United labor bulletin., 1909-11-26
TRUST THAT FEEDS ON THE
FARMER.


Congress and the farmers are learning
every day little more about that inter
esting organization known as the harvest
er trust says the Daily News. They are
learning how it monopolizes the manu-
cultural Instruments; and how its head
and front is j. Pierpont Morgan operat-
ing through his handyman, George w.
Perkins, with Cyrus H. Mccormick as
figurehead. The latter is president
Senator Stone, of Missouri, has made
couple of speeches lately on the sub
ject of the harvester trust The Arkan-
sas authorities have taken measures to
oust the trust from that state; and the
attorney general for Missouri has re-
Gently taken a trip to New York to take
testimony in regard to this alleged mon
opoly. :.
Facts brought out up to this time in
dicate a condition about like this: The
trust was organized under the name of
the International Harvester Company, of
New Jersey, in 1902. The active pro-
moter was George w. Perkins, OF ]. Pier
pont Morgan & Company. The merger
resulted in combination of all the prop
critics of the Mccormick Harvester Ma
chine Company, the Deering Harvester
Machine Company with the Champion,
the Plano and the Milwaukee Harvester
Machine Company, in all. representing
| so per cent of the business of the coun-
try. Other small concerns have since
been swallowed.
Subsequently another charter was TAX
en- out under the laws of Wisconsin. The
International Harvester Company of
America, under the laws of Wisconsin,
has Cyrus H. Mccormick as president,
and Morgan's man, Perkins, as director.
Perkins is also director of the New Jer-
sey corporation. The New Jersey cor
poration is the manufacturing concern,
while the other corporation is the selling
agent. Prices are now uniform. There
is no competition. Prices have been ad-
vancing.
Before being defeated for the senate,
Henry W. Hansbrough, of North Dakota,
said:
AT the time this monopoly was Great
ed the average price of self-binder to
farmer in my part of the country was
from $95 to $105. Today the same ma
chine costs S145. That is not all. The
trust has obtained a control over binding
twine, and over several manufacturing
establishments devoted to the making OF
gasoline engines. cream separators and
manure spreaders They have also Sc
cured a monopoly of the harness busi-
ness. as well as other necessary articles
that the farmers of the country must buy.
AT this very hour, Mr.. President, this
monopoly in farming implements is TAX
ing hand in the politics of the state of
North Dakota. 1t is laying its wires at
this moment through it's trusted political
agents. to secure and control the dele
gates who will represent that state in
the next Republican National Convention.
Not alone this, but the edict has gone
forth from this monopoly that am to be
defeated for the United States senate be-
cause have the temerity to offer reso-
luton of investigation"
Since these words were spoken, Mr..
Hansbrough has been returned to private
life Whether it was the harvester trust
that did it is a question which cannot
finally be settled at this time or in this
place.
But the fact stands out that the So
called protection of American labor as
result of a high tariff, is a delusion.
Senator Hansbrough testifies that since
the trust gained control the farmers
have had their self-binders increased in
price from s95 and s1O5 to s145. This
testimony could be duplicated in numer-
tous other lines of business. And with
| il all, we know the wage earners, usually
disorganized. have received miserable
compensation for their services some
! times not ever a bare living. Many
trust-made commodities can be purchased
cheaper in foreign countries than in the
land where they are made. This is evil
dence that the people of the United
States are being robbed.
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