The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-05
TURN MICROSCOPE
ON BIG COMBINES
Democrats to Scrutinize Two
of the Worlds Greatest
Industries
STANLEY TELLS Of
STEEL'S GREAT CRIME
Representative Francis Says
American Wooden Com
panyis One ofthe Most
Atrocious of Trusts
Copyright. 1911, by the United Press
Associations

Copyright. 1911. by the United Press
Associations
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 5.--Un-
der the microscope OF inquiry, the
Democratic leaders o. the House Of
Representative have determined to
scrutinize two OF the worlds great
est Industrial ombinations-the
United States Steel Corporation and
the American Wooden Company. The
Stanley resolution for the steel probe
Is expected TO pass the House within
week. Representative Francis. of
Ohio, to-day secured an agreement
from the leaders for early consid-
GRAFTON of his wool probe resolution
Stanley. of kentucky. who practi-
cally has been agreed upon for chair
man of the committee that will probe
the Steel Corporation. and Francis
author OF the wool resolution, TODAY
prepared the following statements for
the United Press:
BY REPRESENTATIVE AUGUSTUS
0. sTANLTY.
The inquiry assured by the favor
able report of the rules committee
on the resolution to Investigate the
United States Steel Corporation and
and coal companies will be the most
important and far reaching ever in
stituted by Congress. 1t will be pros
ecuted fairly. but with a careful view
to setting before Congress and the
people every Questionable operation
OF the big combination.
There is widespread feeling
throughout the country that the OPP
erations OF these combinations are
especially hurtful to general prosper
ity; that they act as drag and an
incubus on legitimate business
Steels Greatest Crimes,
In the year 1903 the Steel Trust
had sig2.345. 900 net profit secured To
it by tariff schedules, and more than
ii would have received had it sold to
the American consumer the same
price il received in the foreign mar
kets.
One hundred and sixty-two million
dollars is an appalling sum to pay for
immunity. but when we think of the
presidents il has deluced; of the sena-
tors il has seduced; congresses Ii has
conquered. OF courts 1t has corrupted.
perhaps after all II was money well
spent.
The greatest crime OF the steel trust
Is not the plundering OF the consumer,
or the debauching OF the public SER
wants. When its complete history IL
written its blacklist pages will record
its treatment of the toiler. it's crucifix-
ion OF labor. its degradation. ita cold
inhuuan pilfering OF It's own employees
BY Representative w. 3. Francis.
The resolution introduced by me In
the House, viii. II acted on fayorably,
in my Judgment enable the government
to suppress one OF the most atrocious
trusts in the country. and at the same
time II VIII expose to the view OF the
country one OF the most gigantic hum
bugs in the business world today,
Not only is the wool grower op-
pressed by the elimination Of all COM
petition for the purchase of his wool,
but the price paid by the consumer OF
all wooden products lie controlled abso-
luteiy by this gigantic combination
This aggregation, known as the
American Wooden Company, is capt.
taiized at 3sa,o00.0o0. and is composed
OF twenty-five or thirty mills scattered
New England. New Fork
ana Pennsylvania. The amount Of wa
ter In its system IL sufficient, doubtless
70 noat a large portion OF our navy
The corporation, however. exists in
palpalable violation of the Sherman an
ti-trust law. For some years the wool
growers OF the country have labored
under the belief that the lowering or
raising of tariff on wool controlled price
Of product.
In my district. Ohio, quantities of
hsae wool ars grown Ia years gone.
many individual buyers anxieusly
competed for this product. Since
the advent of this Wool Trust the
whole country has been divided into
districts. and in each district eniy
one buyer appears, and the price he
oilers for wool is not made. main
tanned nor affected by the tariff, but
Is dictated wholly by the trust he rem
No Wool Composition.
NO competition now exists in any
orancn OF this industry, and 1t should
be apparent that no matter what
IS done regarding the tariff, the prices |
paid for raw material as well as the
prices asked for the finished product
viii not be affected either one way
pr the other. save at the within OF |
The Wool Trust Inasmuch as the |
mills and the markets for both raw |
and finished product are controlled |
by this organization, 1t Is quite clear |
that the men who are skilled in this |
particular branch OF industry have !
but one market for their labor.
They are inevitably compelled to |
accept whatever conditions may be |
imposed. and such wages as may be |
offered, as there IL no other like in I
iustry In which they might seek en- |
pioyment.
! believe that the matters embod- !
ed In my resolution are OF the ut |
most Importance to the American |
people: and II this combination is !
dissolved. 1t Will result in broadening |
.hs maYkGt nf tho wnrl
ieve the consumer OF wooden products
rom the grasp OF monopoly. and also
the people in Its employ. |
LIVES InCT TN