dare to put his price too high, because another one would instantly step
in with lower prices, and take his trade away from him.

This would create what is called competition, because the first
manufacturer would not want to lose his trade, and would lower his prices
below the second manufacturer. Others would join in, and would continue to
cut prices, until the selling price of the article would be brought down
to the lowest possible rate at which it can be put on the market.

The public would get the benefit of this competition, and would find the
cost of living less.

This competition is the soul of business, because it obliges manufacturers
to better the quality of their goods and machinery in order to sell at
all; but Trusts do not care to do this, and therefore desire to put a stop
to it entirely.

Each Trust has its system of controlling the store-keepers who deal
directly with the public, and it makes them agree to sell at such prices
as it thinks best.

In this way the prices are kept up, no matter how much they ought to have
been lowered through cheap manufacture, or plentiful supply of the
material needed to be manufactured.

The money that is made by the cheaper conditions goes into the pockets of
the members of the Trust, and they often become enormously rich, through
the higher price which they thus force the people to pay.

All the necessary articles of food in daily use are controlled by Trusts.