The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-09-13
THE TRUSTS PREVENT INITIATIVE

TAIr. Pomeroy is president of the Ma
tional Direct Legislation league and
has probably done more to give curren-
cy to the principles of the initiative
and referendum than any one else in
America. In his factory, concerning
whose business the following article is
written, profit-sharing has been estah-
Ished for several years.-Editor Tnda-
pendent]
The Methodists reckon an experience
meeting most effective method. It is
necessarlly personal and often de-
tached, but 1t is life, and life near the
bone. People are always interested in
life. This article opens with an actual
experience. The facts in it can he
verified by letters, etc, in the possess
sion of Pomeroy Brothers Co, the
manufacturing company with which
am connected. Hence no apology is
needed for the short personal introduce
ton
Pomeroy Brothers Co. manufacture
ink, mucilage, paste, sealing wax. This
is naturally a small business, recurring
chemical knowledge. energy and adver-
Using. Our company has been fairly
successful About a year ago we saw
lllF LGtl LOT new bottle Tor paste.
After working with our wits. we wrote
10 four or five glass concerns that we
thought could make the pressed glass
jars we wanted. One or two put us off
with evasive answers. but most Of
them referred us to the National Glass
company. This concern quoted us q
price on making the molds and the bot
ties from the molds. Other prices being
satisfactory, | applied for a patent
This patent has been allowed. showing
that the government thought the in
Nention deserved one. The few people
10 whom the whole article has been
shown have pronounced it the best Of
Its kind. In our judgment it will have
a large sale
These points steeled. we wrote the
National Glass company, asking them
10 make the molds, for which we were
to pay, and a sample lot of bottles.
After some delay, they asked for a
model. We had it made and sent 1t.
a week passed, and a second, and we
wrote asking about it. No answer. A
third and nearly a fourth, and we
wrote again, sharply. This brought
letter saying they were too busy to
make the molds. We wrote asking
whom they would recommend. No an
swer till a second letter was sent. We
wrote to others. They replied they
could not make it, and some referred
us to the National Glass company. On
further inquiry we are informed by
one of the best posted men in the glass
trade that the National Glass company
is a syndicate of all the pressed glass
makers in the country, and if they will
not make it for US. no one can.
We have had dealings with them in
the past Our bills have always been
81
for whatever the account would have
been. but we would have paid cash if
they had asked it. 1t is not a question
of price, as we accepted the figures
they made. Simply. they are busy and
So not care to make it.
Ten years ago we could have applied
20 a score of concerns and could quick
" have gotten one who would have
made the article. What shall we now
10? We have hunted for the last month
and will continue to hunt to find
small concern outside the combination
which as a favor to us and at high
price may make the article.
The most precious power a people
possesses is the power of initiative in
the mass of its citizens. The creative
faculty is the basis of progress and
civilization. We are ready TO put our
money and business experience into
testing a new article on the market
We are stopped by the Indifference of
one man or a small set Of men who
control all of our private industry.
They are not subject to any public
control or oversight. There is no APP
peal from their decision. They have
Stfled initiative. Doubtless they are
unconscious Of it. Most of them are
good men. although a large number
have the exaggerated idea of their own
Importance that comes from irrespon-
sihle power.
The worst feature of this sitting is
its quiet, unconscious working
The critics Of Edward Bellamy's
=" Looking Backward. predicted a rig
idity and regeneration of society.
should his Utopia ever come near real
ization. that would crush out this
power of initiative That rightly is
coming upon our industry like a blight,
unknown, unheralded. The power of
fcreation has been we'll nigh crushed