Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-14
MILL MERGERS.
Congressman Aiken Thinks They Are
Dangerous.

Congressman Aiken of the Third
district has given the Anderson Daily
Mail the following interview on the
mill merger situation:
This question has been presented to
me from various standpoints and on
several occasions. Primarily, I may
say, that so long as the mills merged
are confined to a single state, and so
long as the merger Is not Of such mag
nitude as to constitute q monopoly,
congress may not interfere. Con-
gress in my judgment, could inter-
fere only where the merger affected
interstate commerce adversely. AS I
understand 1t, the Standard Oil COM
pany, the Steel trust and the Tobacco
trust come within the scope Of the
Sherman Antitrust act, because Of
their extensive holdings in several
states, making prices in one central
point for the products Of all the states
affected. No man can tell the ultimate
proportions that the merger plan may
assume: but since the merger here
referred to could not In its present ex-
tent be subjected to congressional en-
actment, anything ! may say relative
thereto Is only as a private citizen,
interested with every other good cit
iZen In the states best economic de-
-velopment. AS such l am frank to
say that I think the merger plan is
fraught with many dangerous proba-
bilities.
If ten mills may be run successfully
by a common head, there Is no good
reason why, in time, a hundred, or all
the mills Of the state, might not be
brought under one control. The main
hinQfinn
generally understood, Is to regulate
the output Of cloth and to establish
stable prices. This Is all well enough,
but when II Is considered that the
power which Is sufficient to dictate the
price Of cloth can In like manner die
tate the price Of raw cotton, new light
Is thrown on the situation. And does
any man doubt this power? Suppose
all the mills Of South Carolina under
one management, and every market in
the state may be closed by the word Of
one man, how long before the exporter
would be having cotton at his own
price?
Then again reflect where two-thirds
Of the capital stock Of the mills Of
South Carolina Is sold. Scattered un-
der many managements, 1t Is being
used for the states Industrial develop
ment and for the good of her citizens.
But place this capital under one cor
porate head, with no guarantee Of the
character Of man that the tickle
northern director may put In control,
and conditions such as have debauch-
ed legislatures, and subverted popular
government In many northern states,
will soon prevail here.
I have no patience with the senti-
ment that would array labor against
tkal l,,k AA4k k1A 1aAN oh M
reduced to absolute dependence upon
the fiat of one man would be the great
est calamity that could befall South
Carolina or any other state. II the
laborer dissatisfied with his circum-
stances in one mill, turns to another
and another, only to find the door Of all
closed, by central power, how long
think you, before his suffrage, his very
liberty, will be surrendered to save
his bread?
It may be safely predicted that the
merger plan will mark the end Of mill
building in South Carolina Almost
without exception, mills are built
largely by northern capital that is in
terested In this character of invest
ment All capital Is easily frightened,
corporate head Of the merger In the
state stamps project with his disap-
proval, that Is the last Of 1t. Already
there exists a combination Of mill
presidents in South Carolina to dis
courage the building Of mills, and the
promoters Of at least one proposed mill
signally failed, for this reason, after
the usual home subscription had been
raised II a mere organization Is so
powerful, what would be the power of
a dictator?
building, and consolidation to rob the
farmer of legitimate price for short
crop, every mill Of the south would
contribute to put a dozen or more ac-
tive, permanent agents in China and
South America, covering the interior
and important coast towns, these
agents not specially to be sales agents,
but 10 cultivate friendly relations with
the people, and advertise the superior
ity Of American goods, we would hear
less from the mill men Of high cotton
and low cloth.
From a business point Of view, 1t
seems very likely that the merger plan
will succeed. 1t cuts both ways; 1t
may force up the dry goods man, to
which we do not object; or 1t may
force down the farmer, which would
be a calamity.
Probably the most dangerous feature
Of the mill merger plan Is the inevi-
table encroachment on the individual
rights of a large per cent of our citi-
Zens Granting that the head OF the
merger in South Carolina Is gentle
man who will use his power humanely
and literally, there are few absolute
SUGGESTIONS that do not contain tyrents
at short intervals. Absolute power Is
seductive; some have thought that