Evening journal., 1901-08-10
TIE TARIFF AHn TRUSTS


Thorc-is an opinion prevalent that
All trusts are harmful and that some
way they have resulted from foster
ing tariff. A close scrutiny Of the
facts, however. will not bear out either
assertion, and the statement Of Mr.
Havemeyer that "the tariff is the
mother of trusts rests on no founda-
tion of truth There has been a vast
deal of nonsense uttered regarding the
subject, and oftentimes the remedies
suggested remind one OF the frenzied
action of a blind man who attacks
without discrimination.
Some newspapers which should know
better have been moved TO such indig-
nation by wrongs real or fancied, that
they have aimed their weapons at all
corporations regardless Of their neces-
sty or purpose. II Is not too much toI
say that combinations of capital UNDER
the form of corporations have done
mere to advance civilization, and tOI
provide the luXurieg OF modern life,
than any ether agency The need is sol
evident, that discussion Of that point
before intelligent people is precluded
Since this is true, 1t becomes apparent
that any trust legislation must care
fully avoid hampering the legitimate
combination of capital, under the form
of a corporation.
As has often been said, the trust isl
a combination of corporations, or al
swallowing up of smaller enterprises
by larger body. Whether this in
teslf is a wrong, is a question requir-
ing great consideration Many trusts.
il is-claimed, raise the prices for their
commodities as soon as they are in
stalled, but actual figures show that in
most instances there is an economy oil
management which results in cheaper
goods for the people. Twenty corpora
tions have as many presidents and
other officers, all drawing salaries; al
combination works hardship to those
losing these positions, but it saves the
pocket of the consumer. The sameI
principle is observed in the invention
and manufacture of labor-saving ma
chinery. A few years ago there wereI
protests. and almost riots, when GER
tain devices were introduced. Thel
self-binding harvester was regarded as
the enemy OF labor; type-setting ma
chimes were threatened with destruc-
ton, and many persons lost their jobs
but who is ready to declare that such
inventions have not been a blessing toI
humanity in general? The harvester
made bread cheaper and the type-set-
ting machine brought literature to theI
door Of every man. III there is a dan
ger 1t lies in one organization being
able to control a commodity of general
necessity; but such aggregations are
few indeed. II some one can devise al
way to curb these without doing gen
eral injury. there should be no protest
from any quarter
But to return to the proposition that
the tariff is the mother of trusts" a
glance at the list of our great aggrega-
tions of capital will not bear out the
assertion. The Standard Oil is not
protected, and yet it is paying probably
the largest dividends Of any OF them
The anthracite coal trust has no pro-
lection, yet it is probably the most OPP
pressive trust in existence The COM
bination which practically controls the
meat market of this country, and die
tates prices abroad is also without
protection Not only do these in
stances prove that trusts flourish de-
spite a lack Of protective tariffs, but as
matter Of history free trade England
first developed this kind OF monopoly
and there It has grown and lourished
A calm survey of the whole subject
must convince the unprejudiced that
remedial legislation aimed at these
combinations must be carefully consid-
cred or imeparable injury TO the body
b polite Will result