Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-11
HOW TO DESTROY MONOPOLY.
Legislation Lays behind Industrial
Development.
New York Journal Of Commerce


New York Journal of Commerce.
Among the most Objectionable monopo-
listic tendencies Of the day are those which
seek control of national resources. Air and
sunshine are happily beyond the control OF
human agencies, but almost every material
substance upon or within the earth has
been more or less under the subsection OF
monopoly.
The products of the earth were primarily
intended for the common good. 1t was
never intended that they should be con-
trolled for the exclusive advantage of a
few; yet, usually by direct ownership fire.
quently by control of producing or distribut-
ing processes, and often by combining all
three, these prime necessities of life are
gradually being gathered into the fold OF
monopoly with a certainty that already
threatens freedom Of opportunity industry
and enjoyment. The production of oil is
now practically dominated by monopoly.
Reports are current that all the richest
copper mines in the country are to be
amalgamated into one concern, intended to
dominate the whole industry. This mo-
nopoly may not become absolutely complete
but IL can easily be complete enough TO
practically throttle competition. In the steel
industry there Is a similar tendency. The
United States Steel corporation, through
ownership Of the richest supplies OF ORE IS
placing itself I'm a position where II, too
will be able to dictate to all competitors
1t requires no particular intelligence to ap
preciate the overpowering strength of such
concerns in times of business depression,
when monopoly of cheap raw materials
enables them to underbid and destroy every
competitor. This mohopolstic tendency has
also shown itself in other mineral indus
tries, and unless checked will soon place
these all important national resources under
the exclusive domination of few powerful
cliques. without dwelling upon the alarm
ing consequences Of such a tendency, which
are now quite well understood, II is oppor-
tune to cast about for means OF prevention.
The principle has already been estab-
lshed that a monopoly shall treat all
corners alike, and If this simple rule be
applied to the mineral monopolies TO this
eXtent-that they shall be obliged to sell
ore to all buyers on the same terms as to
themselves or their constituent companies
their power would be quickly broken. Our
supreme court has decided that the railroad
must treat all shippers alike, and when
producing coal must not discriminate in its
own favor in the carrying Of IT, Apply
this principle to the United States Steel
corporation, the Standard oil company, the
Copper trust, the Lead trust etc, and their
power would vanish, and the incentive for
their creation be largely destroyed.
Monopolsts themselves should be the first
to advocate some such equitable rule as
this For these facts are patent TO all who
are not wilfully blind: That popular dis
satisfaction with the present state of things
is deep, widespread and earnest: that the
people are almost ready under rash leader
ship, to apply more drastic remedies than
wise men like to contemplate; that they
will not much longer allow their legislative
and electoral procedure to be warped by
misused corporate funds; In short, that the
time is at hand when monopoly must
choose, once for all, whether to yield a
little to the conservative or be stripped Of
much by the radical