The advocate., 1892-02-10

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same state of affairs In the whole west
and northwest, and going farther east
behold in all the large cities from one
thirdto one-half of all the large whole
sale establishments closed up. Now ask
yourself what are all these men, en-
ployerS and employees to do? There is
but one answer. Either swell the ranks
of the army Of tramps or go to farming.
All, there! Are there not already mil
lion or two Of idle men? Do we not hear
a great deal about orer production? And
is it not the Farmers Alliance writer and
lecturer who says that 1t Is not over pro-
duction but Wnder consumption? And
how then will 1t work to increase the
production Of farm products and decrease
the consumption Of the same? Go to!
You who pretend to be Alliance men
and yet advocate the claims of the ma
tlonal octopus. Italicise this fundamen-
tai proposition: So long as zoe Ice under
the competitive system Of social scOnOnuy,
the chief concern Of the farmer lies IN the
direction Of keeping as many men en-
plOyed IN other occupations, at good
aOageSt GS can cOnSaOme his surplus pro
ducts. Both parties to an exchange must
have something to swap. The farmer
will prosper better under an era of good
wages and high prices than under sys-
tenn of low prices and idle men. The
farmer, of all men, should be interested
In the enforcement of an eight hour law
and the conversion of every idle man
into a food consuming lsborer. The
policy Of the National Union Company
would reduce the capacity Of the farmer
to buy, by destroying the domestic
market for his products In amuch greater
ratio than it would decrease the price Of
the goods he had to buy. Indeed-as
most business men, on account of low
margins Of profit, sooner or later have to
go into bankruptcy-all the National
Union Company needs In order to kill off
competitors is pledge Of the custom Of
the farmers.
There is no doubt that all those
connected with or advocating the claims
of this vast boa constructor have asked
themselves the questlon-What is there
in it? Let US see If We can find out.
From The ADVOCATE Of January 90, /
clip as follows:
You will remember that some days since we
were discussing the National Commercial Union
and promised to write you the results Of any
investigation could make Of the matter. and
have since seen the printed propositions and
contract and have arrived at the following con-
cluSlOnS, which may not correspond with the
fnal agreements, as the irSt may not he changed.
A, represents the local store; B, Commercial
Union; G, customer. A, has store with $4,000
paid up capital; B. buys the store with $1,000 de-
benture bonds; @, buys at retail OF local store
$40. 900 Of goods.
There is district trade commissioner pro-
vided for who does the purchasing Of goods at
wholesale, who receives X per cent. on gross
purchases. Local agent gets IL per cent. on
gross sales; customer gets per cent, rebate on
gross purchases, estimated cost Of clerk hire,
rent. freight, etc., 8 per cent;
COST.
5000 purchases by dis
trlcr trade eOmm'r ath
| per cenb................ 1000
O00 retail sales, local
agent IL per cent. ..... 6OO00
$4,000 customers rebate
| 2 per cent .............. $1,000
$4,000 clerk hire, rents,
freight. etc, per cent. 1,6OOOO
4
S3,O5O.OO
go, 900 first cost-average