The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-12-24
Farmers and Trusts.


That the prosecution of the meat
trust by the President through his At
torney General was all buncom and has
had no effect upon its eXtortiOns from
the farmers or the consumers. has long
/ been evident. The price of meat is still
far above what it should be consider
ing the price paid by the trust for live
stock. While the butchers have re-
duced the price of meat somewhat
| from the highest point, the price of cat
tie and hogs has declined in vastly
greater proportion. The Iowa Grange
at its annual convention discussed the
Beef Trust and its monopoly of both
the wholesale and retail markets and
the collusion between the trust and
the railroads. President A. b. Judson
of Hillsdale addressing the meeting
Of the Iowa Grange said:
Instead Of supply and demand con-
trolling the market, we have the meat
combine and the packers trust, which
have the credit of fixing the price of
live stock every afternoon for the next
day. thereby shutting off all competi-
ton, decreasing the ability of the con-
sumers to buy by keeping up the price
and crippling the ability Of the farmer
to sell by forcing down the price of
farm products.
"What will be the inevitable result
of this system of highway robbery?
How long will the Iowa farmers sub
70 ,fc n n
and deliver every time the demand
comes from the packers?"
The Iowa grangers and their brother
farmers, those of them who are Repub-
licans, have only themselves to thank
for the exactions of the Packers Trust.
The bond between the Republican lead
ers and the trusts is patent to everyone
who cares to investigate. The legisla
ton against the trusts by the Republi-
can Congress was not intended to sup
press the trusts or stay their exac-
tions.
The demand by the people Of the
United States that laws be passed to
curb the trusts was too strong for even
n Republican Congress to ignore. Some
thing had to be done, and new but use
less legislation was enacted. The Re
publican leaders knew that the old
antitrust law was sufficient, If enforc-
ed, to bring the most powerful combine
to time. 1t provides that mOnopolists
can be fined and imprisoned. One trust
magnate in Jail would soon bring the
whole brood to their knees begging for
pardon. President Roosevelt instead of
enforcing the law begged the question
by recommending Congress to pass a
law compelling publicity of trust trans
actions as his panacea for trust ills.
The Republican leaders in Congress
"a few leaders control all legislation
jumped at the recommendation Of the
President and passed the law giving
the new Department of Commerce and
Labor the same power to investigate
trusts as the Interstate Commerce
Commission has to investigate rail-
roads. There may be some merit in
publicity. but SO far no results have
been accomplished and the doings of
no trust has been exposed to the public
gaze. The Attorney General, under the
stress OF antitrust IeeilBg, cOmmeHeeu
proceedings under the civil end of the
old law, against the Packers Trust and
procured an injunction from the United
States Court of Illinois ordering the
Beef Trust from combining to control
the market.
Thesworthlessness of this proceeding
is apparent from the complaint of the
Iowa grangers. The present Attorney
General was attorney for the Carnegie
steel corporation and will, without
doubt, be given trust employment when
his term of Office expires, that may
account for his delicate manner of pro-
ceeding against the illegal trusts and
combinations. But first and last, the
President is to blame in this matter;
he appointed Mr. Knox and can remove
him at pleasure. A hint from Presi.
dent Roosevelt would cause Mr.. Knox |
to resign and he could appoint in his
place another attorney who really be.
lieves in preventing the trusts from
combining to increase and lower prices |
and would punish them for their illegal |
acts.
Until the Iowa grangers and the
farmers from other States resolve to |
vote against those who are in league |
with the trusts, they can expect no re-
lief from trust extortion. Even the |
Iowa idea," if voted for at the polls |
in electing Congressman and Legisla-
lures, would leave the trusts with some
of their shelter gone and if the farm
ers want to destroy the trusts-the1
bad trusts-they must vote for repre-
sentatives who not only promise re-
form but will vote for it, and that the
Iowa Congressman and Senators have
refused to do with one lone exception
Judge Wade, and he is the only Demo
crat on the delegation.
A Diminishing Surplus.
The astounding revelations of Secre-
cary Shaw in his annual report pre-
sents the financial situation of the
country in a more unfortunate condi-
ton than the most dOlOrous pessimist
could have pictured it. He informs
the President, the Congress and the