
eign consumer ultimately pays as much
as the American We are not concern
ed with the expense Of distributing
goods locally in foreign countries. but
we are concerned in having our deal
ers buy from the factories as cheapIy
as foreigners can