Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-05-04
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1909
THE BILLION DOLLAR MENACE.

mind is TO bring about the merge.
of the New York Central and num-
Der OF other railroad properti2,
such as the West Shore. Lake Shore
Big Four" and CHER lines in which
he is interested, into a bill ion-dol,
lar combine, and that with that end
in view he has already commissioner
his attorneys TO prepare the prelim
inaries Of the organization.
The Atlanta Journal says:
1T would seem that the decision 81
the Northern Securities case wouid
stand as solemn warning against
any such plan as that which Mr.
Hartman is alleged to have in view
but even If the component lines IN
the proposed plan should not come
under the terms Of that celebrate
decision, such n concentration Of
wea tn and power may we'll exc,
the approximations and arouse tn,
hostility OF the American people.
1t is not only in it's immediate eg
feet that such a combination. con
sidered merely as a restraint Of trade
Is dangerous. BY far the CREATE
danger lies in the tremendous DOW
er and influence it places in the
hands OF one man or a set of meu
few in number.
In its purely economic aspect It is
bad enough, particularly if it reall,
is an absorption OF competing lines
operated to monopolize traffic anc
dictate freight and passenger rate.
over a vast area. 1t holds the IL
dustry and commerce Of large par.
of the country completely at i;s
mercy
Granting that an ultimate remed
might be found through the inter
state commerce commission and the
courts against any combination il
direct restraint of trade, such {
concentration of wealth and power
however non-competitive the lines
might be, would be still fraught Will
danger and disaster to the America.
people.
1t cannot be impressed too forci
bly, upon the people of this countr,
that within the past few years ",
have reached that stage in our Ma
tional life which excited the gray
est apprehelsions of the trainers o
our organic law and the impartia
critics who have discussed II durin.
more than century. The constitu
ton, and the form of government, a.
guaranteeing the largest measure o.
individual liberty and security, tn,
separations OF governmental func-
tons into executive, legislative an
Judicial, with their checks and bal.
ances, as a safeguard against the rise
OF despotism, have all very proper.
~ evoked the admiration OF mankin
and served as a model for the re-
publics which have since come int
existence.
But the rise Of plutocracy. when
we had passed from an agricultural
to an Industrial people, aud theme,
into nation OF moneychangers OK
cited the a arm Of far-seeing states
men and political students almo p,
before our constitution had bee
well established. IT was Macaula
who characterized it as all sail an
no anchor and ringing the chang
es on this apprehension, scores o,
acute critics have sounded soleml
warning against the fate whicl
would overtake this people when tn.
waste places had been built up an.
an aristocracy Of wealth had deye
oped.
Such giant corporations as the oil
trust and the steel trust, the sugl
trust and the tobacco trust. togethc
with the railroad combination
which have taken place or been al
tempted, have brought home TO a.
in convincing form the grounds
these apprehensions. Campaign
contributions from the large insu~
ance companies and Mr.. Archbold'
certificates Of deposit indicate
some Of the subtle inner WORKING
Of these great corporations Tn,
strong and defiant lobby maintained
az the very seat Of government foI
years by the largest Of these trusts
save Us some premoni,oas Of what
we might expect u this concentra.
ton Of wealth we're allowed 20 con.
ti0ue.
The inyeteracy with which tn,
protective tariff originally frame
a. a war measure, has sent its root
into the very foundations OF th
government until the rosiest promls
IS Of revision downward become. ODD
reality revision upward, may be tax
On as a further warning
A billion dollar combination o.
the railroad interest. controlled d.
Mr. Hartman would be- @ long striI.
g be came direction
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