The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-01

which no duty is levied. Take for in
stance the Standard Oil trust, one of
the most complete organized aggrega-
tions of capital in the world. And
| then there is the anthracite coal trust,
which lays its 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 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
tention than the two above named-the
sugar trust. Here we find an institu-
| tion 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 fed
eral treasury may be turned to its own
Golfers, and the competition which
stands in its 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 transfer of the
duty upon it's material from the fed
eral treasury to the pocket of the trust.
1t 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 it's
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 COM
petition is not taking advantage of
this wide margin. Is there any proof
that it would with the tariff removed I?
| The fact is that steps are being taken
to organize foreign steel producers.
They like the big profits just as we'll
as the Americans, and their greed is
just as extensive. The foreigner will
take advantage of the enormous de-
mand, just as quickly as the domestic
producer. He is just as susceptible to
the advantages of combining mutual
interests as is the American.
Now it is altogether probable that
the tariff could be revised and modi-
| fed in many particulars, without in
jury to our industrial forces, and TO
, the general advantage of the nation as
a whole. But why not take that step
on it's own merits and not under the
plea of doing it to curb the power of
the capitalistic combines, a thing
which in the majority of cases it will
: not do. Is it not somewhat incon-
gruous, this plea for tariff removal, to
curb the power of the trusts, when at
| the same time one of the most power
full of trusts is working for free trade
in the product it handles, not for its
own undoing, nor for the benefit of
the public, but simply for it's own
! financial gain?
! But why not better take the sug-
! gestion of President Mckinley, made
in his last great speech, and use the
duties which may no longer be needed
for protective purposes, as a basis for
negotiations along reciprocal lines
which will further extend foreign
/ trade? This would seem far more SEN
isble, and then adjust other duties as
may be needed
And then to curb the power of the
combines, SO as to pprevent as far as
possible their abuses. follow practi cal
lines of legislation by squeezing the
water out of their enormous stocks,
and other practical measures that
from time to time suggest themselves.
But first of all, give congress authority
to act in the matter through a consti-
tutional amendment