The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-06-25

| WNlFr saw the sign up on
the door OF the In
dependent Market.
This is a bad thing for Lincolnville.
George RawsOn's a good fellow and
made a great fight. but the meat trust
was too strong for him. l gave him
all my trade Flanagan says he heard
Rawson's liabilities were $4,000"
Mr.. jenkins cautiously glanced at
Llncolnvilles banker.
mir. Rawson's liabilities are nearly
$4,000" Judge Sawyer said after
pause THE matter was adjusted this
afternoon. The meat trust, as you
term the rival company, purchases the
Independent Market. Rawson has
pledged all OF hts property and hopes
to meet the claims Of his creditors. The
new owners will open the market un-
der another name and have decided To-
retain Mr. RawsOn as manager"
Thus endeth the last chapter In the
history of competitive markets In Lin
coInville," observed Colonel Monroe.
1T Is less than month ago, jenkins.
since you reminded me that competi-
ton Is the life OF trade You had just
purchased from Rawson a choice cut Of
sirlOin at 10 cents u pound. much less
than the actual cost OF the beef. II
was run for you, but financial death
to poor Rawson Neighboring towns
have long been In the clutch OF the
enemy, but LncOlnvtlle has had In
RawsOn a David who dared wage bat
tie with the meat Goliath. He had
thousands. il had millions The con
test was magnificent while II lasted,
but Il was not war. Rawson had no
chance from the start. For three
months we have reyeled In cheap
chops, steaks and roasts. Now we shall
pay a war indemnity TO the victor "
Il shall be surprised II the meat
trust exacts exorbItant prices said
Judge Sawyer. whose face bore trou-
bled look. While they are vlCtors
and have the trade at thelr mercy,
prudence and business policy should
dictate moderation. There Is point
beyond which no successful syndicate
dare go"
I'm sure 1 don't know where that
point is" retorted the colonel with
some warmth. The patience Of the
American people Is as a eathomless
well. The coal trust and the oil trust
can hnd no bottom. We are whipped
and know not what way 70 turn, You
practically say as much when you adj
NIT that your only hope IS that the
victorious meat trust will loot US with
modera ton. II the history Of this
trust be any guide you are leaning IN
a reed It has taken them two years
TO suppress competition in LincolnVille
and has cost them thousands Of dol
lars. Does a dog chase a rabbit for
exercise2 BY the way. Jenkins, you
said the other day that the men who
owned the railroad had a right to
charge any rate they pleased. sup
pose you have no objection to the men
who own the meat selling 1t at any
price they can get"
There are good trusts and bad
trusts" said Postmaster jenkins. who
could offer nothing else.
Eyes, and there are fools and-and
other kinds OF fools" added Colonel
Monroe with unusual bitterness. Il
suppose a good trust Is one which,
having reduced the people to abIect
submission, treats them with lentty.
and q bad trust is one which INDUCES
in the natural proclivities Of all ty.
rants"
you are singularly ferocious to
night. colonel" said Judge Sawyer
with a calm smile.
81 feel sorry for RawsOn," the colo
mel said Il have known him for
twenty years-ever since he was a
boy. As you know. helped him start
in business and would save him to
day were It In my power. When
heard OF Rawson's failure | thought
Of the talk, judge that Jon and had
years ago, when we were more hot
headed than We are now. Does this
remind you Of a subject we used ID
discuss back IN the eightiesT'
II recall our debates on compsu
don" replied Judge Sawyer. Il still
bold my ground"
1T has been swept from beneath
your feet" replied Colonel Monroe
Elm those years-and 1t seems onlJ
yesterday-the word trust had not yef
been applied to corporations or monop
olies. Competition was king NJ
statesman, editor or author Of reputi
sounded warning that competition
would be dethroned. There were Ia
Vulnerable factories in every indus
try. each contending for It's share 81
business. There were hundreds o
railroad lines competing for patron
age. And then was Witnessed tn
birth Of the FIRST American monopoly
Every public man in the land predict
cd Its inevitable failure You spok
the general sentiment when you De
cIared that In this country mOnOpOl.
would fall Of It's own weight. wa
20 bold as to take the opposite view
As a true JeffersOnlan Democrat com
petition was your political religion
And a. year succeeded year trust SUE
eSsdSd trust whfis you and millioR