The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-06-16

MING. S. c.. JUNE 16, 19
ly held a monopoly Of the American
supply. One senator, at least, and
perhaps others. asserted that the
trust controlled about IS per cent
of the Iron ore area Of the United
States Assuming these almost in
credible statements to be true, It was
urged that foreign ore should be ad-
mitted free in the interest OF IN
dependent manufacturers OF iron aad |
steel.
Now, Mr.. President. It is undoubt-
edly true that the steel trust. so
called, has obtained possession and
control of large acreage Of ore
bearing land. but TO say that the
trust controls SIS per cent, or even
50 per cent. Of these lands IS. to my
mind. a gross exaggeration. The
senator from Alabama (Mr. john
ston) says that the trust and its al
lied interests do not in any way
control as much as 50 per cent OF
the ore lands and mines Of his State.
and the Senator from Michigan Mr..
Smith declares. As n after OF Der-
sonal knowledge. that ihe trust Goes
nor control as D:u:h as SO per cent
of the ore lands OF E.5 State.
The same is declared 20 be true 80
to the lands and mines Of other
States. In fact, 1t is affirmed THAI
in some OF the States, as IN Virginia.
| where g7eat quantities of iron orc
| exist and are mined, the trust has
no property interests whatever. Ar.
| President, TO my mind 1t Is perfectly
| evident and clear that If We should
| exclude and shut out every acre OF
ore lands owned or controlled By the
trust there would still be left vastly
more than could be used By al! the
iron and steel industries Of the coun-
try, including the trust, for a cen
tury. OF course, l may be wrong
as to this, but do not believe so.
! have the utmost confidence that
my estimate in this behalf IS at least
approximately correct. II this be
so, then the independent nanuSac-
turers of steel and iron, II indeed
there really are any such, can obtain
their domestic supply on equal terms
with the trust; and II that be true,
then of what peculiar advantage
would free ore be to the "indepen-
dentse" If foreign ore should be
made free, the trust could go out
into the world and buy and import
as we'll as the independents" and
at least upon equal terms with them.
| One would hold no advantage over
the other.
But It has been asserted that the
steel trust magnates favored duty
on iron ore. / am frank 70 say that
in my view of the situation, as / have
stated It, am unable to perceive
now the imposition of this duty can
possibly work to the advantage tc
the trust, or how free ore would con.
tribute to its disadvantage. must
have clearer, more definite. and Ger
tain evidence than has been submit
ted TO convince me to the contrary
I can not ignore what seems to me
to be the plain truth Of this s1tua'
ton, and be thrown of my feet ano
satmpeded because some one exhibits
the specter of the steel trust. / must
be controlled In my action BY facts
as see them. and not by the fear
OF some remote and improbable
danger.
Again, MIR. President, this further
| fact stands out and can not be over.
looked: Enormous iron ore deposits
have been recently discovered and
are now being rapidly developed on
the northern coast Of Cuba. These
great properties have been acquired
ostensibly, at least, by the Bethle-
hem and the Pennsylvania steel
companies. These ores can be min.
ed cheaper in Cuba than in this eour-
Try. and they can be shipped to our
seaport5 by water at a comparatively
! light transportation charge. There
fore it IS altogether probabl tina. tie
great bulk Of foreign ores coming
to the States will come from these
Cuban mines, owned, as I have said
BY the Bethlehem and Pennsylvania
steel companies.
In the management Of, these COM
panies. at least Of the Bethlehem. Mr.
Schwab is central and commanding
figure. And who IS Mt. Schwab?
He was educated IN the iron and steel
industry under the tutelage of
Andrew Carnegie, and be vas at the
| head OF the great Carnegie works
when they we're sold to the trust.
He received pay for his stock IN the
Carnegie plant. amounting to mil
lions, in the stocks and securities
of the steel corporation, and there
fore for long time served as the
| president Of the great corporation
known as the trust" Several years
ago he retired from the presidency
Of that corporation to take charge
and direction Of the Bethlehem es-
| tabliShment. But does anyone SUP