The Fraud and Oppression of Trusts
The Wool and Cotton Reporter estimates that the new trusts formed between January and July represent on paper a capitalization of $7,370,783,383, of which $1,628,706,900 was preferred, and $5,742,076,483 was common stock. The same journal says it is "forced to the conclusion that two-thirds of the trust capitalization is 'water,'" which means in reality that there is that much out-and-out fraud connected with the business. Then it would seem that the purpose of the trust is twofold; to corner all the commodities of life, and, in consequence, cruelly oppress the poor, and then, by fraud, through "watered" stock and otherwise, break as many of the small capitalists as possible, and thus bring every thing in commercial life into the grasp of six or eight men. This seems hard as it is viewed from the human standpoint. But the great God of heaven and earth is at work on the problem, and all who wait for His solution of it will soon be rewarded by a share in the eternal victory. It pays to stand with God, and wait upon His ways.