• - i iviium.ou(r, i
6/>e MIRROR
A | | <^\
|jp* nnesot a, State |
Vol. XXII.—No,. 24.
Paper Head Refnre the Chautauqua Circle
*»
MONOPOLIES and trußts gener
ally spoken of as meaning one
and the same, and a difference
is hard to find if one consider
the power possessed by either. Yet
writers on this subject and authors of
dictionaries claim there is a great dif
ference in the two words and their
true meaning. A monopoly is defined i
by Webster, as the exclusive power,
right or privilege of selling a com mod- <
ity; the exclusive power, right or privi- l
lege of dealing in some article or i
trading in some market, sole command '
of traffic in anything however obtained; I
as the proprietor of a patent) article is i
given a monopoly of its sale for a lim
ited time.; chartered trading companies
have sometimes had a monopoly of
trade with remote regions; a combina
tion of trades may get a monopoly of a
particular product. He gives other
definitions meaning the same, but this
one would seem to make it plain that
there are very few trusts, as most of
the so-called trusts control the prod
ucts they deal in, at least from seventy
to ninety per cent, of the output of
such products are produced by their
plants.
One author states that trusts are the
result of evolution, the development
to greater and better methods of pro
duction, from the first business firm
or the mechanic who made his manu
factured article from the raw material
in his workshop or at home, with no
other than himself to represent the
whole firm. This sounds reasonable,
as the demand increased the produc
tion had to increase, so brought about
the shop with a few men working for
an employer; later the factory devel
oped with its foreman and overseers
and twenty to fifty workmen; then the
large manufacturer with improved
machinery and great forces of work
men, official force and traveling sales
men; then the manufacturer's pool
was formed, but failed on account of
lawsuits and the dishonesty of some of
the manufacturers; then next come
the combination of the large manufac
tories, to act as one under one set of
officials which developed into what we
call trusts. And if this be true, it
would look as tho demand and the
conditions surrounding it were the
cause ot this development and they
would also seem natural.
This being the cause of the now ex- i
is ting trust or monopoly, it must have
tieen produced by the increasing de- <
tnand for such articles and the favora- <
t>le conditions to such development t
by similar development of other trade i
«ud traffic, which would only be nat- <
<iral and for that reason I believe it to i
be a matter of evolution. But this <
does not signify that this is the end of I
development or evolution of the pro
ductive system or the measure of traf- <
He, nor the good and evil so acquired 1
by their development. 1
With the increasing power to supply
also comes their great tinancial power,
and with the great protit which is pro
duced and reinvested every year it is
only natural to think that at some
time they may become complete mo
nopolies in the full term of the word.
While the different combinations or
trusts claim to be impartial and treat
all trade alike, It seems strange that
the railroad freight rates on some, if
not a great many things, seem to be a
great deal more favorable to the loca
tions of the large trust plants and very
unfavorable to the locations of the in
dependent plant. In the shipment of
oil it is claimed that the Standard Oil
Company has locations which call for
the lowest rates on oil, and the rates
on sugar are very favorable to the
plants of that trust; while the indepen
dent plants are located where freight
rates on the same articles are much
higher.
The trust that furnishes seventy to
ninety per cent, of the products con
sumed by the country has another ad
vantage over the independent dealer,
for the trusts of this size may raise
monopolies
STILLWATER, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1908.
and trusts.
prices for a certain length of time with
safety, as the independent company
cannot supply the demand; and if they
raise their prices there are no reasons
for the retail merchants to buy their
goods, as they are sure of prompt de
livery and full supply from the trust,
while the independent plant is uncer
tain and without lower prices are of
small consideration
In most cases the trust owns the pat
ents of the machinery and devices used
for the production of the r goods and '
the independent firm must pay royalty
on these if used. Then the trust may
have the choice in buying raw material,
as such companies buy in greater quan
tities and are more secure for pay and
are generally favored. In the expense
caused by labor the trust saves a great
deal, as by combining the several large
plants, they dispense with a number of
high salaried officials and a great many
salesmen, and are operated from the
head plant by almost the same number
of officers it would require for each in
dividual plant, while the different
plants are managed by a superinten
dent and small force of clerks.
