The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-21

We proceeded from denuHciation to &C
ten it would be necessary to consider
the interests of these worknen.
Furthermore. the products OF many
trusts are unprotected, and would be
entirely unaffected by any change In the
tariff, or at most very slightly So he
Standard Oil Company offers a case in
point; and the corporations which con-
troll the anthracite coal output offer an
other, for there is no duty whatever on
anthracite coal. I am not discussing the
question of the tariff as such, whether
from the standpoint OF the fundamental
difference between those who believe IN
a protective tariff and those who believe
in free trade, or from the standpoint OF
those who, while they believe In pro-
tectiye tariff, feel that there could be
Encouragement Of our schedules. either
by direct legislation or by reciprocal
treaties. which would result in charging
our markets, nor yet from the standpoint
OF those who feel that the stettdlneSs
of our economic policy is at the moment
of prime economic need and the penehtS
to be derived from any change IN sched-
ules would not compensate for the dam
age to business caused by the widespread
agitation which would follow any at
tempted general revision of the tariff at
this moment.
without regard to the wisdom of any
one Of these TIRES positions 1t remains
true that the real evils CORRECTED with
the trusts cannot be remedled by any
change in the tariff laws. The trusts can
be damaged by deprivins them OF the
benefits, Of protective tariff, only on
condition Of damaging all their smalled
councillors and all the wage workers
employed in their industry. This point is
very important and 1t is desirable to
avoid any save wilful misunderstanding
I am not now considering whether. or not
on grounds totally unconnected with
the trusts, 1t would be we'll to lower the
duties on various schedules, either by di-
rect legislation or treaties designed TO
secure as an effect reciprocal advantages
from the nations with which we trade
TRUSTS NOT AFFECTED.
NV Dont is that the changes III the
rorifr would have little appreciable effect
on the trusts save as they shared IN inc
general harm or good proceeding from
the changes. No tariff change would help
one of our smaller corporations, or one
OF our private individuals in business, stu
less one of our wage workers, as against
a large corporation in the same business;
on the contrary, if it bore heavily or the
large corporations it would inevitably
be felt still more by that corporations
weaker rivals, while any Injurious result
would of necessity. be shared by both
the employer and employed in the bust
ness concerned The immediate introduc-
ton of substantial free trade in all ar
ticles manufactured by the trusts. that
is by the largest and most successful
corporation, would not affect some or
the most powerful of our business cor
porations in the least; save by the dam
ace done to the general business wei
fare of the country others would undoubt-
edly be severely affected, but much less
80 than their weaker rivals, while the loss
would be divided between the capitalists
and the laborers. and after the years
of panic and distress had been HFep
through, and some return to prosperity
had occurred, even though all were on
lower plane of prosperity tnan DeloFe.
the relative difference between trusts and
their rivals would remain as marked :.
as ever. In other words, the trust or
big corporation would have suffered rela-
lively, too, and in the interest or Its
foreign competitors; but its relative po-
sition towards it's American competitors
would probably be improved. Little
would have been done toward cutting
out Or minimizing the evil in the trusts:
nothing towards securing adequate trade
and regulation Of the modern corpora
tons.
SEPARATE FROM TARIFF.
I'm other words the question Of resula-
ting the trusts with a view to minimizing
or abolishins the evils in them is sepa-
rate and apart from the question of
tariff revision +. personally, feel that
Will have n g.