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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1908)
n ' . The Commoner, AUGUST 7, 1908 13 what In old times was made by hand. The government should not Interfere with one any more than the other, and when such aggregations of cap ital are legitimate and arc properly controlled, for they are then the nat ural results of modern enterprise and are beneficial to the public. In the proper operation of competition the public will soon share with the manufacturer the advantage in econ omy of operation and lower prices. "When, however, such combina tions are not based on any economic principle but arc made merely for the purpose of controlling the mar ket to maintain or raise prices, re strict output, and drive out competi tors, the public derives no benefit and we have a monopoly. There must be some use by the company of the comparatively great size of its capital and plant and extent of its output, either to coerce persons to buy of it rather than of some com petitor or to coerce those who would compete with it to give up their business. There must usually, in other words, be shown an element of duress in the conduct of its busi ness toward the customers In the trade and its competitors before mere aggregation of capital or plant becomes an unlawful monopoly. "It is perfectly conceivable that In the interest of economy of pro duction a great number of plants may be legitimately assembled under the ownership of one corporation. It is, important, therefore, that such large aggregations of capital and combination should be controlled so that the public may have the advan tage of reasonable prices and that the avenues of enterprise may be kept open to the individual and the smaller corporation wishing to en gage In business. "In a country, like this, where In good times, there, is an enormous floating capitalt awaiting investment, the. period before which effective competition,, by construction of new plants, can. be introduced into any Trasiness, is comparatively short, rarely exceeding a year, and Is usu ally oven less than that. Existence of actual plant is not, therefore, necessary to potential competition. Many enterprises have been organ ized on the theory that mere aggre gation of all, or nearly all, existing plants in a line of manufacture, without Tegard to economy of pro duction, destroys competition. "They have, most of them, gone Into bankruptcy. Competition in any profitable business will not be affect ed by the mere aggregation of many existing plants under one .company, unless the company thereby effects great economy, the benefit of which It shares with the public, or takes some illegal method to avoid com petition and to perpetuate a hold on the business. "Unlawful trusts should be re strained with all the efficiency of in junctive process, and the persons en gaged in maintaining them should be punished with all the severity of criminal prosecution, In order that the methods pursued In the opera tion of their business shall be brought within the law. To destroy them and to eliminate the wealth they represent from the producing capital of the country would entail' enormous loss, and. would throw out of employment myriads of working-: men and working women. Such a result is wholly mnnecessary to the accomplishment of the needed re form, and will inflict upon the inno- .cent far greater punishment than rupon the guilty. "The democratic platform does not' propose to destroy the plants of the trusts physically hut It proposes to -do-the same thing in a different way. iThe business of this country is large ly dependent on- & protective system of' tariffs. The business done by many of the so-called 'trusts' is pro tected with the other businesses of the country. Tlie democratic plat form proposes to take off the tariff on all articles coming into competi tion with those produced by the so called 'trusts and to put them on the free list. "If such a course would bo utter ly destructive of their business, as is intended, it would not only de stroy the trusts but all of their smaller competitors. The ruthless and impracticable character of the proposition grows plainer as its ef fects upon the whole community are realized. "To take the course suggested by the democratic platform in these matters is to involve the entire com munity, innocent as it is, in the pun ishment of the guilty, while our policy is to stamp out the specific evil. This difference between the policies of the two great parties is of especial importance in view of the present condition of business. After ten years of the most remarkable ma terial development and prorperity, there came a financial stringency, a panic and an industrial depression. "This