Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-30
THREATS OF A TRUST

The latest In the so-called beef trust
situation is q rumor TO the effect that
II the United States government sue
ceeds in maintaining the contemplated
Injunction proceedings a billion dollar
packing trust will probably be formed,
along the lines followed by the steel
trust. 1t is supposed that such COM
bination could be formed legally and
exercise all powers necessary excepting
that OF fixing an arbitrary and unrea-
sonable schedule Of prices
Representatives OF the large Chicago
packing houses deny that there Is any
foundation for the rumor, but II Ia
probable that II has been permitted
to escape from somewhere as q threat,
intended for effect on the government.
II can safely be ignored. The laws,
federal and state should BE- enforced,
and II they are not adequate for the
protection OF the public against con-
spiracies. they might be made more eff
fective by amendments. II the adj
ministration is sincere, the trusts viii
be defeated.
by the antitrust laws every contract
in restraint Of trade Is Illegal and
every person who shall even attempt
TO monopollze, or consplre with others
TO monopolise any part OF the trade or
commerce among the states or foreign
nations, IL declared guilty OF a mIsde-
meanor That is explicit enough. No
billion dollar combine. nor any on a
smaller scale, can exist legally. The
people have manifested small inter-
est in the dongs Of the large manu-
featuring and shipping concerns. but
when the daily food products were
touched, there was naturally, a sud-
den awakening. And now the demand
Is general for the enforcement OF the
laws. A beginning can be made with
the so-called beef trust, and then other
concerns should receive attention.
II is question on which practically
all political parties In this country,
according TO their platforms, are unit
ed, The Republican platform of 1900
declares.
We condemn all consplracies and
combinations Intended to restrict busi-
ness, to create monopolles, to limit
production or TO control prices, and
favor such legislation as will effectual-
ly restrain and prevent all such abuses,
protect and promote competition and
secure the rights OF producers. laborers
and all who are engaged In industry
and commerce"
The Democratic platform IL, If posi- |
BILE, stil more emphatic II says.
I'VE pledge the Democratic party TO |
an unceasmg warfare In nation, state, |
and city against private monopoly In |
every form. Existing laws against |
trusts must be enforced and more !
stringent ones must be enacted pro- |
vIding for publicity as to the affairs Of |
corporations engaged In Interstate
commerce"
The Silver Republicans declared;
Combinations. trusts, and monopo-
lies contrlved and arranged for the |
purpose OF controlling the prices and |
quantity OF articles supplied TO the |
public are unjust, unlawful and OPP |
pressivG"
Other parties have similar declara-
lions in their platforms. It should not
be difficult for the administration 10
enforce the laws that are upheld by /
the practically unanimous sentiment Of
the nation.
Still, the most effective remedy |
against the evil complained OF lies In
the hands OF the people themselves.
Consumers are not compelled to buy
articles of food al exorbtant prices. II
they want 60. they can economlze.
Americans have much TO learn In this
regard from other nations. 1t Is a COM
mon saying that good sized house,
hold here wastes enough to keep
foreign household in food. Palatable
and nourishlng food can be made from
very scanty stores Economy would
be equally beneficial to the purse and
the body.