The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-26

| A LETTER printed elsewhere
an esteemed subscriber asks us
| Il to explain why the public should
not arise in its might and over
turn all large combinations of capital,
commonly called trusts" This is not
| his language. and perhaps he does not
mean exactly this, but this seems
fair statement of much of the opposl-
| tion to trusts which finds it's way into
print during times of public discussion.
If our correspondent will read Presi-
| dent Roosevelt's recent message to
congress and Senator Beveridge's
speech, from which we quoted yester-
day, he will discover The Tribune's
position OH this subject IT is there
better stated than we can state it.
Cooperation is the order of the day.
1t is a necessity of large achievements,
which cannot be effected by men act
ing sinsly. But just as some individ-
uals are dishonest SO some corpora
tlons are dishonest. Greed is an in
herent vice, common to all ages and
conditions. Our correspondent. in a
business dealing, would no doubt seek
the best terms possible and strive for
the largest possible profit; and that is
what the so-called trusts do. But not
all of them are oppressive. Not all Of
them eXtort unfair prices; and when
one does, the statute laws should be
applied to put a stop to the extortion;
and II they are not, the law of trade
sooner or later will intervene and by
competition cut things down to an
equitable basis. The president at
Washington is applying the law of
congress fearlessly. and the law. of
trade will very soon supplement his
efforts by inviting other combinations
Of capital and enterprise to strive for
a share in the profits OF those trusts
which make exceptional margins
1t used to be said that protection
made only the big guns rich; but when
protection was tampered with by free
trade influences it was soon discovered
poor. So with trusts. They can be
regulated. They can be made TO obey
the law the same ms individuals are
made to obey it. The merchant who
cheats can be prosecuted and the trust
which cheats on robs can and should be
prosecuted: but ii would make II REM
edy worse than the disease to nut all
merchants ana all trusts out of blsl-
ness because some are greedy and
tricky and dishonest.
The beef trust can only keep prices
up unfairly by cornering the market.
1t can only maintain corner by virtue
of special privileges with the railroads
or the connivance of cattle growers
The administration at Washington Is
looking after violations of the inter-
state commerce law. and human NIT
ture will suffice to cause the cattle men |
to increase their herds when they see |
there is money in 1t. The dairy trust |
can only corner the butter and egg and |
cheese market until individual farmers |
increase their output sufficiently to
overcome the corner. And so on down |
the line. Temporary pinches may oc-
cur, as In the past; but upon the whole
and in the long run no man or group Of |
men Is powerful enough to hold up
against universal trade laws: and in
the meantime. all that can be done Is
to gather evidence when statute law Is
violated and hale the offenders. be they
big or little, into court.
Prosperity always induces II 9Th prices.
When industries are busy wage dis
bursements are heavy, buying increases
and prices rise. This was just as true
before trusts We're heard of as it is to-
day. Trusts nowadays, however, fur
nish convenient target at which TO
aim the kicks natural 10 human kind.
Some OF them undoubtedly deserve
kicking and hard kicking, and they will
get 1t until they become either good or
lead. But II would be the height OF
Jolly to put ban on enterprise or to