Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-09-24

so signal a feature of our modern
times, and especially those big COR
porations which, though organized in
one state. do business in several
states. and who have a tendency to
monopolize.
We don't wish TO destroy the corpo-
rations we wish to make them sub
serve the public good. All individuals.
rich or poor private or corporate.
must be subject TO the law OF the
land; and the government will hold
them TO rigid obedience thereto.
Loose talk about destroying the mo-
nopoly out OF the land without a hint
as to how the monopoly should ev-
en- be defined offers a case in point.
Nor can We afford to tolerate any pro-
posal which will strike at the so-call-
ed trusts only by striking at the gen.
eTal well-being. We are now enjoying
period OF great prosperity. This
prosperity is generally diffused
through all sects and through all
classes. Doubtless there are some
individuals who don't get enough of
II and there are others who get too
much of ii. This is simply another
way of saying that the wisdom OF
mankind is finite, that even the best
human system cannot work perfectly.
The men who propose to &c rid OF the
evils OF the trusts by measures which
may do away with the general we'll
being advocate n policy which will
not only do damage to the community
as a whole. but which will defeat its
promised object.
A remedy much advocated at the
present moment is TO take off the tar
in from all articles which are made
by trusts. To do this II will first be
necessary To define trusts.
The real evils connected by trusts
cannot be- remedied by any change in
the tariff laws. Trusts can be dam
aged by depriving them of the bene-
fits of the protective tarin, only on
condition Of damaging all their small
er competitors all wage workers en-
ployed In the industry. lime at pres
ent is very important. and IL is desir.
able to avoid any save willful misun-
derstanding. am not now consider
ing whether or not, on grounds to-
tally unconnected with trusts. II will
be well to lower duties on various
schedules. either by direct legisla-
tion or by treaties designed to fur
nish Offset reciprocal advantages from
the nations with which we trade. My
point is that changes in the tariff
would have little appreciabIe effect on
the trusts save as they shared In gen.
eral harmony or good proceeding from
such conditions. No tariff change
would help one of our smaller corpor-
atoms or one of our private individ-
uals In business, and still less our
wage earners, as against the large cor
porations' business; on the contrary,
II II bore heavily on the large corpor-
alton. 1t would inevitably be felt still
more by that corporations weaker
rivals. while another injurious result
would of necessity be shared by both
employer and employed In the busi-
ness concerned The immediate in
PRODUCTION of substantial free trade
In all articles manufactured by trusts.
that OF the largest and most successful
corporations. would not effect some
of the most powerful Of our business
combinations in the least. save by
damage done to general business wei.
fare OF the country. In other words,
the question of regulating trusts with
a view to minimizing or abolishing
the evils existent in them. is separate
and apart from the question OF tariff
revision