The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-10

modities limit the output, and raise the
charge of transportation.
A year of experience and discussion
has thrown much light upon the dark
places, dispelling some fears and reveal
Ing some unexpected dangers. It is now
conceded that the combinations Of rail-
freight; that the Industrial trust instead
OF limiting production and putting up
the price, will seek foreign markets for
it's surplus and simple removal Of the
tariff on all trust made goods, the price
will be actually lowered to the American
consumer, without reducing the wages of
the workers. The saving being made on
the reduction of the dead weight neces-
sary in carrying on numerous small in
stitutions. This principle is illustrated
and demonstrated in the actual workings
of the department store.
Tt Will therefore appear clear that the
original objections to capital combina-
tions viii not be available as a political
argument-that protection against the
anticipated evils is simplicity itself. But
with this experience has came the knowl-
edge of a new danger to certain parts
of the country-a danger that cannot be
averted by anything less than complete
tons
The.announcement by the United States
Steel company that all small plants will
be abandoned and the business centered
in the most available locations, sounds
the death knell of many an ambitious
manufacturing town. This principle Of
actual consolidation of plants by aban-
doning the small ones and those not well
located, will be adopted by all industrial
combinations. 1t is a necessary part of
the scheme to reduce the dead weight
Of the cost of production. The effect is
obvious. The grass will grow on the
streets Of the small manufacturing cities.
Men will be compelled to abandon their
homes and move to the larger centers
where the work is to be done. Cities
like Pittsburg will increase by the addi-
ton of thousands of workers, while the
modest city Of twenty thousand souls
will sink into somnoIence.
In this will be seen the evil effects of
industrial combinations. The owners Of
real estate in many busy town will
find their property not worth the taxes,
for the reason that there will be no use
turing way will be able to start to
employ local labor unless they have mil
lions to back them. The trust, it win be
seen, strikes at the very root of the
republican idea of a local market for the
productions of the soil. The farm pro-
Queer will be obliged, under the new re-
gime, to ship his products to the large
centers for want Of a market at home.
During the last twenty years Ohio, In
diana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin
have been dotted with small manufactur-
ing towns. The plants in these places
have been gradually absorbed by the
various trusts, and within the next three
years they will be brought together at
the most available points, leaving the
abandoned towns to weep the loss Of
their hopes and in many cases their sup
port.
AS the Republican PARTY has been, and
will continue to be, the party of indus
trial trusts, it will have to meet this
natural result of the work Of it's hands
spells defeat for the Republican party
in many of it's strongholds at the next
presidential election.