The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-10-21
DISTRIBUTION.
BY N. A. DUNNING.

that can be duplicated Cor less than
$4,000 per mile. This difference
between real and fictitious value is
S5,040,000,000. The telegraphs and
telephones are capitalized at $l20.00O,-
900. one.half Of which, or $50 900 900,
is fictitions. The dividends paid upon
these two items alone figured at per
cent, amounts to 1857 100000. Add
to this the profits OF insurance compa-
MES and the vast sum absorbed by the
banks, and we have grand total OF
more than one billion of dollars that is
taken from the pocketsof just such men
as Farmer A, and unjustly distributed
to the four classes OF business named
above. Space will not permit me to
give in detail the endless number of
devices calculated to divert the product
of labor from its proper channel. The
example already shown ought to con-
vince any person that the subject Of
distribution should be carefully studied,
to the end that a peremptory demand
be made, backed up by a thorough
understanding of the subject. that the
whole system of distribution be reor-
ganized upon lines of justice and
equality to all.
To do this united action is absolute
ly necessary, and united action only
comes through intelligent research and
combination.
Emerson said, "The farmer stands at
the door of the room and weighs to
every man his loaf" This is beau
tiful figure of speech, but like much
that is written concerning the glories
and pleasures of farm life, is wanting
in some very essential particulars.
While the farmer may produce the
bread and deal it out, as he certainly
does to the whole world, he has abso-
lutely nothing to say regarding the
remuneration he is to receive. He
may pillow and sow, reap and thresh,
but the moment he places his products
on the market, other factors step in
and determine the reward. But the
wrong does not end here. When he
attempts to make purchase he ascer-
tains very quickly that the price has
been established without any reference
as to what he might deem just or rea-
souable. The price put upon his wheat
was final; he could take it or haul his
wheat back home. The price asked
for sugar and salt is also absolute; he
can take them or not, just as he pleases.
After time the idea begins to obtain
that SO far as the buying and selling is
concerned his part is of but little i'm
portance. He has the privilege, how
eyer, of doing all the work, running all
the risk, and wearing all the poor
clothes, without dictation or assistance,
and appears thankful.
He finds someone else makes the price
he receives for what he sells, as we'll
as the price he pays for what he buys
He ascertains after time that the more
he pays for what he buys the less profit
he gets on what he sells. This discov-
esy leads to investigation, and that in
turn makes trouble for those who are
thriving upon his disasters.
If we could have cheap land, cheap
labor, and cheap money, together with
fair prices for everything else used in
production, we could afford to sell
cheap. But the same factor that
makes his products cheap makes his
purchases correspondingly dear. AS it
now stands, the same railroad managers
who fix the rates of freight on the
wheat he sells establishes it also on the
sugar and salt he buys. The same
unjust distribution which lessons the
price of bis products in nearly every
case increases the price of what he con-
sumes. The whole matter has been so
cunningly manipulated that the farmer
is made to stand at the wrong end of
the route in both instances. Distribu-
ton is really an exchange of products.
II the wheat of the West coul | be
exchanged for the cotton of the South
by paying fair compensation for SER,
vices rendered. the distribution would
be just. But this is not the case. The
wheat goes South burdened with the
tribute paid to corporations for which
no equivalent has been rendered, there
by increasing its cost to the consumer.
In like manner the cotton of the South
goes West, made dearer to the con-
sumner by unjustly distributing per
cent of its value without receiving an
adequate return. This wrong could be