The Democratic advocate., 1907-02-01
Combinations in Restraint of Trade

Combinations in Restraint Of Trade
One of the pernicious and glaring results
of Trusts Combinations is the destruction
Of competition. This, of course, is the
primary object of all monopolies, to squeeze
out individual competitors and secure the
market for themselves.
Such procedure is at variance with
the genius of our government, which exalts
the individual citizen, as not only the unit
Of its strength, but entitled to fair chance
in the field of trade, and in every other
avocation tending to build up good citizen
ship.
To permit anything that will cripple and
paralyze his effort and drive him for the
field, works hardship and is wrong that
ought not to be allowed. In answer to
this we are sometimes told that these trade
combinations lower prices to the consumer
and are benefit to the people at large.
This is false in theory and not confirmed
by experience. Else, whence the immense
dividends piled up by these trusts and
divided among their millionaire stock
holders?
Another of the pernicious results of
these combinations, is that having fattened
by law, upon the people, they grow to such
proportions, as to enter the halls of our
State and national legislatures, and domin-
ate legislation.
1t seems almost impossible to get through
the United States Senate any bill which Is
opposed by the Trusts. AT the present
time there is before the Senate Dill,
passed almost unanimously by the last
House of Representatives, in effect, break
ing down the tariff wall between the Phil
ippine Islands and this country 1t Is op
posed by the Barons of the Sugar and the
Tobacco Trusts, and lies in committee,
from which it will never see daylight.
1t is difficult for the American people
to retain their patience under conditions
like these. But these conditions will con-
tinue as long as the Republican party Is IN
power. They are responsible for the ex-
;stanca of the trusts and will never drive
them from power.
The Protective Tariff, as MIR. Have
meyer, the Sugar King, said is "the
Mother of Trusts And it is plain to
the common observer, that these huge
combinations could never have attained
their monstrous proportions, without the
favoritism of the law, under the high pro-
tective tariff system.
If you want to stop the trusts, lower the
tariff schedules, and give everybody fair
chance. And just as certain as you would
dry up a poolby diverting the stream which
supplies it, SO sure will the trusts go out Of
business when the protective tariff, from
which they derive their life, ceases to feed
them.
If this is done at all, it must be done
by the Democratic party. The Republl-
can party makes the trusts. The trusts
swell the campaign funds of the party and
make it possible for them to carry the
elections. And then under the govern
mental favoritism of the protective tariff,
the money is shovelled back again into the
treasury of the trusts, and so the merry
march goes on, while the people, the long
suffering people, are twisting and squirming
and wondering what is the matter.
If we have law to restrain trusts, why
has it not been enforced? IF there is not
law enough, why has it not been enacted?
The Republican party has the President
and controls both branches of Congress,
and must answer these questions to the
American people,