Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-08-14

Steel Trust Domination.
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 65 per cent
of all the iron and steel in the country,
Its managers can undersell any COM
petitor, 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 Gilbert H. Gary, the presl-
dent of the Steel Trust, who said:
while VS. are friendly to our COM
petftors, and are willing and ready to
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
If he Invited our opposition. If he
manufactured structural iron, for In
stance, we could reduce our selling
price to figure below his cost of pro-
duction and drive him out of business.
In the meantime we would be making
our usual profits on the rest Of our
products. If maker of rails, however,
can get $50 ton when we charge $2S,
that is his good fortune, and we don't
object. But If he accepts $27.95 he is
likely to hear from u.s."
The monopoly Of prices by the Trust
will not perhaps ruin Its competitors
while the products of all iron and steel
factries are in such demand as to be
sold In advance of manufacture, but
when this extraordinary demand lets
up and there Is surplus awaiting
market, the Steel Trust will have It's
competitors at Its mercy.
AS the Steel Trust is protected by the
tariff from competition from abroad, 1t
therefore dominates the market in this
country and can dictate prices that all
American consumers must pay. The
only way to force this gigantic corpora
tion to terms Is to reduce the tariff on
its products, SO that to prevent COM
petition from abroad 1t would be COM
PEELED to 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 standpatters' chatter
that to reduce the tariff would injure
business is merely an excuse to con-
tinue protecting the Steel and other
trusts in charging unreasonable prices.
AS iron and steel have become
great necessity and enter into the man
ufacture of such n number of articles
of daily use, it is great drain on the
consumers to have the price so largely
increased. Stoves, tools, machinery,
nails, tin plate, chains, firearms, horse
shoes, wire, household utensils, roofing,
cutlery and all other manufactures of
iron and steel are taxed under the
present tariff from, 20 to o. percent.
Everyone pays their share Of this tar
if tax either on the imported articles
or Indirectly through the enormous
profit the tariff allows the Steel Trust
and other manufacturers to charge by
preventing foreign competition. Whether
you are a farmer, a merchant, me-
chanic or laborer do you want this
protection to the trust and other man
ufacturers of iron and steel products
continued at so high rate? Would
not much less rates Of duty be to your
interest? If SO, why not remember it
when election time comes, and vote
only for those who are pledged publicly
to revise the tariff?