was brought about not only by the enormous expansion of busi ness plants and business investments which could not be readily converted, but also by the waste of capital, in extravagance of living, in wars and other catastrophes. The free con vertible capital was exhausted. In addition to this, the confidence of the lending public in Europe and in this country had been affected by ,tho revelations . of irregularity, breaches of trust, overissues of stock, violations of law and lack of rigid state or national supervision in the management of our largest cor porations. "Investors withheld what loanable capital remained available. It be came impossible for the soundest railroads and other enterprises to borrow money enough for new con struction or reconstruction. "Gradually business is acquiring a healthier tone. Gradually all wealth which was hoarded is coming out to be used. Confidence in security of business Investments is a plant of slow growth rnd is absolutely nec essary in order that our factories may all open again, in order that our unemployed may become em ployed and in order that we may again have the prosperity which blessed us for ten years. "The identity of the interests of the capitalist, the farmer, the busi ness man, and the wage earner in the security and profit of invest ments can not be too greatly empha sized. I submit to those most Inter ested, to wage earners, to farmers and to business menr whether the introduction Into power of the demo cratic party, with Mr. Bryan at its head, and with the business destruc tion that it openly advocates as a remedy for present evils, will bring about the needed confidence for the restoration of prosperity. "The republican doctrine of pro tection, as definitely announced by the republican convention of this year and by previous conventions, is that a tariff shall bo imposed on all imported products, whether of the factory, farm, or mine, sufficiently great to equal the difference between the cost of production abroad and at home, and that this difference should, of course, include the difference be tween tlfc higher wages paid in thia Country f.nd the wages paid abroad and embraces a reasonable profit to the American producer. "A system of protection thus adopted and put Ire force has led to the establishment ofi a rate of wages here that has greatly enhanced the standard of living of the laboring man. It Is the policy, .of the repub lican party permanently -to continue that standard of living. In 1897 the Dingley tariff bill was passed, under which we have had, as already said, a period of enormous prosperity. TARIFF REVISION "The. consequent material devel opment has greatly changed the con ditions under which many nrticles described by the schedules of tho tariff are now produced. Tho tariff in a number of tho schedules ex ceeds tho difference between tho cost of production of such articles abroad and at home, including a rea sonable profit to the American pro ducer. Tho excess over that differ ence servos no useful purpose, but offers a temptation to those who would monopolize tho production and tho sale of such articles In this country, to profit by tho excessive rate. "On tho other hand, there are other schedules in which tho tariff is not sufficiently high to give tho measure of protection which they should receive upon republican prin ciples and aB to those tho tariff should bo raised. A revision of tho tariff undertaken upon this prin ciple, which is at tho basis of our present business system, begun promptly upon tho incoming of tho new administration, and considered at a special session with tho pre liminary investigations already be gun by tho appropriate committees of tho house and senate, will make tho disturbance of business incident to such a change as little as pos sible. "Tho democratic party in its plat jTorm has not had tho courage of its previous convictions on the subject of the tariff, denounced by It in 1904 as a system of the robbery of the many for the benefit of the few, but it docs declaro Its Intention to change tho .tariff with a view to reaching a revenue basis and thus to depart from the protective sys tem. Tho introduction into power of a party with this avowed purpose can not but halt tlio gradual recov ery from our recent financial depres sion and produce business disaster compared with which our recent panic and depression will seem small indeed. "As tho republican platform says, the welfare of the farmer is vital to that of the whole country. One of the strongest hopes of returning prosperity is based on the business which his crops are to afford. He is vitally Interested in the restrain ing of excessive and unduly dis criminating railroad rates, in the en forcement of the pure food