400 THE QUESTIONS OF THE DAY. 



we do not desire to do, and would do if we could, let us 

 examine the practicable methods of the control of Trusts, 

 whether of farmers or capitalists. The occasion for control 

 arises from the abuse of power, of which all Trusts will be 

 alike guilty to the extent of their ability. For the present the 

 Farmers' Trusts do not need restraint, but encouragement, for 

 the reason tliat they are not strong enough to do any harm. 

 It is to the interest of society that they should be stronger. 



To understand how Trusts can be controlled, it is first 

 desirable to see exactly what harm they do. They unques- 

 tionably reduce costs, by consolidating administration, doing 

 away with the expense of competing salesmen, and conferring 

 upon all connected with the Trust the benefit of the most 

 approved processes and ample capital. They are enabled to 

 effect this saving by the use of the authority of the state, by 

 which alone they become incorporated bodies, with power to 

 control capital beyond the reach of individuals. The harm 

 they can do is, first, in compelling the public to pay them 

 more than a fair profit, and, secondly, in the methods they 

 employ to perpetuate their power. The .latter is by far the 

 most serious. To make this more clear I will take what is 

 known as the "Sugar Trust" as an example. Now I do not 

 know that the Sugar Trust has ever done an improper thing 

 in the course of its existence. The newspaper stories for or 

 against it are not entitled to respect as evidence, and person- 

 ally I know nothing about it. I do know, however, some 

 things which it could do if its managers so desired, and which 

 it is within tlie power of society to prevent it from doing. In 

 pointing out some of these things I must not be understood to 

 say that any of them have actually been done. It is not within 

 the plan of this book to attack any one, much less in tlie 

 absence of proof. As it is merely an illustration I do not 

 attempt to verify all the assumed statements. They might be 

 correct if they are not. 



The Sugar Trust is understood to be the American 

 Sugar Refinery, located on the Atlantic Coast, and the West- 

 ern Sugar Refinery, on the Pacific Coast. There is no legal 

 bond of union between these two concerns, which are entirely 



