The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-12
..THROTTLED BIZ TRrsTs. ;,
Trying Condition of Small Manufac-
tnrers of Asricult1,ral Tr,,r,Iarno,,4.

Trying Condition of Small Manufac-
turers of Agricultural Implements
The petition to President Roosevelt
the small manufacturers of agricul-
tural implements are signing is a pro-
test against conditions which force the
cost of production up to a point where
they can do no business because of q
lack of customers to buy their goods
Competition with the harvester trust
which gets its raw materials more
cheaply, becomes impossible.
Where combinations of capital have
enected a saving in operation the diff
ference has usually gone in part to
stockholders i'm dividends and in part
TO the employees, who have combined
~ raise the wage scale. The consumer
has not been benefited. What is true
of the individual is equally true of the
small manufacturer After he has
paid toll to the two score trusts which
produce the raw materials he uses he is
confronted by dilemma-unless he
wishes to manufacture at a loss. He
must save on labor-cut down wages
or make the public pay for the in
creased cost Of raw materials. 1t is not
easy to force down wages or to make
men buy when they do not wish to.
The harvester trust was formed UNI
der just such circumstances. The con-
stituent companies could no longer
manufacture at the accustomed profit.
and their directors did not believe that
the farmers would pay higher prices
for machinery. The combination was
formed not only to save in cost of Op-
Grafton. but to produce the raw ma
terial used in the factories As re-
suit the harvester trust which makes
80 per cent of the agricultural machin
eEY in the United States, is on profit
able basis
The plight of the remaining 10 per
cent is set forth in the petition The
small manufacturers say they are the
commercial vassals of the steel trust,
which fills their orders when it chooses
at its own prices. The legitimate pro-
fits of its business are great. but it
sQueezes a part of the dividends on its
Watered securities out of the small pro-
ducers The manufacturers can use for
eieu iron and STEEL both of which are
Imported in large quantities If they
do they have to pay so high a price
for them because Of the duties that they
are at a disadvantage when competing
with foreign or domestic rivals, who can
get those materials on better terms.
Apparently. the unorganized manu-
facturers of harVesters and of minor
farm and garden implements cannot
combine. and this put themselves in a
more advantageous position as regards
procuring their raw materials They are
unable to protect themselves. and be-
cause of their inability their home and
expert business is injured and the mid
dlemen and the farmers suffer The Pc
titioners ask for that competition in raw
materials which is the crying need Of so
many other manufacturers who have
not yet spoken out. Through the en-
f0rcement of antitrust laws. or in some
other way. competition in manufacture
crs raw materials should be revived.
80 trust should be permitted TO throttle
any branch of American industry and
deprive the men engaged in it of dOmes-
tic or foreign trade.-Ch iCagO Tribune.