The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-11-06

Arrests are More In sn pant Thsn Ever
and the Adm tnistrn ttOn
IL Paralyxrd.

mold OF he country. and has gradually |
advanced prices until the increase Is
over one dollar ton above the rate /
charged before the great coal strike
was inaugurated. That a complete |
monopoly exists in The supply % an
taracite coal is apparent. for the trust
not only controls the vast majority OF
the mines, but also the railroads that |
carry the coal TO market The trust
makes the price Of coal al the mines |
comparatively low. and charges enor-
NOUS freight rates In this way II |
keeps the independent mine owners |
al its mercy. The soft coal trust is
equally exacting. and has increased the |
price even more in proportion than
the anthracite has been raised The |
Hooking Valley coal combine. in which |
Senator Hanna is interested. has
pushed up the price of coal until the
demand has fallen on. and the mines
are being run on half time. and some
have closed down.
In the western states anoihercoal com
bine has the people at its mercy, 20
that even that ardent advocate OF pro-
tective tariff and monopoly. the St
Louis Globe Democrat. says:
is the public OF ST. Louis helpless
In dealing with the existing corner in
coal a situation that has existed for
two years. and takes an aggravated
form again as soon as there is a hint
of cold weather, Reforms were
promised last year. as a result Of the
strike commission. but conditions in
St Louis have not been improved In
the smallest degree. A monopoly mere
has absolute control. II could place
the price az 80 cents bushel, ana
would do it but for fear OF the wrath
OF the people. Ii will charge all that
il dares. and it is by no means lacking
in audaclty. Can the people do moth
ing to defend themselves against the
rapacious and dangerous combine? Coal
must be had. cost what IL will. The
many are trampled under shamefully
in this matter. II they are defenseless.
the legislature should be called in ex-
ira session to provide relief"
Thus this republican newspaper calls
for relief from the legislature. when IL
/ well knows that these coal mOnopolies
are interstate corporations. and can
soon be broken up IL President Roose-
welt will order his attorney general TO
prosecute the trust magnates under thA
/ criminal section Of the antitrust lava
The example Of one monopolist in
I jail would have more effect in sup
pressing the extortion of the coal end
other trusts than all the proceedings
/ under the civil law that can be forced
through the courts until doomsday.
The two actions against the trusts
which the administ relies on
for popular approval are the railroad
merger suit and the injunction pro-
ceedings against the beef combine.
Both OF these cases are now in the su-
preme court. and may be decided at the
/ tall term, but is anyone innocent
enough TO imagine that the decision in
these cases will curb the rapacity Of
the railroads or the beef combine.
These two suits are not intended to
stop the rapacity of those trusts or TO
stop other trusts from preying upon
the people. but to hull the voters into
believing that the republicans are OPP
posed TO trusts. and are trying TO do
everything possible TO stop their exac-
tons. No trust has reduced the price
or profit on their products since these
trust suits have been commenced. nei-
Their has the merger of competing lines
Of railroads been stopped. for new
combinations are constantly being re-
ported. and freight rates have been adj
yanced on a majority of the railroads
during the past year. IL Is plain.
therefore. that the railroads under
stand that these suits are harmless.
That the beef combine is still doing
business on the old scale. and with in
creased profits. Is shown by the mar
ket reports from Omaha and oth.r cat
tie centers. The New York World. Oc-
tober Is. says:
For beef steers. the trust pays he
year. while charging ten per cent more
to its customers. Profit 10 the trust
increased by 80 per cent.
For pork the packers pay 40 per cent.
less than last year. and charge Is pei
cent more Increased profit, 80 pei
cent"
The farmers and stock growers are
obliged 10 send cattle and hogs 10 mar
ket when ready. IL fed beyond thai
point there is no extra profit. The beef
and hog combine fixes the prices to
be paid at the stock yards. and is l,rac.
tically the only buyer The farmers
and the consumers are both squeezed
by this predatory combine. and all ths
people are robbed for the benefit Of {
few men who are piling up millions.
In the meantime the executive o.
the government seems paralyzcd anc
unnerved by the hypnotic influence Of
the trusts. Witt the plain provision
|, OF the antitrust law constantly be
fore them. the law officers Of the gov
eminent stand idle
All the protected trusts which fatter
under the Dingley tariff, while sellinl
goods cheaper to foreigns than TO Amer