Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-16
n1ecEl1.ANroua nEcoRn
GOOD Mixed with Evil.

In these days Of general denunciation
Of Trusts and their extortions, it is.re-
freshing, even if we cannot be entirely
appreciative, TO hear a voice raised in
praise Of some Of the conditions that pre-
vail today as a result OF the formation of
Trusts and their operations.
Such praise is poured forth by writer
In the New York Times who signs himself
q "Non- Trust Buster" and who sees in
existing conditions a vast improvement
over those which prevailed before the
Trusts obtained foothold in this country.
He begins by referring 10 tho days when
people invested their money in railroads
which opened UP virgin country to develop
ment, but resulted in no financial returns
to the investors. But the capitalists Of
those days went right ahead Of the require
ments Of the people, he says building up
the wilderness, getting no return for years
upon the money and sinking much Of the
principal But now that capital begins
TO pay something for the investor, we find
that we have been "giving away valuable
franchises" that what private capital has
developed is "the property of the people,"
that the 'people arc being robbed, &c.
Dropping his sarcasm, this "Non-Trust
Buster becomes cheerfully optimistic
in reviewing other blessings which he
discerns in the trail Of the Trusts. "When
] ride all about town for single fare Of
five cents, he says, "talSing an afternoon
outing which used to cost four times the
amount, ] am thankful for the combina-
tion Of street railways which makes Il
possible. When ] spend the evening read
ing by the brilliant light Of my burner,
am grateful for the oil trust which sup
plies my lamp with oil at l3 cents instead
Of 25 cents per gallon. When use sugar
without stint, l am thankful for the
Sugar Trust which provides Il at 8 cents
instead Of 10 cents per pound. When
turn on tho gas and have a clean, hot FIRE
at a minutes notice, l am thankful for
the gas trust, which furnishes it 10 mo at
81 instead Of $3.50 per thousand cubic
feet"
And so this defender Of Trusts con
cludes that no one can convince him, as
a consumer that he "shall be as well of
when politicians control these things,
unless tho taxpayers make up the de
fciency."
Now, there is truth in what this writer
says about the present cheapness of neces-
sities and convoniencies, compared with
prices that prevailed many years ago.
But this fact does not wipe out the mani
fold evidences Of the manner in which the
people are oppressed by high prices
through the operations Of the Trusts
protected as the latter are by high tariff
taxation.
What does il matter that an article Of
household necessity is cheaper today than
Il was thirty years ago, if it is much dearer
than it ought TO be
We are today confronted with the fact
that the combinations known as Trusts
control production and restrict il when
WV ~ ANAaAANa ANNNocNAN 10 lilt AlitililllIl-
anoe Of high prices We have proof that
the prices charged are much too high. in
fact that the same articles are sent abroad
and sola in foreign markets at much
lower prices Why should not the con.
sumers OF this country have the benefit
Of the same prices for their home products
that foreign customers enjoy when thes,
products are sent abroad and sold in oper
competition?
Here is where the people are pinched-
restricted production and excessive prices
Is il any wonder that they complain
Yet their complaints, backed by the mos
convincing evidence of the extortion-
evidence which the Trusts, being unabl
to discredit, simply ignore-fail to i'm
press Congress with the necessity Of tear
ing down that legislation which enable
the Trusts to so impose upon the people
the protective tariff.