The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-13
DRUMMER's TALK.
Views of William Hodge, President Commercial Travelers' Anti-Trust
 League.

League.
 So far as this League Is concerned. there is but one issue in this campaign and that Is the tariff protected trusts. We recognize the fact that there are other issues of prime importance to the people at large, but to the commer- cial traveller the paramount issue of tariff protected trusts Is so pre-emi- nent that other questions fade from view.
 The reason Is that while other quest ions made pertinent by the issues in this campaign are more or less of a theoretical nature, to the travelling man this matter of great monopolistic combinations of capital Is condition pure and simple and upon it's ratifica- tion depends the possibility of the travelling salesman improving his con- dition. This is not new question with us. The League recognized its importance in 1896, 1900 and 1904 and sounded the note of warning. The ten dency of the Republican Party to favor monopoly was fully appreciated by us fession recognized, but we ourselves have been dumbfounded to see in what double measure our predictions have been fulfilled during the Republican rule. l have before me list of Trusts, ninety per cent of which have been formed since 1893, mostly of that fruitful mother of trusts, New Jersey, and all since President McKinIcy's election in 1896.
 These companies wkich cover the majodity of the necessities used by the American people have absorbed 3,134 concerns.
 Competition is as necessary to the health and existence of the travelling man as blood is to the human frame. hut competition is the very thing thaN these trade leviathans are formed to crush out, and when 1t does the travel ing man goes with 1t.
 It Is impossible to say how many commercial travellers have lost their jobs by reasons of these combinations, but many who have given the subject cover it. I am sure that 10000 is a conservative estimate. There Is abso- lutely no rccompense for this loss and men deprived of their positions are re- legated to the already crowded army of competitors for less lucrative posit- ions, and the money which they dls- tribute with a free hand to the country hotel keepers, liVerymen and trades men in all lines, goes to swell the enor- nous revenues of the trusts.
 I do, not think there is a travelling salesman in the country who does not to some extent understand and nppre- ciate this situation, but are deluded by the false idea that sometime in the future the Republican party will re- form the evils, which it's own central izing policy which is rapidly crushing out individualism in this country has created for the instruction of thesc misguided brothers, We need only to point to the record of the past years of Republican control and ask if they can expect much from a party which has propagated trusts like the rich soil of the barnyard vegetation and has already thrown thousands of fcl- low 'orkers out of their jobs.
 In our judgment this work of trust making has but had a beginning and the possibilities of disaster at the polls this Fall has constrained the foxy leaders of that party to draw the rein temporarily and to these insatiat~ monopolies the tip has gone out that it wont do to get too gay until anoth- CT four years of government control has been handed over to the Republi- can Party.
 Just let them get the endorsement of the people this ySar at the polls and see what crop of trusts will spring up.
 Now is the time for the travelling salesmen to speak and vote to perpet- uate their jobs and species. Whom he has lost his situation and influence that goes with 1t. 1t will be everlast- ingly too late.
 The Commercial Travellers Anti Trust League is here to point this out and if our bI thers in all parties do not wish to take 1t. they will all be wiser and they will also be sadder.