The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1902-12-26

The crisis. as Mr.. ingalls, shows. is
upon us. Our fleets and armies are in
the orient: we are in possession of
new lands and countries: we stand, rs
il were. sponsor for all the republics
and nations of North and South Amer
lea. When President Cleveland took
his stand in the Venezuela case and the
country supported him we were com
mitted to certain duties and RESPONSE
bilities in reference TO all our neigh
bors, and we cannot get away from
them. The Spanish war and subse-
quent negotiations placed on us the
burden of controlling and developing
other countries.
In connection with these imminent
and overwhelming interna tional issues.
Mr.. Ingalls, proceeds to show. we
are confronted with further serious
question. which is continually raised
and which must be considered-the
struggle between capital and labor
The organization of the most immense
trusts or corporations ever known has
brought this TO the front Certainly
there are grave issues to be settled by
Us as a people and as a nation. Are
we prepared TO assume all these re-
sponsibilities and can we successfully
manage them and still maintain our
republic. still preserve "a government
of the people for the people and by the
people?"
We quote the following:
lis there danger in the future from the
great business combinations that are now
being made-from the trusts2 You hear IL
on every street corner. Al every gathering
men are inQuiring and discussing it. Has
the struggle between capital and labor
actually commenced. and is the conflict
trrepresSible2 My observation in the last
won ane capital lost IN the struggle which
always exists more or less. The compen-
sation of labor has constantly risen the
cost Of the necessities Of life has de-
creased. On the other hanS, the earnings
OF capital have grown less and less each
year. and the possibility and trouble OF
keeping IL Employed has increased. ~The
rate OF interest in this country is only about
one-haIf what Il was % years ago. \ citizen
who retired from business then and de-
ciC@G TO live on his income is to-day in com
paratively poor circumstances. In other
words. If he has stood still he has seen
The interest upon his capital cut in two.
while his expenses have at the best stood
s;:.i.
Capital has been able to exist and in
crease only when IL has been actively en-
p.uN CO. ana II IL mas neen active. ii has
had TO employ labor in order TO exist Our
law OF equal distribution of estates and
the prevention of entails scatters wealth
About the only large estate in this coun-
try to-day that / recall, which will not be
separated and divided among heirs is Car
negies. and IL looks as though he might
divide that up himself. IL is rarely that
large estates last long in a republic Chill
dren left with large wealth soon 6lssipate
it. The saying that II Is only three genera
uonS from the millionaire 70 the clerk in
shirt sleeves is generally true. and it is
well tor society and for the nation that il
Is true
Has the danger TO labor increased by
the organization of the vast combinations
Of to-day? The trust Is no new danger
IL Is an gregation OF capital under a new
name. Ii may be a greater one. but ii is
only large corporation-the outgrowth of
business and competition. How to control
IL is the question.
Publicity and taxation. all agree is one
way or controlling and keeping the trusts
within the limits. Let the full light of day
De turned on all their actions. all their
statements and all their accounts. and pro-
vide either by a franchise or license tax
that they shall pay their fair share of the
burdens OF the people. Our case is some
what different from that of England
other countries, and therefore precedents
do not always apply In England. for in
stance. they have practically free trade.
and there is nothing which the trust wants
from parliament. Here we have a tariff.
and to certain extent il Is used a
protection for the corporations, and the
great danger TO our institutions is that
these great aggregations of wealth may en-
deavor 10 control legislation and 90 things
u va.lr Of