New Ulm review., 1912-10-16

.
themselves as individuals by givin
free play to their energy and ability
This is impossible in the shadow q
monopoly. Everybody agrees that pr
vate monopoly is an evil, and ough
to be abolished. But men differ q
| to what constitutes the most impor
tant feature of the evil, and in wha
way the evil most harmfully affects 50
ciety and the individual. And because
they differ as to the nature Of the evil
they differ as to the proper remedy.
Perspective Necessary to Proper On
derstandins.
No political problem has been thu
subject of more cloudy thought thar
the trust evil and its cure. II yo,
want to see q phenomenon clearly, yor
must view it from q proper distance
II you stand too far away. the details
cannot be seen. II you get too near
you fail to get the outline and the pro
portions. You must have both detail
and perspective II you are to get even
a fair understanding Of it. This IL
true Of the trust question az much as
1t is of any other question. This ie
why those who are the farthest re.
moved from its operation hardly notice
its existence, while those who are di.
rectly engaged in trust-controlled bust
ness are blind to its real scope and
meaning. .#
The latter class is composed Of two
groups: A small one that through
ownership and control reaps all the
pecuniary benefits, and a large group
composed to great extent of former
independent producers and dealers
who have been reduced to the position
of employees.
Those of the first-named group can
see no evil in monopoly, for they reap
all the advantages that flow from it..
You would hardly expect Rockefeller
to be frightened at the menace of the
Standard Oil Trust. You would not
expect railroad magnate to see or
feel any danger to the country from
his control of large part of its trans
portation. You do not expect to hear
that the coal barons, the smelter trust,
or the steel corporation, views with
alarm the growth of these various COM
binations. You would no more ex-
pect such a state of mind to develop
in these people than you would expect
the Car to become alarmed at the ag-
gressions of the Russian Empire. Self
tends to blind them to any
thing but the advantages of the trust
system.
Power Produces Arrogance.
And the Difference which the control
of great resources compels, tends to
their Importance in their own
eyes. Louis XIV. said, "The State! I
am the State!" Our trust magnates
say-if not in words, they say in deeds
We are business!"
It follows that what helps US helps
Us hurts business and industry. The
workers, the employees, on the other
hand, seeing these huge combinations
operating with machinery and capital
so vast in their proportions as to be
utterly beyond their reach Of individ-
lal control, blame the equipment.
They say it is the ownership of the
which gives the trust mag
1ates their power, and they call for
he ownership of the machinery by
he public as the panacea that will
:ure the trust evil.
Trusts Rest Upon Monopoly Of Re-
sources and Transportation.
But when we understand that mon
poly rests principally on the owner
hip of the natural resources and of
he means of transportation, and al
Ways on special privilege. it is quite
apparent that the ownership of the
equipment would be of no value. If I
ould have the entire equipment of
he steel trust with the requirement
hat operate it, while the iron mines |
nd the ore-carrying railroads remain
ID in other hands, I would not take |
t as a gift. l would know that the !
equipment would soon revert to the |
'wners of the iron and the railroads. |
The process would be as easy as the
making down of ripe apples in an
autumn storm.
Effect Of Monopoly on Morals.
While many economic evils flow
rom the monopoly control Of our in
lustries, these in my judgment are
lot its worst effects. These, while
hey are to be regretted, are not fun
lamental. They do not affect our
moral character as a people. What
We need to fear more than all else
8 the destruction of the spirit of in
which has been the |
trongest and best characteristic of
Americans. Business and industry,
livided into moderate-siZed units, fos-
er and encourage independence of
haracter, individuality, and courage,
levelop the initiative, promote the
owe of country, and sane, hopeful
.ttitude toward and faith in ones
ellowmen.
Monopoly, on the contrary, breeds
istrust, undermnes independence,
ompeIs uniformity, kills Initiative, dis
ourages frugaIity, smothers courage
nd hope, bIights individuality, and
estroys the love Of home and country.
is inevitable that this should be so.
Where is the incentive to initiative
'hen you have no power to carry out
our own plans or profit by your own
fleets? Now can he be brave and in
ependent who depends upon the whim
T another for chance to earn his
ally breed and supply the needs OF
is family? Who can feel the spirit
{ good will toward his fellowmen that