The independent., 1903-06-04
The EIkins Bill

trust disease, in the theory that 1t
could neither harm the trusts nor do
good to the people. To prevent re-
bates is to swell the revenues of the
trust.
AS to publicity, the uncontradicted
statement of a trust, false or true,
what good can it do? The Elkins bill
is sort of mild faith cure applied to
a disease that is incurable. 1t is the
punishment of guilty trusts, meted
out to themselves by themselves. 1t
reminds me of the sly old turtle who
was caught mapping by party of
American spOrtsmen and condemned
to death. The turtle met his fate
philosophically. Only venturing that
as he was to furnish the corpse, he be
allowed to choose the manner OF his
taking off. This logical proposition
agreed to. The old reptile suggested
drowning after the sentence had been
carried out. He had the gratitude as
he reappeared above the surface of his
native element to say, Thank you,
gentlemen"
If Mr.. Roosevelt's antitrust meas
ures were calculated for any other
purpose than that of deceiving the
people they may be regarded as a
failure. Why? Because the trust it.
self is an incurable disease. The
system for which trusts stand is as
old as this human race. Older than
Joseph's corner on No. Egyptian
corn,'' or the brickburners' strike at
Babel. 1t is not only as old as sin, but
~ s. srxv IL Ioh cl1
laws and statutes. In our own free
state and best of constitutions, in the
common law of England, in the ukase
of the czar, in the frman of the
sultan, it is the right of property.
Our socialist friends are wise in
their generation when they begin
their crusade against capital by an
attack on private property, on mans
right to do what he will with his
own. 1t is fair to assume that this
right will exist just as long as there
are two men or two dollars on earth
out of which to form a combination.
This is why labor organization has
kept neck and neck with capital Or
ganization, through their whole strug-
gle in the United States. Their mu-
tual charges of tyranny and oppres-
sion being, no doubt, equally we'll
founded. AS their agreements are
generally at the expense of the other
fellow, the unorganized public, con-
fess to an absence of prejudice against
either party.
Your plutocrat is an amiable, char
table Christian gentleman. Your
proletariat is equally intelligent,
plausible and patriotic, equally quick,
to see and take advantage of oppor-
tunity. Ill.,. -.--..
1t is the great unorganized scab ele-
ment of society that suffers under the
present system. They are ground fine
between the upper milestone, organ
tied capital, and the lower milestone,
organized labor
When President Roosevelt promised
to shackle cunning, bride trusts"
etc., he simply made a lying promise
that was impossible of performance.
The only hope | can see for the unor-
ganized class is in organization. 1t is
not only possible for the agricultural
class to organize, it is practical, it is
essential for its own protection. The
live stock branch of agriculture have
already organized successfully. The
farmers in many sections are doing
the same in a small way forming
joint stock associations, building ele-
vators for the marketing Of their own
produce. -a@z.
Experience has shown that even
teamsters with no other capital than
their whips, can secure their rights.
Why cannot the farmers in their
three-fold capacity of capitalists, la
borers, and consumers do the same?
The changed conditions under whicn
we live in this goth century make such
an organization as l have indicated
much easier than it would have been
a quarter of century ago. Daily
market reports; daily mail through
the r. F. D.. rural telephones con-
Meeting farms, bring the goth century
farmer as much in touch with the
world as the merchant behind his
desk.
There is absolutely no help for "the
man with the hoe" in politics and
politicians, who, by the way, are or
ganized to deceive, and exploit them.
In the darkest days of feudal tyranny
the free cities of Italy and the
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