In advertising it requires very little
more for the combination of the trust
than it would for one individual plant,
and a large amount is saved iu this
way. Labor unions have little effect
on these trusts who operate a great
many large plants; for a disagreement
or strike only causes a transfer of or
ders from the plant that has the trouble
on hand and they are filled by the
other plants, even If two or three plants
have to be closed it causes no great,
trouble, but an independent firm who
may not have more than lour or five
plants would suffer greatly in such a
case.
A trust is supposed to le a combira-
tion of business firms for the purpose
of saving waste labor a id other ex
penses, and to promote business by
producing with better methods and on
a large scale without obstructing com
petition of either trade or traftic. The
public at large are to a great extent to
blame for the power that helps to give
trusts a monopoly, for it is to a great
extent a slave to habit and even preju
dice to anything new or out of the old
rut, so when a trust obtains possession
of plants producing the popular and
well established brands or those bear
ing such trade marks, then the busi
ness is almost monopolized at once.
Trusts, especially the largest, do not
confine their operations to main plants
of production alone but also gain pos
session of the branches or even other
industries that in some way are of ben
efit to their welfare. If complete pos
session is not to be obtained, stock
enough to acquire favor to their indus
try is purchased.
Author Jenks mentions one case in
this state. In 1900, The Federal Steel
Company was a combination of several
companies. It bought all the stock
owned by The Minnesota Iron Compa
ny, which consisted of Iron ore prop
erty; The Duluth and Iron Range Rail
road Company, which connects its
mines with Lake Superior at two
points, ore docks and twenty-two steel
vessels for carrying its products. It
also bought a’l the stock of the Illinois
Steel Company, of several plants which
produce pig iron, steel rails, steel bil
lets, steel plates, etc. The Federal
Steel Company also owned the Chicago
Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad, be
sides large tracts of coal property on
which it manufactured coke for those
plants. This company with such ad
vantages for shipment and material at
first cost could put its products on the
market so much cheaper than any one
of the individual plants that there
would be very little chance for compe
tition, and if the market price were the
same for the products of both, the
trusts would receive far the largest
profit.
But from these few facts and the
statement that some four hundred
men own the trusts and monopolies of
this country it is not hard to believe
“IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO REND.”
that most of them are stockholders in
the majority of ti e trusts now formed i ]
and by such united interests help each <
other, so that almost the entire pro- i
duce of the country are in their power I
to a gieat exieot. . . I
It is claimed by some scientific au
thors that there is no te idency toward '
the ten laliza'h nof wealth. This may 1
te but if the profits of all or most of
the produce of the country goes to
such a few of the people how can it he
otlerwise? The profits of two trusts,
The Standard Oil and The Unite i
S'ates Ste 1 Company, were for the
ytar of 1905 over two hundred million
dollars. Thie amount reinvested every
y<ar is bound to increase the first
profit and increase moie every year the
wealth ef the owners. How long can
this, with not only two but many such
trusts, almost as profitable and owned
by such a few persons, go on before
there is a tendency tewa r d the central
ization of wealth?
There has bten a number of ieme
dies proposed to protect the peiple
from monopoly and trust power, the
foremost seems to be the le noval of
the tariff. But is this a cure for the
pain or the disea-re? If it is possible
to form trust combinations in a coun
try as large as the United States why
is it not possible to extend the combi
nation to more countries and 1 ave a
world monopoly which would be more
pov erful ? It would be comg aratively
easy for The Standard Oil Company to
establish a world monopoly, as it now
has a monopoly in this country, Ger
many, France and England. If it
should unite with ? the companies of
Russia it would be complete in a short
time. What I have tried to describe
has only shown the dark side of trusts
and monopolies and their operations
for self-interest, and I believe that is
the main reason for their existence.
But there is no producer whose system
! is as complete as that of the trust, or
' that can operate with as little expense,
or produce a better grade of products,
if it so desires, or such large quantities
in the same length of time; the more
' united the productive power the less
* expensive are the means of production.
“ And if the consumers could share the
' benefits of this economy by receiving
’ better goods at lower prices it would
1 be something to praise instead of cou
-1 demu.
There iB a farce comedy almost worthy
of praise, now going on between The
Standard Oil Company and the United
States Court, with John D. and Lieu
tenant Archbold as head comedians.
