West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-10-08
the rRUsfs Is raE SADDLE.

The trusts are still in the saddle.
The anthracite coal trust is advanc-
Ing the price Of coal again, though
it is reported 10 have mined and
stored some millions OF tons more
than can be sold this year, and yet
this trust has such monopoly that
II can put up prices as il pleases.
The meat trust also files notice that
II intends to raise the piice OF its
products to level more in accord
with the times and permissive of the
garnering of larger profits. Con-
gress, last winter, when the coal
trust was live issue, appropriated
a special fund of $500, 900 for the
Department OF Justice to use to
prosecute trusts. Congress also
provided for number of assistant
Attorneys General, to prepare
cases against the trusts. Many
months have elapsed since this
money and those attorneys were
placed at the disposal of the admin
istratioD, but no action has been
begun. There is on file with the
Attorney General more than one
case against trusts, prepared by
private enterprise, such as the coal
trust prepared by William R. Hearst,
and the case against the tobacco
trust has been on file for over two
years, but it has reposed in a
pigeon hole in the Department, and
even the extra money and the extra
help have heen unable to drag it
into court
There seems to be nothing that
can stop this Unsuitable greed of
bioated trusts, except business de-
preston. That with its resultant
reduction in the peoples purchas-
ing power will prove the only
effective means to bring prices down
again % a reasonable limit, so long
as the Republican party remain in
the saddle So lar as legislatures
and courts are concerned, they are,
apparently, unable or unwilling to
do anything 70 protect the con-
suncrs. Anti trust laws passed by
the law giyers are as rule, prompt
ly and neatly knocked out by the
judges, who seem to be exceedingly
anxious 60 protect what they con-
slider Inc constitutional rights Of
corporations. Did you ever hear of
the constitutional rights of an in
diyidual2 Never in your life
Some months ago, newspapers were
full OF statements to the effect that
the Federal Government wouldn't
do Thing to the pernicious, rapa-
cious coal trust after Mr. William
Randolph Hearst had put it in
hole, soaped the sides and pulled
up the ladder Well, what has
been the result9 Nothing. The
coal trust is still doing business at
the old stand and determined to
give prices another boost this
winter.
Verify, the consumers is an un-
happy lot. He pays double prices
for the things he needs, and at the
same time looks in vain for redress
for grievances innumerable.
He boasts of constitutions which
do not protect him, and of courts
which consider it great sport to set
at naught laws designed to safe
guard the rights of the people. Ex-
tortion is the watchword all over
this broad land of ours. There is
none among consumers who can
escape its arrogance and tyranny,
none who can devise means to bring
/. to an end. Oh, prosperity, what
sins and injus;ices are committed in
thy namel And these will never
stop until the Republican party is
kicked off the face OF the earth, the
unholy alliance between that party
and the cormorants OF the country
is pulverized, and the Democratic
party alleged to rip the rocks off
the tariff wall that grants special
privileges to the favored few. When
will the people act2