The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-11-04

but they are with those governments
from which the strength of their arm
les and navies is more in evidence
than their devotion to pope rule We
hear utterances, or see acts, from
which contempt is shown for small
countries. Instead of treasurdng
Washington's admonition to be friend
ly to all nations. but to form alliance
with none, the idea now uppermost in
some of our diplomacy seems to be
that this doctrine is outworn and OBJ
solete and that because we are 80,000,-
600 instead of ten, we should change
our present habits and adopt methods
and manners long since rejected
CHANGE INDUSTRIAL CoNDI-
TIONS.
But there are other decisions from
which we have departed widely from
our early traditions, and which now
menace our people industrially We
all know that during the last quarter /
of a century vast changes have taken
place in our industrial condition
changes that have tended to do away
with competition and have placed the
leading Industries of the country in
the control of a few men. We have
been warned against this tendency
| from time to time by thoughtful and
far-seeing men, but the warning has
not been needed. Today, however,
most men are able to appreciate that
| 1t would have been wise to heed the
warning earlier. Now the task of
checking the evil is greater. Those
who have enjoyed special privileges
enabling them indirectly to tax the
people, together with those who have
by combinations obtained control of
many kinds of business have grown
so strong that they feel able to con-
troll elections, thus preventing inter-
ference with the power they enjoy.
The effect of that power, as welded,
has been to increase the cost of living
to all; to add to the burdens of every
one without any benefit.
THE COST OF LIVING.
at is conceded that during the last
three or four years thA increase in the
cost of living has a ahbunted to one
sixth Secretary Shaw reioices in it,
And he says the WAGES of the work.
ingmen and the income of our people
are greater in proportion. Now. If
that is true. the householders of this
country know it. If not their wives
do. They know whether the income
of the bread winner is greater by one
sixth than it was four years ago.
There are instances in which it is
But the great majority of you will
find it is not true You will discover
that it requires just little more work
on your part, and more care on the
part of your wife to make both ends
meet from month to month.
Now why is it that the prices of
the things we have to have are push
; ed up little from time to time,
; whether there be an increase in our
incomes or not? 1t is in part because
the business of this country today is
largely in the control of combinations
or trusts, which are enabled to shut
out competition, and thus prices are
arbitrary.
I'VE had great coal strike in 1902.
|
distress, and threaten a good deal
more That contest was costly to both
sides. 1t was permanently expensive
to labor. 1t was but temporarily ex-
pensive to the controllers of the coal
properties. Almost Immediately af-
y ter mining and distribution of coal
had been resumed they advanced the
this, compelling our people to pay the
expenses of their contest with their
u workmen. This is usual, not unusual
l cite it as an illustration because il
Is well known to all who purchase
coal. You each know that the price
u was increased fifty cents per ton all
most Immediately after the strike.
. COMPETITION AND THE ENCOUR-
r AGEMENT OF THRIFT.
f at is said that there are four hun
/. dred and fifty-three of these trusts in
e this country. Whether that is correct
e do not know. But it is quite certain
It that the leading industries of this
t country are rapidly coming into the
r control of great combinations. And
n many Of them are so managed as tc
r extort prices from the people that
! could not be done otherwise.
: 1T is often said: But there Is ne
:, difficulty in any one starting the same
d kind Of business if he can get any Gus
# toners But there is a difiiculty-ar
y insurmountabe difficulty. When {
d great combination undertakes to con
l. troll the trade in a locality. it threat
1, ems competition, You may start YOU
n meat business with capital little ol
? substantial. If the trust thinks 1t Il
G worth while to drive you out of bust
ness ii can start a market along sidt
of you and sell at half your prices
If You must meet the cut in rates a
it once or go without customers. Meet
n ino. tho noaans thn lpcc pf Won