The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-27

then, was II, that In tho last presidential
campaign by far the larger percentage OF
travelling men were found with Mckinley
and Hobart buttons In the lapele OF their
Goats and that each was nomadic evangel
OF protection for the American laborer"
Bat now the proverbial chicken has come
home TO the proverblal roost and the COM
mercial man Is wiser and sadder creature
than formerly.
From the fecund womb Of the protective
tarif has sprung the cruel progeny OF the
trusts They have overrua and possessed
the country. The protected factories have
combined and ceased to fight each other.
They have argued, and argued WE'LL that
the protective tariff secures them against
competition from the foreigner. since he
Is so much handicapped by an Import tax
that he cant get into the race with them.
What's the use OF hghting each othsr2
Let's get together In big combine and
+ Issue preferred stock to cover the invest
ment represented In each individual plant.
which aggregate stock shall represent our
total capitalization plus whatever percent
age OF watering we may determine upon
amongst ourselves. We Will put up the
prices Of commodities we control TO such
a igure as will guarantee a ilxed dividend
upon every dollar OF stock at issue--pre-
ferred and otherwise. II Is along some
such line as this that the trusts have rea-
soned and for these reasons have the great
consultations been effected. But there
is another source of profit to the COM
blnes than that which is created by the
overthrow OF that competition from which
| Is evolved the power 10 FIX the price OF
trust goods. and that is In the reduced
number OF commercial men necessary TO
present these goods 10 the trade. Money
saved is money made II. for the sake Of
easy illustration, a dozen concerns that
have been reaching for each others scalps
is the competitive atruggle for supremacy
| shall agree 10 consolidate under one man
| agament a certain article OF trade. of
comes the heads OF the regiment OF bright
and industrious travelling men who have
been beating the commercial brush for
| orders. These travelling men. or a large
| proportion OF them, are heads of families
Once out of employment the trained sales
man of the road is about Rs helpless q man
as can anywhere be found. Before the
trust came to work out It's mission of
greed and ruin, tho travelling salesman
! who could exhibit a certificate of character
ability and industry II his present con-
nectlons became disagreeable or unpront-
able, had no difficulty In securing a job
with another house"
The writer OF this editorial personally
knows almeet every reputable travelling
man in Texas He has been on the read
with them fer many years. He has mot
them at the midnight railroad connection
hurrying with an energy that knew abate-
ment neither By night nor day TO see the
trade. He has seen them at country hotels
putting up with accommodations that
would destroy the digestion of a wooden
Indian and wreck the constitution of an
Egyptian mummy When other people
have gone to bed they sit by the Hight OF
oil lamps or incandescents, swaying amidst
Ian mr. ,f httsr l..
on these hot nights come out of the dark
ness, and make out their orders" Cor
the house" At daylight they are off
again, sample cases in hand looking for
another customer. Their ambitious and
tireless energy has done more to build and
keep alive the fires Of competition In the
forge of cheaper prices than any other
agency known to commerce. Their energy
and tact has steadily forced down prices
to the merchant and enabled the merchant
to give his customers the blessings and
benefits of cheap goods. This travelling
man pays his debts and Is as good a citi-
zen as anybody. The commercial system
that crowds him out of employment, OF
that reduces his number, means the en-
slavement Of the people to the trusts So
long as the trusts shall endure. In HE
politics the travelling man, who has sup
ported the republican party. will see The
error OF his way, If he has not already
done so, and the people will find in him
bright fearless posted and up-to-date as
he is, their best and most active ally In
their mighty battle to break down the
power OF the American trust. Believing
this, the Statesman promises its support
through thick and thin, to any democratic
commercial man, whom any organization
az travelling men will recommend for del.
egate at large from Texas to the next Ma
: tional democratic convention. Here's oui
hand to you, boys You know who W,
are as we know you. Get into politics ant
help fight the brave battle Of the people
like the valiant fellows you are