Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-07-12
A FEW WORDS ABOUT TRAVEL
ING AGENTS.

lazy 10 WoTk. ms army OF leecneS IS
annually taking s100,00o.00O out of
the pockets Of the laboring nobility of
this country. without proper equiva-
lent in return Who need wonder that
there is growing at high prices? If
the scorpion of public indignation could
drive this dainty horde of impudent i'm
posters forth to the plow, the mine and
the workshop, it would be blessing to
our land equal to that which comes at
the end of pestilence 1t is utterly as
tonishing that a free and intelligent
people should be willing to tolerate such
an enormous imposition. and no other
evidence is needed to prove American
patience under wrong. The undeniable
fact that we are. as users and consumers,
paying on scores and hundreds of articles
of manufacture and trade, strictly do
nestle az advance of from one to five
hundred per cent. above the first cost"
certainly shows that there is wrong
somewhere But when it can be proven
that machine or other article of man
ufaeture cannot be bought even in the
very town where made. without profit
of two or three hundred per cent. it be-
comes painfully evident that there is a
system in the infiction of this wrong.
That what here state is fact, no one
dare deny. There are no people in the
world who tolerate such an imposition
from their own countrymen as the Amer
lean people; and we endure it only be-
cause of our amazing capacity for bear
ing burdens But the thing must have
an end. The day is not far distant that
will witness a mighty reformation in
this matter. The American public will
not much longer support this loafng
army of lying leeches, in their kid gloves
and shining broadcloth, for the privi-
lege of being imposed upon, and in many
Instances abused and insulted. And
the whole impudent pack want us to
honor them with the title of agent
Every lazy fellow who has conceit enough
TO consider himself adapted, and brass
enough to push his presumption, imme-
diately sets out on his career of lying
and deception. Taking all classes of
society, there are more young men ask
ing for agences or easy positions as
middlemen. in which they get living
without labor, than such as seek employ
ment in all the various useful and hon.
orable callings and industries combined.
In days journey how many young
men would be found in the homes Of our
average farmers, who have chosen farm
ing as their profession Why, the once
rare and distinguished privilege Of Sc
curing liberal education, is now in
many instances despised and rejected for
the ease and profit Of an agency And
thousands of individuals, advanced in
! life, and established in business that af-
fords them home and comfort, are annu-
ally abandoning legitimate calling to be-
come agents. Should this yagabOnd
army continue to increase in the same
ratio as that which has marked its in
crease during the last decade, ten years
from this time there will not be left la
boring men enough to manufacture out
fits alone for the tramping multitude,
let alone the plowing, sowing and reap
ing necessary, that their hungry mouths
may eat If every agent were required
to wear a red coat, as an English regu-
lar, every steamboat, rail car, and canal
packet, and mail coach would blossom
like bed Of peonies And if a regula-
ton we're put in force, requiring num-
bering as hacks at camp-meeting. or
tickets in a lottery, new recruits would
soon have TO begin to wear half side Of
sole leather strapped to the back, 30 as
70 afford surface On which to indicate
their place ia the series.
But in sober earnest. is not this sys-
TEN something alarming TO contemplate
Can the people Of these United States
afford to pay annually TO agents the sum
Of $500, 100000 as salaries for the
privilege Of insurance IN its several
branches9 2 Can VIC, IN addition 10 pay
ing just price for dry goods, groceries,
&C., afford to pay the salaries Of score
thousand of soliciting agents, at from
l $50 70 sl0O per month Can we afford
70 pay the fourth agent $50 for the sew
! ing machine. which the first agent
bought at Bridgwster for s202 And
wherein is the advantage Of this system
to be found ? Must this country subsist
! this army Of men without work ? If 70.
/ would suggest that We might enlarge
certain public institutions, already ez-
istiBg in all parts Of the land. and there
/ 10 board aud clothe these seEni-vagrants.
al less rate than $500 Or $1,000
head per annum What are the aTgu-
ments used % justify this system? The
manufacturers and dealers say, through
our agents We can vusk our business
and enlarge our Psohts." never stopping
70 ask whether the public 10 benefited
By pushing 81 their business. The
lazy man says. .by this agency ! can
make an easier living" This b the ex-
tent and strength ef the arguments.
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