The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-09-02
TRUSTS THAT CONTROL AMERICAN
INDUSTRIES.

Republicans try to deny that there
are trusts or combinations Of capital
in this country maze for the purpose
OF controlling, n which do control,
the output and marketing of the pro-
ducts of certain industrial concerns.
This denial is MADE in the face of the
plainest facts n most indisputable
proof of their existence. In Contradic-
ton of the denial by republicans Of
he existence of these trusts and COM
bines we give below statements made
before the industrial commission by
men who should know whereof they
speak. We are indebted to the Char
lotte News for the following compila-
ton from the reports of that commits
sion:
On page 1O7 of Volume 1 of the re-
cords Henry o. Havemeyer, president
of the Sugar Trust, t~estifies that the
output of the trusts is about 80 per
cent. of the entire output of the coun-
try.
On page $50 Of the same volume,
President Reid, of the American Tin
Plate Company, t~estifies that the
American Tin Plate Company controls
about 80 per cent. of the tin plate bus
mess in the United States.
On page zoos of the same volume,
John W. Gates. chairman Of h Amer
can Steel and Wire Company, testifies
hat his company controls about so per
cent. of the steel rod business, and 20
per cent. of the nail business, and that
they had a monopoly on the manufac-
ture of barbed wire.
On page 81 of Volume Is, Mr.. Z. r.
Chapman, president of the American
Smelling and Refining Company, testi-
fled that his company controlled IS per
cent. OF the entire smelling business of
the country.
On page 1905 of the same volume,
G. r. Flint, testifes that the Rubber
Trust controls from So to 60 per cent.
of the rubber business of the country.
On page 101 of this volume, Mr.. E. r.
Chapman. t~estifies that the Pittsburg
Coal Company has practically a mon
opoly of the coal trade of the Great
Lakes.
On page 455 OF this volume, Charles
NJ. Schwab, president of the Steel
Trust. testified as follows:
Q. You spoke of the per cent. of the
steel industry that the Carnegie Com
pany controls. Could you give the Com
mission about the per cent. of the
~ SlCCl IliO0SIIy VI lHC oHIlto
States the Steel Company c~ontrols?"
A. well, yes: / think it is between
60 and IS per cent 1t will vary with
1 think in very prosperous
times the percentage will be smaller;
in dull times it will be very much larg-
err"
On page 43S, MI. Hugh ]. Chisholm,
of the Paper Trust, testified hat the
Independent Print Paper mills produce
only 80 per Of the total output,
while the other 20 per cen is the pro-
duct of the Paper Trust.
On page 34S of this volume, Mr.. l.. D.
Hopkins, president of h American
Thread Company. testifies that they
produce nearly itwo-thirds of the sew
ing thread of the country.
On page 239 of the same volume, Mr..
john Pitcarian, president of the Glass
Trust, says: I'VE control only that
which we produce which is bou 72k
per cent. of the production Of the coun-
try."
On page 249 of b same volume, Mr..
A. S. White, president of h National
Salt Company, says: Il should say that
the National Company controls be-
tween So n 80 per cent. Of the evap-
GRATED salt made a 3 o fthe Rocky
mountains"
On page 300 of the same volume, MIR.
Henry Burns, president of the Wall
Paper Trust, testifies that there was no
question but that they controlled over
half of the business in their line in the
country.