Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-02-17
TRUSTS.

Editor Majority
In discussing Trusts theNother day
with a crowd OF strikers We were asked
several questions and we promised to
answer. through your columns,
l. (l.C What is Trust?
Answer. Usually. combination OF
Ecorporations. Trusts are formed feI
three reasons, viz: To regulate the
output, control prices and stop compe-
ton. Incidentally they save the ex-
pense of extra rents, statesmen, etc. A
Trust is a monopoly formed with that
object in view. Trusts bear the same
relation to- production as labor saving
machinery-they are an improved meth
ID, a cheaper method of doing bust
nesS. But when conducted for private
profit they ifvaria6fy abuse their pow
er in making eXtortionate charges.
For this reason many have come to
believe that private monopoly and lib
srty cannot live together.
2. Should Trusts be controlled, reg
Ilated or destroyed by legislation?
Aas. Both OF our dominant pOliti-
cal parties seem to hold about. the
anne views on this question-both have
antitrust planks in their platforms
,rinclpally to catch voters; but they
mnity attested by the past conduct of
both parties in their fovQrition of
trusts.
\ egulated or destroyed by legislation?
Ans. There is no more reason in
avs against the Trusts than in laws
tgainSt nlachinery-for as has been
cen said, they both stand in the same
ately owned both will always prove
/ detrment to labor. to the masses!
But if publicly owned the. reverse
trusts to a good use-not destroy them
make them. public Trusts. then all
would have an equal interest in them
Fhis is the only solution of the Trust
JrobIem About everything else has
hnan tried tn avail
4. Do Socialists oppose Trusts and
Ionoplies?
Ans: Only as they are private in n
should own all monoplies and operate
them for use and not for Profit.
5. If railroads and other public in
titutfons We're operated by the public
by creating an official class?
Ans. It has not resulted so in the
Post Office and in other departments
scandals arose from the fact that thing
used in that department were produced
by private parties 1t has been demon
strated in almost every case that tho
ceptably than private interests. can,
besides the public should never be at
the mercy of the private monopoly.
Socialism is but an evolutionary steI
cannot be resisted: We have already
arrived at period where the world is
to small for the race as individuals.
cooperation, is imperative. We suggest
for reading along these lines. the fol-
lowing books: The Cooperative Com.
monwealth, Gronlund; Economics of
Socialism (Hyndman); Municipal Mo,
nopoles (Bemis); Socialism and Social
Reform CEly); Capital (Karl Mark
Between Ceaser and Jesus (Herron);
Socialism Utopian and Scientific en-
gal 10 centsJ; Socialists in French Mu-
inequalities e. cents).
We are confident however that ty-
rants and troopers, traditions and trib-
unals, tinkers and tophet, theologians
and tories, temples and Thaws, Teddies
and Trusts are not powerful enough
to keep the American working class in
perpetual wage slavery, overwork and
enforced idleness for they have heard
the erv that sounds now. from sea to to
the earth sounding Workers of the
World, you have nothing to lose but
your chains and a woSld to gain;
Martins Ferry, Ohio.