West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-10-15
LAWYERS AND TRUSTS.
Monstrous Combinations De-
nounced by Bar Association.
DRASTIC REMEDIES PROPOSED.

Graduated Franchise Tax Reaching
N Maximum. of 10 Per Cent One suE-
gestton-wouId Compel Railways
90 Reduce Rates-state Socialism "a
Last Resort.
That tho trusts will be the leading
Issue IN 1904 has been evident TO polit-
ical prophets since the birth OF tho
billion dollar steel trust In 1901 and the
reign of trusts and monopoles which
then became manifest TO all. The ac-
ton OF the American Bar association
Aug. 2S, In session Mt Hot Springs, Va.
makes IL more certain than ever that
the trusts Will be on the defensive next
year as never before. Thirty-ninc
state, two territorial and $40 local bar
associations were represented.
The unanimous report OF the commit
tee on commercial law constitutes one
OF the most drastic antitrust documents
ever written. This committee, headed
by Walter s. Logan or New York.
has roasted the trusts over the hottest
fire imaginable. Its report says that
combinations are rapidly driving out
OF business the small dealer and the
small producer. These two classes
heretofore have furnished the largest
number OF petitioners I'm bankruptcy
courts But now Industrial combina-
tIons OF gigantic magnitude. too large
for bankruptcy court to manage and
too rich TO need ever to be called before
II, have been substituted. The report
adds:
"The modern combinations primary
object is 10 control trade and COM
merce I'm plain articles OF production
and substitute more or less perfect
monopoly In the place OF more or less
free competition. 1t changes entirely
the base principle OF commercial rcla-
tons between man and man, and IL IT
is TO continue TO grow and develop in
the future as I'm the past II will render
necessary most important changes in
the principles of our commercial laws.
Combination as an economic force IL
fast coming TO take the place of COM
petition. The producers are combining,
tradesmen are combining. transporta-
tion companies are combining, work
men as well as employers are combin-
ing. Everything seems to be coming
Into some form OF combination and eva
erybody seems to be a combiner. The
competition that still remains is fast
disappearing. worlsmen are refusing
10 compete for jobs. Labor unions are
enIarging the spheres of their activity
and extending their operations. The
union Of the employers Is still stronger
and more far reaching than the unions
OF workmen.
I'VE are now having combinations OF
combinations. The United States Steel
corporation Is combination OF n dozen
heretofore competing producers, who
themselves were combinations OF still
other producers. and these in turn Of
ten combinations OF still others. II IL
estimated that the Standard OH com
pany has taken. by contract or by force,
the business OF 10000 corporations and
merchants In all parts Of the Union
The few present great railroad lines
OF the country have been made up by
the combination OF hundreds OF smaller
lines. some extensions OF one another
and other competing lines. Noone knows
but that within the next ten years n
greater than j. 7. Morgan will arise
who VIII combine into ote organiza-
tlon all the Industries OF the land so
that the workman who works for
wages can hnd but one possible eml
ployer and the purchaser Of wares but
one seller The steps toward the for
nation OF an Industrial corporation
which shall crowd out all other cor
porations and Assume to itself all the
Industries Of the land have been al
ready more than half taken. It Is not
80 far to 20 from now TO that end as
we bad to go TO reach present indus
trial conditions.
"a monopoly IL economically deslra-
ble-that is. for the monopolist Tue
United States steel corporation can
produce. no matter what II sells them
for, It's goods cheaper than the ele-
ments out Of which the combination f.
composed ever produced them. We
cannot therefore rely on natural forces,
on the laws Of supply md demand, or