Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-12-28
THE TRUST REMEDY.
WoRTHLESSNESS or THE BABCoCK
PLAN CLEARLY DEMONS TRATED.
Removal of the Tariff Duties Would In
No Case Injure the Big Combinations,
While 1t Would Be d Positive Advan-
ta6e to Some of Them.

In this matter of removing the tar1n
on trust goods in order to kill the
trust or curb its power. which is the
dream of the free trader, there are
several points to be considered. First,
would such a move do the work which
they assert it will? Manifestly the
great combination of capital cares less
for protection than does the small
concern because it is better able to
handle itself. 1t can take every pos
sible advantage of the trade and meet
its opponent where the small concern
cannot. Its product is immense, its
capital unlimited, and it can sell at
loss in any given territory for time
until it has driven its competitor from
the field. But the assertion of the free
trader that the removal of the tariff
will kill the trust presents somewhat
queer condition of affairs, in the face
of the fact that some of our greatest
trusts are thriving upon articles upon
which no duty is levied. Take, for in
stance, the Standard Oil Trust, one of
the most complete organized aggrega-
lions of capital in the world. And then
there is the Anthracite Coal Trust,
which lays it's heavy hand upon every
householder who uses that article for
fuel. But at once we hear the state
ment that the products of these two
great trusts are of a peculiar nature,
and that similar articles from other
lands cannot be shipped to an advan-
tage, and so can the more easily be
shut out by these great combinations
There is doubtless an element of truth
in this. But turn to another, and
equally as great and successful trust,
which receives as much or greater at
tenticn than the two above named
the Sugar Trust. Here we find an in
stitution working for the same thing
the free traders are, the removal of the
sugar duties. The free trader says re-
move the duty and the power of the
great trust is curbed. The Sugar Trust
wants the duty removed so that the
millions which now go into the feder-
al treasury may be turned to its own
Golfers, and the competition which
stands in it's way swept out of exist
ence. Free trade for the sugar trust
would give it vastly more powers, be-
cause OF the sugar interests it controls
outside of the United States which
would simply cause a transfer of the
duty upon its material from the fed
eral treasury to the pocket of the trust.
It would mean millions saved in raw
sugars with which to fight the beet
sugar interests at home. Cheaper
sugar might come to the public for a
period, while it was undermining its
competitor, but that would be all
Then take the Steel Trust 1t is very
questionable whether the sweeping
away of the duties on steel products as
Congressman Babcock would like to
do would curb the power of that great
corporation to any extent. But it
might seriously interfere with the
prosperity of the many smaller con-
Germs scattered through the country.
According to figures given by those
who favor Babcock's measure, the steel
combine is now receiving some 81 per
ton on steel rails over and above the
margin given by the addition of the
tariff, and what they claim is fair
profit added besides. Foreign competi-
ton is not taking advantage of this
wide margin. Is there any proof that
it would with the tariff removed? The
fact is that STEPS are being taken to
organize foreign steel producers. They
like the big products just as we'll as
the Americans, and their greed is Just
as extensive. The foreigner will take
advantage of the enormous demand
just as quickly as the domestic pro-
Queer. He is just as susceptible to the
advantages of combining mutual in
terests as is the American
Is it not somewhat incongruous, this
plea for tariff removal, to curb the
power of the trusts, when at the same
time one of the most powerful OF
trusts is working for free trade in the
product it handles, not for its own I'M
doing, nor for the benefit of the public
but simply for its own financial gain
-Mankato lMinnO Free Press