The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-02-02
WICKED TRUSTS
Responsible for Living Being So hseh
Higher Than It Was
The PEOPLE FLEECED

DR.. A. Selwyn-Brown, Wall Stree
Expert, shows That Hugh Monopo
lies Have Piled Up Surplus Boost
inc the Cost OF NecesSaries to the
Injury OF the Public.
One OF the most remarkable fea
lures in the last years commercial
transactions was the pronounced in
crease in the prices OF commodities
Each month reports and statistical
tables are published TO show the az
erage price changes during the
month, says DR.. Arthur SelEyn
Brown. In the Atlanta Journal.
Brads;ree,s' tables show that since
1896 7sices o; all commodities have
increased over 81 per cent. The
American price index number for
January l. 1910. Is the highest ever
recorded. 1t surpss.es the previous
! high reco.d-,hat published or
March l. Iso7-ey II per ceat.
Janua.y's index member Is III per
cent higher thaz the number for
January l. 1909.
These price change indicators con-
clusiv-'y show that the prices OF
both raw and manufactured articles
in the United States have Increased
81 per cent since 1896. and that
prices are at this moment h!She!
all around than they have ever been
before. AS result OF this It costs
US 81 per cent more to live today
than it cid in 1896. and prospects
are that prices during 1910 Will ad-
vance even more rapidly than they
did during the past three years.
The wors, feature OF this question
IS that wages and salaries do not
advance at the same rate as prices
and living costs. Statistics show
that wages in skilled trades IN the
eastern states have advanced only
25 per cent IN the last ten years. IL
the same period the wages OF IN
skilled laborers. who are not as
sisted In obtaining advances in pay
by labor unions have. n many In
stances, increased less than Is per
cent
Salaries of many men end women
doing light work. and OF most Deo-
pie who are employed in Offices. have
no, increased al all In the past ten
years.
What has caused this unsatis-
factory state OF things?
The explanation for the increase
in prices is probably that no single
factor like gold production Is respon-
sible. mere are large number O:
circumstances contributing TO the ac-
vaaces. Il would appear that the
improvement in education, and inven-
tons. better methods OF ;ranspor;a-
ton. more skillful banking. wider
speculation, the large increase IN ex
changes dealing with raw materials.
and more than anything else. pre-
ably. the growing tendency OF the
great trusts to advance the costs OF
the raw materials and goods which
they control are important factors.
No country IN the world IS 80
largely in the hands OF trusts and
other com mbinations OF producers.
manufacturers and transportation
corporations as the United States.
and in no other country in the world
have prices and the cost Of living ad
vanced so much as in America.
Trusts control the products OF tae
farms. the mines. the mills. the
pubic utilities OF the large cities.
the banks. the shipping companies
and railroads. Tssy. TO large e1-
tent. work In unison with each 9th
er. and are always striving to get
the last cent from the public that
patronizes their business concerns.
Financial reports published By
some OF the larger trusts plainly
illustrate the truth OF the old apho7-
ism ;ha, 1T is an III wind that blows
nobody good
While the people are suffering
from the high prices OF the neces-
sites Of life the trusts are increas-
ing their operations IN all directions.
and are earning greater profits every
year.
Statistics relating to the business
operations OF United States Steel.
Standard Oil. the tobacco. dry goods.
fruit and other trusts, as well as the
express and railroad corporations
during the pas, six years. show that
! their accumulated surpluses have
been immense. Las: year was one
| Of the most prosperous the-- e1pe-
! rieEced.
/, may be truly said that what the
| people hav. lost the trusts have
gained by the increase n commodity
prices.
Many causes appear TO have con-
;ributed 70 the rising prices. The
trusts take unfair advantage OF con-
dit!oas. and 5y securing high tariffs
by reba,ing. moaopoliz!ns OF "a"
| products. the manufacturing indus
tries, the banks. retail! stores anc
the transportation systems. secure
unreasonable profits.
BY these means the! impose upoT
t.he helplsssness OF the weak.
Wonderful Invention.
Tho f-s. line OF ..olleyleSS elec