The Leon reporter., 1902-10-02

and permitted to increase in the future
as they have done in the recent past
they will soon be able to dominate the
labor markets of the country, and fix at
their own sweet will the terms upon
which workmen shall be employed and
the wages that shall be paid them for
their services.
1t requires little sagacity to see that
lines in our manufacturing in
dustries is controlled by a trust it
would require but one greater combina-
ton of all, either express or implied, to
fix for each a scale of wages that would
be paid to all.
EXAMPLE OF COAL FIELDS.
Aforcible example of the power they
would easily WELD in this regard is fur
nished by conditions, that now exist in
the anthracite fields of this country.
There one huge combination has pos.
sessed itself not only of the soil from
which our hard coal must come, but of
the means of transportation through
which it must reach the outer world.
For period of nearly four months
the managers of that monstrous combi-
nation have been at loggerheads with
their employees over differences they
are unable to harm onize, and although
thousands upon thousand of their hard
handed working men with their wives
and little ones are suffering for the nee.
essaries of life, and the whole country
is on the verge of fuel panic, not a
muscle Of that soulless combination is
moved and not a word Of Cancellation
escapes the lips of its managers.
These men have formulated the terms
on which the workmen may return to
their toll. They can accept or starve;
that is their only choice.
What have said of the few examples
to which have referred is largely appli.
cable to nearly three hundred similar
combinations of greater or less degree.
DIVISION AS TO REMEDIES.
AS therefore, stated, while all seem to
realize the danger to the great mass OF
people which this new departure in our
business methods threatens, we are
for it..
have been divided on the question O.
the right or the wrong of q protective as
distinguished from revenue tariff, but
it is only In recent years that the trus
evil has entered in discussion CT thai
question.
The teachings of democrats logically
lead them to believe that our protective
tariff system has made the organization
of these trusts possible, and, so long a
it is continued, they also believe it viii
furnish defensive breastwork behint
which they can find shelter from ever,
shaft that should reach a vital part.
The course Of reasoning by which thi
conclusion is reached IS easily under
stood. They say, truthfully, that tn
conceded object Of protective tariff
to exclude from our markets goods Q
foreign manufacturers, that if permite
to be imported would be sold in compt
tition with home manufactures, an
hence reduce the price of these to th
same level at which foreign goods of lik
quality could be brought. That 80 lon
as we maintain tariff wall that shut
foreign goods out Of our markets ther
is no possible way to prevent hom
producers from combining by eithe
express or implied agreements and fix
ing the price at which their own pro
ductions shall be sold.
The futility of legislation other thai
tariff reduction in restraint of such az
ton is to them demonstrated by tn
fact that the great bulk OF our trust
have been openly organized N the fac
of antitrust laws, carefully prepare
: and incorporated into the statutes {
the nation and many of the states.
They insist therefore that inasmuc
as the plain object of these combine
tions is to destroy competition anon
themselves and thereby become able It
, fix their own prices upon whatever the
, produce there is but one remedy for th
evils they threaten, and that is to tax
> down the wall that shelters them an
compel them to compete with the worl
at large.
In this view l heartily concur, as I
|. in the old and revered democratic dot
trine that a tariff which is nothing lei
than a tax on consumers can rlghtfull
be laid for one purpose only, and thu
8 to raise needed revenue for the use {
: the government.
9 But old as that doctrine is, and frml
t rooted in democratic faith as it has b.
/ come, it must always be interpreted i
t the light of conditions as they exis
I when it is to be applied.
DEN ocRATIC TARIFF DOCTRINE.
3 In the absence of circumstances r
quiring different Interpretation. d
! mand for an immediate reduction of OF
8 tariff system to revenue basis wouI
/, naturally be understood to mean d
mond for general REVISION of our tari
T laws, and reduction of all their schet
t ules to a common level that would pr
duce needed revenue only.
8 This, however. is not as understan
the Interpretation democrats at the pre-
ent time put upon that demand.
1t must be remembered that it is mac
in the presence of new conditions,
t the bright glare of which it must be col
3 strued.
8 To the mind of a democrat, at leas
l his country is threatened with uniql
and overshadowin evils.
8 In the presence of the great combine
t tions that have been and are beir
g organized in our industrial pursuits,
i reads the downfall of independent ef1or
9 the crushing in the youth of our futu
Of manly hope to stand at the head
9 some business enterprise and with brai
8 as we'll as Drawn lead it upward {
8 success; the withering away of a gre,
r !