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QEORQE W. BERQE, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Volume IS
Lincoln, Nebraska, July 13, 1905
Number 8
Methods of the Trusts
Menace to All Property
ieecnt developments in Russia show how insecure property
may become under an absolute form of government. Where no limit
to the power of a ruler or a ruling class is established the tendency
is inevitably toward public disorder, conspiracy, and in the end,
revolution.
So country that is constantly menaced by revolution can be
prosperous, because economical and political instability destroy con
fidence. At times the industries in such a land may enjoy a brief
prosperity while the people- remain passive, but long-term invest
ments will, as a general rule, be considered unsafe. Ultimately the
business interests come to understand that the government offers
insufficient protection to both life and property. This is the most
'dangerous crisis in the history of any government, for then revolu
tion finds numerous and ardent supporters among the moneyed
class. Such a crisis seems to be aproaching in Russia. The inabil
ity of (lie government to check disorder, to prevent the looting and
burning of property, must convince the business interests that peace
and prosperity are impossible without a change in the form of gov- ,
eminent. If, as now appears likely, the business interests join with'
tlie laboring classes in not only demanding, but in fighting for, a
more liberal form of government, the autocracy of the Romanoffs
will lie doomed.
It is apparent that ultimately absolute rule leads to mob rule
and both are a menace to life and property. Those countries are
the most prosperous where human rights are the most respected,
where privileged classes do not rob the people, and where the laboring
classes do not bear an unjust share of the taxation. Germany, France
and the United States aro notable examples of nations that offer
adequate protection to life and property. In all these countries
the people enjoy a large measure of self-government.
In our own country the dangers that menace popular rule are
an equal menace to property, and if the business interests of the
country understood this as they should they would have a selfish
motive in destroying those inequalities which are producing a priv
ileged class of multi-millionaires. Graft, corruption, discrimination
by tariff or freight rates, all tend to enrage the people. In the end
the result must be public insecurity. Confidence is being weakened
not only by speculation and by bank failures resulting from dis
honesty, but by an economic condition which has produced general
unrest and dissatisfaction.
In a constitutional republic, where the people govern themselves
and where the right of the majority to rule is recognized, the danger
of revolution is remote. But the real danger in the United States
is the conviction spreading among the people that they are governed
by the railways and trusts, that in the contest between men and
money the victory too often is on the side of money. Herein lie
the seeds of the revolutionary spirit and of general insecurity. Thi3
unrest and insecurity cannot but injure business and unless cordial
relations are restored between the laboring classes and the business
interests hard times must result. Those who have flattered them
selves that money always wins must not forget that money is some
times on the side of the people.
It is not at all improbable that the trusts will find themselves
isolated in the next presidential campaign and if the small business
men and the laboring classes combine the trusts will suffer defeat.
In Philadelphia the laboring classes and the business interests
formed a coalition against a corrupt ring and a great corporation.
The contest was short and decisive. The people won.
It is true that the business men are usually the most deceived
class in any country. It requires harsh experience to convince them
that their interests are not identical with the interests of the money
power, but in times of acute public stress they discover that they can
only obtain security for their property by aiding to restore general
contentment, confidence and prosperity, and that does not mean
the contentment, confidence and prosperity of any privileged class,
but of the whole people.
laws Must he Enforced
Against Defiant Offenders
The Xebraska Grain Dealers' association, which has been using
well-recognized trust methods to destroy competition in the grain
business of this state, has been condemned more by the testimony
that was not given at the Havelock hearing than by the testimony
ibat was. When prominent members of the association refused to
answer every pertinent question on the ground that an answer might
'criminate them, the public needed no further evidence of
pnilt.
1 he ruling passion of the association was strikingly illustrated
!'.v illiam E. Morely. After demanding and receiving witness
and mileage he refused to testify on the ground that he was
of the men being sued; and for the further reason that any
:i -jwers he might give, might tend to incriminate him. That was,
ii'decd, "easy money," and the kind of money the members of the
a--"ciation are striving to obtain at the expense of Nebraska
larniers.
Hie Loom is anti-combination law, under which the Worrall
' i brought, is very sweeping. This law was passed in 1897.
an act to prohibit combinations among grain dealers or any.
understanding, contract or agreement that would restrict competi
tion in the buying or selling of grain.
Section 11,513 makes it unlawful for any person, partnership
association or corporation engaged in the business of grain dealing,
etc., to enter into any agreement or combination that will prevent
the fullest competition in the sale or purchase of grain; to prevent
competition by requiring any members of an association to refrain
from dealing with shippers or dealers in grain who are not members
of the association; or to require its members not to sell or consign
to or purchase of such persons as transact business with other per
sons and companies which refuse to deal through the association or
any of its members. Boycotting dealers who are outside an associa
tion or combination of this character is also prohibited under the
same section. The property of the offending person or corporation is
made liable for the full amount of the damages.
With such a law on the statute looks it is a matter of astonish
ment that the grain dealers of the state should have dared to form
an association whose object, according to testimony already adduced,
is to perform those acts which arc specifically prohibited by the
law. Their hardihood can only be accounted for on the theory that
they had no fear the law would lie enforced.
Indeed, this is the theory on which all lawbreakers proceed.
They hope first of all that their crime will not be discovered, but
they plan either to destroy or circumvent the law if the crime is