The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-02-04

ascent of the price of meat 1t advanced the prices
of its fertilizer and ofal products. 1t racked the
producer and 1t racked the consumer, and stood
resoutely between them, gathering toll from each.
1t advanced day by day further into the field OF
production, and day by day laid hold upon new
victims 1t disclosed gradually a gigantic plan to
control the price of every edible thing grown in
this country, and to control it for its own diyi-
dends.
How this Trust has defied legislation against it
while rejoicing in its successful efforts to secure
legislation for it, how it is able to put the screws
on" the producers and shippers of perishable pro-
ducts and to squeeze" all interests operating in
opposition to its creed of monopoly, and how the
control of this vast commercial octopus has finally
gravitated into the hands of one man-young ].
Ogden Armour of Chicago-Mr. Russels article
shows with graphic force. This extract especially
will show how balefuliy the operations of this
Trust have grown, how it has extended its clutch
from interest to interest and how dangerous is its
menace to the people:
With many railroads the Trust backed always by
the Big Pistol made exclusive refrigerator-car con-
tracts of nature never heard of before, except III
the case of the Standard Oil The railroads were 10
carry perishable articles except IN Trust cars Il
the Trust cared to furnish these; they were TO add
the Trust charges TO their own, collect lhe whole
bill from the consignee, and turn over without de
duction the Trusts share. If by chance they used
their own or any other refrigerator cars they were
charge the full Trust rate and deliver II all into
the Trusts treasury just as If Trust cars had beeh
used.
Thus the whole vast produce trade OF the countr!
suddenly found itself confronted by n condition un
der which an irresponsible and intangible power
was able to assess whatever charges it pleased for
service once performed free The Trust steadily adj
justed the screw and sqeezed out an enormous and
wholly fraudulent tribute. The refrigerator-caI
charges began TO assume traOrd mary proportions
on carload of fruit from Michigan TO Chicago fol
instance, the Trusts eXactl0u> were often as gTeA
as the total freight bill Operations were extended
in all directions The Southern fruit and vegetable
trade was seized. California fruit came next and
the Trust got possession OF the entire trhe by me
expeditions method OF running its competitors. II
compelled the railroads to do its bidding in ali par
ticulars IL black-iiSted dealers shat complained
II compelled the shipment in its own cars ana a.
its own rates of products that might have easily
gone in ordinary cars. II compelled The railroads
to pay mileage Mates for hsullng its cars whether
the cars were full or empty. IL multiplied It's cars
its lines and its operations II went into poultry
live and dressed and absorbed that market. II be-
gan 10 tamper with the trade in dairy products
Wherever its operations extended, the consumer
began at once TO feel the baleful influence of us
presence: the producer became the victim OF al
nately encouraged 10 extensive production and
confronted with ruin by an arbitrary and a forced
reduction of prices
the Supreme Court. II is q foemau worthy of Mt
Rooseret's or any strong mans steel II attack
the people in a vital spot. Whether our present
laws are sufficient to deal with such an evolution
as this an active Administration at Washington il
course Of time. csm discover. In the meantime
everything that viii enlighten the public on the
subject is desirable.