Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-03
COMBINATION OF INTERESTS.

The tendency OF the times IS TO har-
monte and amalgamate interests Of COM
mon character among the mOnied men OF
the country. The time was. and that too
IN the recollection OF our readers, when
active competition was the controlling
factor in al departments OF trade and
commerce.
Innumerable merchants OF small capt.
tai were actively engaged bidding one
against the other for the patronage OF the
public. Individuals loaned money in the
towns and villages. the few banks in ex-
istence being confined to the larger cen
tiers OF population. The railroads were
largely local In their character. and each
short lire was owned. managed and op-
Grated upon an independent and compel
tive basis. Two short decades just
passed. have almost witnessed a revOlu-
ton along these lines. The manufacture
OF iron into steel. that most useful article
20 man. has been absorbed into absolute
control Of a billion dollar trust company
which dictates the prices OF iron 10 the
purchaser. as easily and without hind
rance as does the Standard Oh company
the price OF oil. The railroads OF the cOun-
try have been brought Up so rapidly with
IN reject years. that there are now hardly
more than a half dozen different owner
ships OF the important railway interests
IN the United States. The time viii soon
come when all the mileage and property
interest OF the railroads IN America will
be consolidated and pooled into one 81
gantic trust and controlled from a cen
tral headoffice in the city OF New York.
what viii happen for the future OF the
railway interests viii also take place con-
corning the steamship lines plying be-
Tween American waters and different
parts OF the world We can already see
the handwriting on the wall as indica-
ted through recent purchases Of steam
ship lines by the Morgan syndicate.
Twenty years ago every manufacturer OF
tobacco had men travelling on the road
maAIng an active effort to sell their pro-
OF tobacco was held within reasonable
bounds to the purchaser. Now the Amer
team Tobacco company. which largely con-
trols the output OF that article. notifies
its customers that they can pay the price
asked OF do without.
The banking facilities OF the country
while enlarged and mace more cOnven-
sent to the people generally. is neverthe-
less guided and controlled by fixed rules
and regulations which are unfair and un-
Just 10 the producers OF the country. The
effort is already being made 10 give TO
the larger banking interestN OF the Vast
the right and power 10 become the fnan-
cial agents OF the government and control
, the currency OF this country The mer-
camille and manufacturing interests in the
United States are merging toward ANAL
Kamation and the seat of power is al
ready concentrated 10 certain important
Centers in these lines OF industries. The
purchase OF our raw cotton. the cotton
seed oil and the fertilizer interests OF the
south are now largely controlled and dom
mated by a few men OF great wealth who
have pooled their money for that pur-
pose. These are the leading interests with
which the producers and consumers OF
the south have 10 contend. The masses
have not only become pOwerless 10 pro-
teCt themselves against the mighty reign
Of capital IN the hands Of the wealthy.
hut the very government itself Is becom-
ing pOWerless 10 resist the influences OF
the capitalist. Men OF wealth are buying
I'D the lands OF the south. nat by thou
sands OF acres. but by millions OF acres.
end everything OF importance 10 be de-
veIOped is gradually being absorbed by
the eastern millionaire.
What of the Farmer.
The southern producer is apparently
booking upon the situation and accepting
L with absolute Indifference. Our people
seem to Be satisfied 20 remain in a state
81 Perfect lethargy- As producers they &C
supy the highest position OF vantage. and
hy the amaigamatiOn Of their own inter
ssts. small though they might be from an
Individual standpoint. they could not only
check the power which Is sapping the
Eealth Of their labor day BY day. but
could protect. foster and build up their
5wn future prosperity The farmers al
eeady pay the prices charged them for