The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-05-24
CONTROL ABSOLUTE
TARIFF PROTECTION UPHoLps
STEEL TRUST.
President Of Big Monopoly Tells
How Opposition Is Crushed When
Competitors Become Active
Factors in Business.

How thoroughly competition In iron
and steel has been abolished by the
United States Steel corporation by its
treatment OF rival manufacturers is
perhaps hardly realized by the public
As the steel trust produces So per
cent. OF all the iron and steel in the
country its managers can undersell
any competitor and in fact did do SO
In 1904 when the demand for iron
and steel was much less than now.
The way competition is prevented has
Just been described by Ebert H. Gary.
the president OF the steel trust. who
said.
While we are friendly 10 our CON-
petitOrs, and are willing and ready 10
assist them in every way. they know
we Will not permit them to cut estab-
lished prices. We make so many
things that a single competitor could
not live II he invited our opposition.
II he manufactured structural iron.
for instance. We could reduce our sell
Ing price TO a figure below his cost OF.
production and drive him out OF bust
ness In the meantime we would be
making our usual profits on the rest
OF our products IL maker OF rails.
however. can get s2s ton when We
charge SIS. that is his good fortune.
and We don't object. But If he ac-
cepts s27.95 he is likely to hear from
us"
The monopoly Of prices by the trust
will not perhaps ruin its competitors
while the product OF all iron and steel
factories are in such demand as 10 be
sold in advance OF manufacture but
when this extraordinary demand let's
up and there is a surplus awaiting a
market. the steel trust will have its
competitors al its mercy.
As the steel trust is protected by
the tariff from competition from
abroad it therefore dominates the
market in this country and can die
tate prices that all American CON
sumers must pay The only way TO
force this gigantic corporation TO
terms. is 10 reduce the tariff on its
products. SO that 10 prevent compe-
tition from abroad. 10 would be com
PEELED 70 reduce its profits TO a more
reasonable basis As the steel trust
officials boast they can produce iron
and steel cheaper than anyone else
can. the Republican stand-patters'
chatter that 10 reduce the tariff would
miIre business is merely an excuse
10 continue protecting the steel and
other trusts in charging unreasonable
| prices.
As iron and steel have become a
great necessity and enter into the
manufacture OF such a number Of
articles OF daily use. il is a great
drain on the consumers TO have the
price so largely increased. Stoves.
tools. machinery. nails. tin plate.
chains. fire arms. horse shoes. wire.
household utensils. roofing cutlery
and all other manufactures Of iron
and steel are taxed under the present
tariff from 20 10 "a per cent. Every
one pays their share Of this tariff tax
either on the imported articles or in
directly through the enormous profit
the tariff allows the steel trust and
other manufacturers TO charge by pre-
venting foreign competition. Whether
you are a farmer. a merchant. ne
chanic or a laborer. do YOU want this
protection 70 the trust and other man.
ufacturers OF iron and steel products
continued at so high a rate? Would
not much less rates OF duty be to
your INTEREST," If SO. why not remer-
Der il when election time comes? and
vote only for those who are pledged
publicly to revise the tariff