THE “TRUST” IDEA

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 22, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 51.

THE “TRUST” IDEA.

WHILE there has been more or less of the idea of combination of interests and forces among men from time immemorial, the trust, or combine, has never been so marked a feature in the world's history as during the last quarter of a century. The prime objects for combining on the part of laboring men are protection, and advancement of wages, bettering conditions, etc. The object of the capitalist is to reduce expenses in manufacture and operation of business, and to increase profits by controlling operators and trade.

The growth of trade unions has been great, but practically ineffectual, so far as real assistance to the workman is concerned. To meet the trade union, the combines and trusts of wealth are formed. To meet the combines of wealth, the unions and trade associations are organized, each in human wisdom compelling the existence and strengthening of the other, while both are fomenting suspicion, jealousy, and hatred between classes.

But the growth of the trust, or capitalistic combine, has been colossal and alarming; for he of the trust, in the words of the prophet, “gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples.” The prospect is that in a little while every commodity and necessary of existence which can be bought and sold, and are so bartered to any extent, will be controlled by trusts. Not to go back into past years, it is sufficient to summarize for 1897 and 1898. In the former year nineteen different trusts and combines were formed, as follows:—

Whisky Distillers’ Combine. American Glucose Company. American Malting Company. American Window Glass Company. Enameled Ware Manufacturers’ Association. Eastern Stamping Company. Shelby Tube Company. American Wood-working Machinery Company. Sewer Pipe Manufacturers. International Mining Syndicate. Vanderbilt Soft Coal Trust Anthracite Coal Trust. Carpet Manufacturers’ Association. Western Canned Goods Manufacturers. Western Book Paper Manufacturers. Leather Belt Manufacturers. White Granite and Semi-porcelain Manufacturers. Insulated Wire and Cable Manufacturers. American Thread Company.

In 1898 there were twice the number of 1897, among which were these:—

Northwestern Theatrical Association. New York Syndicate to control pottery-ware factories. Steel Rail Manufacturers. State Distilling Combination in Kentucky. International Paper Company; capital, $45,000,000. National Biscuit Company, consolidating rival consolidations. American Hay Company; capital, $5,000,000. American Steel and Wire Company. Pig Iron combination, headed by Hanna and Carnegie. Coal combination to control war supplies. New England envelope manufacturers. Cutlery Trust; capital, $2,000,000. United States Spirits Association, to control United States output. Combine to control fish and oyster trade. International combination to control needle output. American-Indies capitalistic combine to control Cuban development. Glass manufacturers form a national combine. Flint Bottle Manufacturers’ combine. Refrigerator Car Manufacturers’ combine. Beer Trust; capital, $5,000,000. Steel Trust; capital, $200,000,000. Silver Trust; capital, $30,000,000. Trust to control electrical appliances and machinery; capital, $25,000,000. Tobacco Trust; capital, $100,000,000.

The aggregate capital reported to be held by the trusts and combines formed in 1898 exceeds the enormous sum of $1,000,000,000. Twenty different concerns capitalize at $744,000,000. And one paper says that it is “rumored that the most gigantic of trusts, the Trust of all Trusts, has been formed, with a joint capital of $585,000,000, and including the following: Standard Oil Company, United States Leather Company, American Sugar Refining Company, National Lead Company, United States Rubber Company, American Tobacco Company, American Spirits Manufacturing Company, American Cotton Oil Company, and New York, Chicago, and Bay State Gas Company.”

Political and Religious.

This trust idea permeates every phase of human life, not only commercially, but politically and religiously. Political alliances and counter alliances are formed and being formed. Antagonistic political parties combine against a greater party. National alliances are in vogue, and even America is feeling that she is rapidly being forced to do as other nations have done.

In the religious world the same spirit is even more manifest. We do not call the rapidly-forming intra and extra church organizations trusts and combines; it would not sound well. They are unions, associations, societies, guilds, brotherhoods, leagues, etc., etc.; but the same trust idea is there, born of a fear of impending evil or a desire to control. Some of these organizations include those who belong to what once were considered irreconcilable bodies, holding diametrically opposite views, as Unitarians and Trinitarians, Roman Catholics and Protestants, worldlings and Christians. This certainly in many cases means a compromise of principle. These confederacies at the very best are but human substitutes—Satan’s counterfeits—for vital union through Jesus Christ. They are abnormal and render ineffectual the simplicity and power of the normal church. What is worse, many of these confederacies are ignorantly, we hope, opposed to the truth of God for this time

What does the Lord say as to such combinations? Listen:—

“Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand; for God is with us.”

What shall the Christian do? Listen further:—

“For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not, A confederacy, to all to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself [“in your hearts,” 1 Peter 3:15]; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary.”

There is a better way to accomplish God’s work than the trust idea, a better way to secure union; and that is union through Christ Jesus: “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” This is true union, the only true Christian union—union in life. Here is power.