St. Paul daily globe., 1890-03-30
THE MIDDLEMAN.

In the game of marbles it is the pride
of an urchin to acquire the skill of
plumping the middleman and knock
ing him out of the ring. Now, if the
political economists could do the same
with the middleman in trade they
would go long way toward solving the
industrial problem. 1t is the middle
man who very largely eats up the sub
stance Of the consumers and robs the
producer of profits that ought legiti-
mately belong to him. The middleman
is an expensive person because he is
such numerous individual. There are
more Of him than of any other class in
the industrial world. He is
busy person, who works hard, and.
in the main, thrifty individ-
ual. But the trouble with him is
that he produces nothing and consumes
comparatively little; consequently, he
has to be supported by society and
makes very small return for the out
lay. Yet he is the despot OF trade aud
the ruler Of commercial dynasty.
Everything that is produced must pass
through his hands before it reaches the
consumer, and he never fails to take
toll for the handling of goods. In fact,
he is inclined to the practice of the Old
miller, who asked each of his five boys
if they had tolled the grist, and. not
withstanding he received an affirmative
answer from each. determined to make
sure of his toll by taking it out himself.
The middleman makes it his buSi-
ness to let none of the toll get
away. His commissions are essential
to his prosperity, and he max es
it point to get them. So inseparably
has the middleman interviewer himself
into the commercial life of this country
that no class of industry can get along
without him; and yet all feel that he Is
actually dead weight on trade. The
producer has to pay him large per
cent of the profits of production III order
to get his wares before the public. The
consumer has to go to him to buy. and
is assessed with an additional tax for
the privilege. Then when the producer
wants to collect his bills he has to call
in the service of the middleman,
and pay him an extra commission
for collecting. And SO it runs
through all the various ramifica-
tions OF trade-the middleman sits
enthroned as the master of the situ-
alton, making both capital and labor
pay tribute to him. without himself be-
coming eithdr capitalist or working
man.
And yet, under the operations of the
existing industrial system, the middle
man is necessary evil. The wheels
of commerce couldn't move without his
assistance. Eliminate him. without
changing the system. and all industries
would suddenly collapse. The oppres-
Sions of his tyranny are not blessings in
disguise, but they must be endured for
the sake of the prosperity they bring,
and thus the middleman becomes the
paradox of trade.
Industrial agitation will never cease
as long as the middleman is the potential
factor in commerce. for our industries
can never settle down upon satisfact-
ory basis until the producer and the con-
sumer are brought face to face without
the intervention Of the middieman.
Hence ne must be enduerd. and support
ed, and catered to. until greater
than BELLAMY has arisen to provide the
world with perfect industrial system.
The socialist, the philosopher, OF the
economist who has the skill co plump
the middleman and knock him out of
the ring will be the prophet most hon
ored in the industrial world.