This is for the benefit of the people
who want to see the government make
monopolies be good or those who want
to see the big stick bust a trust. The
Standard Oil Company has just been
let off prying a small fine also, but as
it was of no consequence either to
Staudard Oil or the government there
was no reason for demanding payment,
even tho it was the largest fine ever
put on record. This late comedy will
also close with a quiet investigation,
with insufficient evidence to condemn,
or a fine imposed to later Le suspended
and in time forgotten. But these small
troubles dou’t worry monopolies and
trusts. A. B. M.
Golden Rule Policy.
“For years the police—unwillingly
and unwittingly, perhaps—have been
instrumental in making as many crim
inals as any other agency, poverty,
heritage and association excepted. This
has been done by arresting first offend
ers and trivial offenders; by exposing
and branding them with police court
and prison records. The police have
discouraged men; they have driven
young and weak men to the haunts
and association of habitual and expert
criminals, who have taught them the
ideals and practices of crime. The po
lice have sometimes punished but
never pi evented crime.
“The time has come to change all
this, and the Golden Rule policy is the
way to do it.”
Thus speaks Chief Frederick Kohler,
of Cleveland, Ohio, the best chief of
police in America, according to Presi
dent Roosevelt. He has put his ideas
into effect and today is coming nearer
to solving one of the greatest prob
lems of the cities than any other man.
Some call him a “dreamer” and
“idealist,” but Chief Kohler has done
things. Above everything else he is a
practical man and his ideas are prac
tical ideas. His “common sense policy”
in treating offenders against the law
has proved a success, and chiefs of po
lice thruout the country aie begin
ning to “sit up and take notice.” The
“best chief” has more than lived up to
the president’s praise. That crime in
the cities can be reduced to a mini
mum, if not actually checked, by the
simple observance of the Golden Rule,
Chief Kohler thiuks he has prove 1. A
year’s trial of this policy in dealing
with crimes and criminals in Cleveland
has convinced him of it aud now other
cities are preparing to follow the ex
amp'e of Cleveland in instituting the
Goldeu Rule policy. It is only a ques
tion of time, its advocates say, until it
will be adopted everywhere thruout the
United Statei.
As its name implies, the Golden Rule
policy is designed to tie it offenders
against the law as men, even when
they are drunk; even when they dis
turb the pe ice; even when they insult
the dignity of a policema-i. Under the
workings of this policy intoxicated men
are taken or sent to their homes in
stead of being placed in j *il. Apparent
offenders on any misdemeanor charges
are warned and released by simply
taking their name and address, unless
it is evident on the face of things that
the offense was committed with malice
and forethought. In short, the police
men are instructed that the people
they have to deal with are human be
ingp, not machine*; liable to make mis
takes and failures, but not therefore
lost souls. They are la ight to be the
fritn is and parole officers of the of
fenders against the law. They are in
structed to enforce the law, but with
the least show of authority, without
personal pride and with the greatest
sense of human justice.
Under the ‘ Goldeh Rule” policy the
city is 6a\ed thousands of dollars in
witness fees, much work for the police
judges, polite c'e.ks and court at
tacl es; wear and iear of a’l police ap
paratus. Patrolmen and detectivesaie
able to devote more time to the pur
suit of habitual criminals and crimes
of a serious nature.
Statistics for the first nil e months of
the operation of this policy in Cleve
land show a decrt aie of 65 per cent, in
the numter of arrests as compared
with the first nim months of 1907,
when the old system was in vogue. In
tl e first nil e months of 1907, 23,102 ar
rests were made in Cleveland. In tl e
i first nine months of 1908 but 8,088 ar
rests were made. Ttie statistics also
show that 12 per ctnt. more actual
criminals were arrested during theniDe
months un ler the Golden ltule policy
than in the first months of 1907.
“We now experience ‘arrettless’
days,” declares Chief Kohler in sum
ming up the benefits of his system.
“Think of it! On some days there has
not been a single arrest, ani Cleveland
has a p jpularion of 525,000 It is the
natural result of our year’s work in
trying to make better citizens of petty
offenders. It is the ideal condition at
which we are aim ng, and we are going
to get theie befoiebng.”—Utica Glote.
Education.
