The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-23
JoIT1NG THE LUMBER TRUST.

| The lumber trust came in for a few
remarks by Senator Kittredge, OF
South Dakota, in the United States
senate a few days ago. Senator Kit
redge landed on the trust hard. He de-
cIared it to be "the king of trusts in
restraint of trade"
In its far-reaching effects" said the
South Dakota senator. there is none
to compare with it. 1t is remorseless
in its grasp on the people, and the only
change which it contempIates is to in
crease the price of its products at sta
ted and frequent intervals without re-
gard to cost. The consumer not only
bears the burden of its aggressive pol
icy of advancing prices, but also of the
profits of intervening agencies. For him
there is no escape from the avarice of
this monopoly. To him the lumber trust
is a tangible, living reality. When no
sees these advancing prices without
reference to increased cost Of produc-
ton he needs no argument to convince
him that the government to which he
contributes his support and renders
true allegiance is derelict in its duty
unless it employs all the resources at
it's command to relieve him of these
expressions.
ats prices are identica1Iy the same
whether in Minnesota or Arkansas, IL
linois or Texas, Indiana or Missouri
Louisiana or Ohio, or in any other por-
lions of the country"
To show that the profits of the trust
are enormous Mr.. Kittredge said that
at costs $40 to manufacture the lum-
Der at the mills and yields to the trust
a profit of at least 200 per cent. Ac-
cording to the last census of the Uni
ted States the value of timber products
in 1900 was S566, 600, 600 From this the
enormous profits accruing to the trust
are patent. This trust not only arbi-
trarily advances the prices of lumber
but resorts to drastic and INSCRIPTIONS
methods to crush Independent dealers.
THE retail Dealers he continued,
''are not alone in the clutches of the
trust. The wholesaler is subject to it's
domination as we'll. If he sells to an
unauthorized dealer he is subjected to
boycott and other penalties. The mill
men are also subject to like domina-
ton and like discipline. Within the past
five years the prices Of lumber and
timber products have been arbitrarily
advanced from 100 to 500 per cent. This
is nothing better than robbery and is,
in fact, the plumber of commercial
outlaw. Had the existence of the trust
been known to the trainers of the tariH
act OF either 1890 or 1897, it is not pro-
bable that it would have been thought
necessary to foster the lumber industry
by a protective duty. However that
may be and whatever may have been
the argument in favor of such u duty,
there is no longer either necessity or
excuse for its continuance. 1t is not the
policy of this government to foster mo-
and while IT must be appar- |
ent that the present duties are not sole |
ly responsible for the exorbitant prices |
of lumber. yet I am unqualihedly in |
favor of their repeal.
This criminal combination is a |
to the whole country on which |
1t preys. OF all the trusts perhaps this |
Is the only one of which it may be |
said that 1t is literally with |
US from the cradle to the grave. The |
federal government alone has the legal /
authority and judicial power to punish
and dissolve it,
And Kittredge is a Republican sena-
tor, too.