898 THE QUESTIONS OF THE DAY. 



method is that it does not do anj^ good. Nobody cares any- 

 thing about the resolutions. Tliere are, however, simple and 

 entirely effective methods of preventing the abuse of corporate 

 powers, without injury to the effectiveness of corporations for 

 useful purposes. None of these means, however, are likely to 

 be made use of by the present generation, as they involve a 

 clearness of understanding and unity of action which it may 

 require several generations to bring about. In the end the 

 Trusts will be controlled as the result of the same influences 

 which produce them — the impossibility of getting on in any 

 other way. 



The first step towards any useful study of this subject must 

 be to dismiss all prejudices, and fully recognize that no 

 "Trust" is attempting to do anything which the reader would 

 not do in the same position, or would not do now in regard to 

 his own products if he had the power. Year by year the 

 farmers of the world increase their efforts to form Trusts to 

 control the sale of their own products, and wlienever they are 

 successful there is no limit to the price which they will set, 

 except the limit imposed by competition or by the inability of 

 customers to pay more. They are no more moved by con- 

 templation of the distress which the high prices of necessaries 

 !nay cause to consumers than are the managers of the great 

 Trusts of the nation. Their Trusts, however, have seldom 

 been successful or long-lived, by reason of the impossibility 

 of effecting a firm combination among the great numbers of 

 producers. If the owners of oil wells or sugar ftictories or 

 whisky stills were as numerous as the farmers, they would be 

 no more able to form Trusts than the farmers. It is very 

 desirable that farmers should increase their effectiveness in 

 this respect. The more Trusts they can form the better. The 

 trend of civilization lies in the direction of the organization 

 of those of like interests to deal through responsible represent- 

 atives with classes of adverse interests. The capitalist classes 

 having the fewer number and the greater intelligence, are, as 

 is natural, leading the way. The farmers are following as 

 best they can. The faster they follow the better for all. 



It is best to understand the cause of tlie organization of 



