New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1910-06-04
SHALL THE PEOPLE OR THE
TRUSTS RULE?

under the domination and control
of the trusts will be readily seen
by anyone who thoroughly and
conscientiously investigates the
subject. Practically every profit
able branch Of Industry today IS
under the dominance of a trust
and the small dealer and the c IL
sumner are the ones who have to
bear the burdens imposed by these
greedy, grasping concerns.
The small dealer. who has to
buy the articles supplied by the
trusts, is frequently compelled to
sell his goods at the starvation
prices dictated by the trusts. If
he refuses to obey the mandates
Of the combine, he is literally
crushed out by them, because they
refuse to sell him any more goods
as a punishment for such disobed-
fence.
There is no disputing the fac
that in recent years the growth Of
trusts, monop0lies and combines
has increased to a dangerous and
alarming extent. Every small
business today is at the mercy of
trust of some sort and no one
knows this better than the small
dealers. The important question
is, how can this evil be combatted
1t is indeed serious problem, but
the people of this country have al
ways solved serious problems in
the past, and they can be relied on
to solve the trust problem. The
reason the trust evil has not been
solved before is due in large
measure to indifference and
ignorance respecting this Vital
question.
BY the intelligent and patriotic
use of the ballot the American
people can wipe every trust out
of existence, and we believe that
they are now suffering to such an
extent from the oppression and
encroachments of the trusts and
monopolies that they will be will
ling in the future to cast their
ballots for true and honest men
pledged to destroy the trusts
through effective legislation.
While it is stated that there are
400 trusts in the United s ates it
may not be amiss in this connec-
ton TO name some Of the leading |
combinations of aggregated wealth !
which are sapping the life blood Of |
the people of this nation For in
stance. the gigantic Steel Trust |
capitalized at 81 400 100000 heads
the list; the Standard Oil Com
pany is the next with capitaliza
ton Of $25, 900, 900, original stock,
with its numerous subsidiary con-
Germs, is really earning dividends
on more than $1,000, 100000 worth
Of stock; the Sugar Trust, CAPT
talized at $300,O00,000; the Amer
lean Telegraph and Telephone
Trust, capitalized at $40, 100000;
the Shipping Trust, 100000;
Leather Trust, $170.00O,000; Anal
gamated Copper Trust, $155,000,-
600; Smelling Trust, $160,000,O00;
Rubber Trust, $100,000,000; Gen
eral Electric Trust. $100,OO0,00O; !
Glucose Trust, $90,0O0,000; Pow
der Trust, $79,000,000; Wooden
Trust, $75,OOO,OOO; Fertilizer
Trust, $56,O00.O0O; Biscuit Trust,
s55, 100000; Linseed Oil Trust,
s35, 100000; Fruit Trust, $35, 000,-
300; Ice Trust, $25,O00,000.
This list does not include the
great railway consultations with
their billions of wealth. Is it any
that the people are groan-
ng beneath the burdens imposed
upon them by the trusts? Is it
any wonder that there is unrest
and discomfort in the country to-
lay as a direct result of these OPP
oressions?
Will the people tamely submit
70 such form of robbery which 5
means their ultimate enslavement ? ! {
These are vital questions which o
seriously concern every citizen of |,
he United States. At the pres =
mt rate Of organization of trusts
he time is not far in the future a
When they will control absolutely u
very industry in this country. The Il
ontrol of the government by the A
rusts is the greatest issue in pol 5
tics today. Shall this control be ?
or will the people ul- D
overthrow it? The D
of private monopoly in D
country whose laws are supposed a
0 give equal opportunity to every e
IAN, is contrary to the fundament- II
principles of Democracy. Of
If the Supreme Court of the g
'nited States should reverse the a.
,wer court in the Standard Oil al
ase, and thereby declare that mo- fe
opoly is right in this country, A
len the time will come when
very banking concern, every
ore, every railroad, every fac D,
Try, every implement shop and -
very farm will be in the hands
few monopolists. With the BIZ
lpid growth Of monopoly such a
suit would be inevitable. a,
On the contrary if The Supreme
1urt should decide against the
.andard Oil monopoly there viii ~
, chance to overthrow the 'n
usts and monopolies by legal
ethods. The only way to have Co
ace and harmony in the indus
ial and commercial world is to n.
stroy every trust in existence.
nee established in this country {
e principle that a private mo- Ds