The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-05-24
Eel rrust pIscIosures.


The judicial inquiry into the work
ing Of the beef trust brings into plain
view a number Of damning circum-
stances, says the Kansas City World.
First and foremost stands out in
bold relief the ugly fact that the
trust is absolute master Of the situa-
tion within certain limits. 1t dare
not squeeze the farmers too hard, for
that would be to needlessly limit its
supply OF live stock. Neither on the
other hand may it demand an over
extortionate price from the consumer,
for that would be to lessen its income
and lower dividends. But between
these extremes, the trust is master
and can do as it pleases. That it has
demanded and is now exacting Of the
consumer more than the traffic will
bear, is quite evident from the falling
off in sales. To overpass the limit Of
prudence in this respect, proves that
the spirit Of greed is too strong for
the sagacity and business sense Of the
managers. But that is not at all
surprising. Indeed it is, and ever
was. one of the most striking features
Of monopoly.
1t developed at the Jefferson City
inquiry that the trust tolerates no
competition whenever it chooses to
exercise its power. Prices to the
butchers and retailers are fixed period
ically. The latter are required to pay
promptly or be blacklisted. The
conditions upon which the retailers
may do business are fixed by the
trust. To fail in any way to comply
with the conditions means death to
ores business. The most odious fea-
ture Of the trust is the terrorism 1t
exercises over the butchers. They
are Independent in nothing, have no
freedom, no choice. They must buy
of the trust, must pay its price and
must do business as it directs. The
alternative is to be ruthleSsly crushed
out. Mercy it knows nothing about.
Rule or ruin is its motto.
And is not that more or less true Of
all the trusts? Is not that their
motto as nearly as they can live up to
it? Is it not the nature Of monopoly
to execrate competition, and to
scruple at nothing that will establish
its despotic sway? That the meat
combine illustrates more strikingly
than other monopolieS the evil power
of the trusts does not at all detract
from the proposition that all trusts
are bad, and bad in many ways. They
not only attack the pockets of the
people, but are become a menace tt
order and government itself. Prac'
ticing extortion is a minor evil com
pared with the public Generalization
resulting from the corrupting o.
legislative bodies and eve the
judiciary. The trust is not content
merely to dominate in business mat
tiers, it must rule in politics as well
Its ends are accomplished by the
corrupt use Of money. With its con
Eliminating step it has invaded the
legislature, the school, the church
where its evil influences are daily
becoming more and more manifest
We talk of anarchy. There is M
anarchy that for enduring and wide
spread w~ickedness can compare will
the anarchy of the trust evil. /
defes law, and tramples on justic,
and right. Freedom, independents.
and equality go down before it just a
the inhabitants of St. Pierre, Mar
Unique, fell before the destroyini
blast from Mt. Pelee the other day
49,
The ranting Of John Most Or tn
%screeching Of Emma Goldman, wha
are they to the power a single trus
has Of defying law and robbing mil
lions? You can suppress Most b
throwing him into prison, but wha
policeman can manacle the trust c
teach it respect for law or right?
Mr.. Wilson Sees Danger.