laws, in tho promotion of scientific agricul ture, and In Increasing tho comforts of country life, as by tho extension of free rural delivery. "The policies of the present ad ministration, which have most in dustriously promoted all these ob jects, can not fail to commend them selves to his approval; and it is diffi cult to see how with his Intelligent appreciation of tho threat to busi ness prosperity involved In demo orntlft Kiiccess at the noils he can do o'therwlso than give his full and' hearty support to the continuation of the policies of the present admin istration under republican auspices. BENEFITS TO IiABOR "We come now to the question of labor. One Important phase of the policies of the present administra tion has been an anxiety to secure for the wage earner an equality of Opportunity and sUch positive statu tory protection as shall place him on a level In dealing with his em ployer. The republican party has passed an employers' liability act for interstate railroads, and has es tablished an eight hour law for gov eminent employes and on govern ment construction The essence of the reform effected- by the former is, the abolition of tho fellow servant rule and the introduction of the comparative negligence theory by Swedflnborg'i'Hoaven&Hoiy500pag,J5c,8lamBs taken, Pattoflandenbergcr.WfndtorPlaco.St.LoulMig. Qfl Ktl lho '0l Democratic pnpcrln U.B. WU onoyenr. Tho Hornet, HUby. N. a feCnriS ??!et', Aonltoiroll wlllnnl Htrol Itiuiffiw. ... . .w,Aiiu, sio VMflMul HU, HU Louis, Mo. 'Tho People'. President". Bryan song by Bcv. Landen bergcr. Poitpald, 25c, Wlndw Place, St. Louis, Mo 1 - rlilnSHSufn, M"-NT"1. In Oklahoma nml TcxiM mrm land. AkciHij wntit-i . Wrlto O. W. Iteming InvwtiiioiitCo.,TulmOklii. C "PATENTS that PROTECT-ii B.S.&A.B.LAOEY.Waihlnjflon.O.O. Eatib. islff PA T E N T S HKClJItKH OK PKB Frj report n.i to Patentability. Ulutdrntod fluid Iloolf, nm! Lint of Inventions Whntcd, Aontfroa. KVANH, WILKKNH & CO., WaililtillcVo. 0 TOBACCO f&tn0tsv SALESMEN (Jood pay, Btojuly work and promotion. Kxpcrlr nc VVi'lTiV ?" wo WJLU KiZ co'J,,(5,n IHHtrtictlotw. Dan villa tobacco Co., Box A 86, Danville, Va. JONES Auction School TEACHES ALL BRANCHES ef AUCTIONEERING V.hht to L.imrn. Term Opena Auictmt it 4. irce C'a hIok. .. CAIIHY M. JONK8. I'm.. 1316 Wakla,U Holldlof, Cblao, lit FOLDING mssr Bath Tub WolKlit 10 J'oundH. Crate little. Require JIUIq water. Wrlto for special ofTer. I V. Irwin, loa Clinm- Ijoraht, N. V.CIty. TEXAS STATE LAND Million of ncrcH hcIioo! land to bo Fold by thoBlntj. $1.00 to 10.00 per ncro; only ono-fortleth oaoli mid 40ycan tlmo on Imliinco; 3 per cent Interest; only 112.00 cnh for KO norm at t3.00 per aero. Greatest opportunity; uplendld Jand; RcndWcontH for nook: of Instructions nnd New Htnto Lnwr. J. J. Bnydor, School Land Locator. HO oth st, Austin, Toxn Itcforoiico. Austin National Ilanlr, also this papec All About Texas Oklahoma. AtkattfM, Louisiana, New Moxlcc Homes for tho homeless, prosperity for tho indue trioux. The homo builders' ituldc. Bends tamo Aw sample copy. FARM AND RANCH, Dallas, Texas. It In tho boHt policy holder'H com pany In tho United StatcH. ASSISTS, $2,300,000$ Twonty-ono years old. Wrlto The Old Line Bankers Life Lincoln, Nebraska BRYAH BUTTON FREE woai uniquaouiionoruta campaign. AVtC 3" coiiuiriiriirDii picture or lityan n't tiM wonU'3rJ Tltrw tlwi Clitnn." It tn Is the whole atory. Every man, woman and child wanta oiw.lt fliat Jii your DelghU r- hooaiowe rlt. ONE FREE TO YOU. Krerytaraon who aenda lie for a year! (Qhaenptlon to I'topin't Popular Monthly wJU recti re or of tint button fre. People ' Popular Mon Mr la handanmelr Illustrated, at page magazine, prlnte4 In colon; contain political and tuirtnt ikwi. cplrndld ftoilr. tbrllllner acrfala. departments on tuhlon. fancy work, household aftaln. cv.l red Ctnlr pare. Joke aud pace for the children. Bend tie locay jorajwrs auucnpllon aud ftt Jirysn pollen rrce. fMMe'i Paattar Um, M. 2, M Katow, to ygg?V l'd mi ('TIMftVBlll L'iiwmjk I "r; iitJm" mm I t3.CXaBl BTTal U-SRaKf V iJaaF X&JaWjr "Banking by mail made safe.0 Why leave your surplus monoy whare a loss of eame is possible? Why not take advantage of the Depo- eitora Guaranty Law of the State of Oklahoma? We pay four per cent on Time and Sav ings Deposits. We want your business and offer every facility for the handling of the same. Will send booklet containing law and other Information, on application. , Guaranty State Bank, Muskogee, UKJjAttUJMA. D. Btredlct, President M. G. Haskell, Caihler Our Deposits Guaranteed. CAMPAIGN SONG BOOK 4 Tlio now hit "Hunk on tlio WhijiihIi" nnd other Inspiring Hrynn Bongs Jiwt out. Order now. COc per boric. 3 for f I. Dor. lots 13. DEMOCRAT PUB. CO., O'Neill, Neb. '. --""1