The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-12
The Blighting Influence of Monopoly.

In an address in New York on
Tuesday Mr.. Pinchot, Chief Forester
of the United States, discussed a new
and striking aspect of the problem
Of conserving the natural resources
of the nation. The American people,
he said, have made up their minds
that these resources must be conserv-
ed. The question of vital importance
Is to whose benefit shall the conser-
vation of the coal lands, the forests
and the water power conduce-to the
welfare Of the nation or to the ad-
vantage and profit Of monopolists ?
The issue, in Mr. Pinchot's view, is
drawn sharpely between special and
privileged and self-seeking interests
on one side and the rights of the
masses on the other, between gov
ernment by men for human welfare
and government by money for prof
It,"
Mr.. Pinchot maintains that mon
opoly leads inevitably to lowering
of moral Standards and that the ul-
innate result Is to increase the num-
Der of corner loafers" and to pro-
mote the traffic of the white slave"
traders. This is putting the case with
almost startling candor. Yet the
argument Of the Chief Forester is,
on the whole, sound and worthy of
thoughtfu consideration. When, as
he says, monopolies obtain control Of
the sources Of production, opportuni-
ties for employment are restricted
and vast numbers of men and wo-
men find it increasingly difficult to
make fair living. Desperation is
followed by Decentralization, and ul-
tim tely by degradation in the case
of many unfortunate persons. It is
undeniable that the country has
made phenomenal progress in a ma
ter'al way, but despite and not on
account Of the growth of monopolies.
And 1t has had to pay the price-a
terrible one--in the underminding of
morals and In the wreck of charac-
ter which can be traced directly to
the result OF monopolies. 81
Mr.. Poncflot's warning is an i'm
pressive one, 1t concerns an evil
which is the prolific source of evils.
1t does not make the situation less
intolerable to reflect that some of
the monopolists who have acquired
immense riches through special pri-
vilige are, In, their private lives,
model citizens, and In their personal
transactions conform to the accept
ed code of morals. But II such men,
In the exercise of the ! advantages
which they possess through monopo-
lies. are absolutely Indifferent to the
welfare Of the masses, II they extort
undue profits from the poor, II they
perpetuate their special privileges
through political corruption and by
debauching legislative bodies, they
are, however blameless in private
life, public enemies. These men
might be shocked to hear that they
are responsible in any way to any
degree for the moral degradation OF
the victims of monopoly. But this,
In effect, is Mr.. Pinchot's indict-
ment.
In the social and moral, as we'll as
in the economic sense, monopoly of
the sources Of production and Of the
necessaries Of life has inflicted griev-
Gus injury upon the people Of the
United States. The people. Mr.. Pin
chot asserts, have lost more than
they can ever regain by gifts Of pub
lie property forever and without
charge to men who gave nothing in
return. There is no limit to the greed
of the monopolies. Their hands are
now stretched out to seize what is
left of the natural resources Of the
nation. Shall they obtain possession
through the indifference Of the COM
placence of Government? 1t is right
here, as the Chief Forester exclaims,
that the conservation policy touches
the daily life Of the people. The pop
ulation Of the United States is grow
ing steadily by natural increase and
by immigration. 1t is essential, NOR
ally as well as economically, that the
avenues of employment shall be en-
larged, not restricted, by monopolis-
tic control. Mr.. Pinchot has put
the question to the people and to
the Taft administration frankly and
forcefully. There is food for serious