“A word to the wise is sufficient”—
an old trite saying to which may be
added: An author, or ordinary writer,
is not supposed to consider the ability
of every individual to intelligently di
gest the penned mental pabulum re
sultant from his superior mentality.
True, many are prone to disagree with
me regarding matters of common in
terest, but I have tailed to discern any
convincing arguments which offset the
printed ideas of Erid. However, my
contemporary, Mr. Anglicus, proffered
_ < sl.eo a year, in advance.
TERMSr j six Months, 60 cents.
exceptions to my ideas pertaining to
a stepping stone to knowledge; inci
dently, he, in a manner so familiarly
delectable, utilized his interpreting
faculty to demonstrate my lack of per
ceptible powers to discern that Mrs.
Wibox (one of the grandest poetic
writers of today) and Mr. London,
whose familiarity with the world en
ables him to apply his imaginative
ness and weave criminal records, Klon
dike experiences, etc., into stories of
fiction, are not entitled to enter the
ranks of the Blackstones and Shake
speare who attained knowledge. Well,
they are not! Unless you can compre
hend the distinction between the two
terms, education and knowledge, by
what power of analysis can one realize
the nicety of the distinction ?
“Education,” as Webster defines is,
“Instruction; teaching;” also,“nurture;
breeding ” whiclf, in the sense intended
are to be accepted as synonyms of the
two former terms. The instruction
and teaching one may receive is pur
veying from sources meant to convey
knowledge and thereby one is intro
duced by the process of education to
the greater fields dominated by knowl
edge. To aptly illustrate: A law stu
dent gleans points of law from in
structors, teachers, and applies his
educational abilities to master such
knowledge. And even tho he know
the contents of Blackstone by heart, so
to speak, even tho he is thoroughly ed
ucated in law, he still remains in the
ranks of the educated classes. Diffi
cult to assimilate, Mr. Anglicus? Well,
for sweet charity’s sake 1 shall deviate
from Mr. Webb’s intention, “Won’t do
Anything for Nobody until Somebody
does Something for me,” and explain
the uusouuded depths of profound log
icaliness.
“Knowledge,”says Webster,is “learn
ing; scholaißhip; practical skill.” Men
tally consider the “learning” of Black
stone, instructing the educa'ei at Ox
ford; rellect upon his “practical skill”
demonstrated in those sheep-bound
volumes p:epared by him; then the sig
nificance of the term knowledge be
comes plainer. Peruse the works of
Shakespeare and ascertain his mode of
interpreting characters, as they were;
of life as it is. Consider, also, Bunyan,
Byron, Lincoln, Cleveland, and myriad
of others. Persons who passed thru
educational vales to fields of knowl
edge. Compare such as Mrs. Wilcox,
and Dorothy Dix who dilate about
rearing children, retaining a husband’s,
wife’s, sweetheart’s love and other top
ics of general information. Y\ hat pro
cess do they utilize y The educational,
observatory, theoretical process of an
imate and inanimate deduction modi
fied by technical “ifs,” “ands,” “pros,”
“cons,” which adhere sufficiently to
satisfy certain mentalities, and create
loopholes to protect them from author
ii ative corrections—such as knowledge,
derived from actual experience o'
practically demonstrated skill, can s«
profusely extend to the educated bu*
not experienced.
It is these latter classes that Mr. a
licus would consider as persons ol
knowledge. Mr. London “is a recorder
of elemental life” —enough! The veri- y
est savage may know elemental lif
and practicing it descends far fron
the plane of knowledge— which show:
us the sacredness of life. Knowett
thou the history of elementally de
rivel practice? “The Puritans re
garded all secular books as works of
the devil,” wrote Mr. A. Such diver
gence from a point at issue confuses
readers. However, one would have i
great conception to deduce such an as
serted idea!
The daiuty little schoolmarms art
presented with certificates to teach
begat by Drasco’s Rules—educated, it
you please, but of their knowledge—?
One may attain education by personal
efforts; but let such a one desert one
woman for another—but of his knowl
edge ? One may tell the people of a
republic how to act, etc., by theorizing
—but of such a one’s knowledge?
Shakespeare, etc., understood laws, na
ture, creeds, etc, in their highest, ap
plicable sense. But many are to guess
—few chosen to know. Erid.