The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-19

they will be. The consumers are better
on the more directly they can deal with
the producer Moreover there is no sort
OF justice in compelling the consumer TO
pay profit to the middle man when ne
can purchase his goods directly from the
producer
we have no quarrel with the middle
man. lis occupation IS honorable and
his profits legitimate so long as his SER
vices are required in the transactions Of
business. In many instances It is impos-
sible FOR the consumer to deal directly
with the producer and the middle man Is
then not only 2 convenience but q ne
cesslty Ia ali such cases he has his
legitimate place In trade and IS entitled
20 the profit which he receives. But
whenever a consumer can purchase from
first hands, whenever he can make his
purchases directly from the factory or
feom the plantation OF the farmer. st IS
contrary 20 common sense 10 say that the
services Of the middle man should be re.
tanned because IT IS TO the benefit Of So
cicty that as many people as possible be
given employment.
But 10 IS the contention OF this New
York philosopher that whether needed
or not the services OF the middle man
should be retained. that the consumers
should voluntarily tax themselves to the
extent Of the middle mans profit in order
TO give the middle man an occupation.
in other words, he says IN effect that
the middle man should be retained as a
pensioner on the general public
No seif-respecting middle man would
occupy any such position. We were talk
ing some time ago with a large jobber
I'm Richmond-one Of these self-same mid
die men lie IS doing a large business
and as trade is now carried on he is me-
cessarily an intermediary between the
manufacturer and the retail merchant
The simple fact that he has a large trade
IS evidence that his services are required
and the profits which he makes on his
transactions as a go-between are legitl-
mate But he did not hesitate TO say
that If the time should come and he was
not SO sure the time would not come,
when the retail merchant could dispense
with his services and buy direct from the
factory be would certainly not complain.
lie would regret TO see his occupation
taken away from him. but he would not
put mp a poor mouth and say that the
whole country was going to the dogs be-
cause the johber had been retired. lie
would simply look out for some other
occupation.
The whole subject is summed up in
this: The greatest good to the greatest
number. AS the world progresses pro-
ccsses become less and less complicated
and more and more simple This is moth
ing more nor less than progress in econ
omy. Labor-saving machinery has come
I'm response TO economic demands. There
is no economy i'm employing five or six
men, and sometimes a hundred men, TO
do a work which one machine can do in
the same time. There is no economy I'm
employing Intermediates and paying
them profits when manufacturer and con-
sumner lean do business together without
the services of the middle man.
These things regulate themselves and
an these problems will work Themselves
out What is to become Of the midds
man? Don't distress yourself about him.
lie is one of the shrewdest and most
intellectual of all men in trade and no
knows fun Well how TO take care Of him
self. II his occupation. through the evo-
luton Of economy, be retired, he viii find
another.