Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-29


monopoly may say. feel. think and do?
That seems to be the rather too narrow
view taken by the N. Y. Commercial
and other papers and persons.
But the excluded and unconsidered
factors are really the most important
ones that enter into the problem. They
comprise the laborIng force OF man.
kind and those who hold the material.
How is 1t that the materials Of which
things are made and the labor and skill
whereby this material is fashioned into
useful shape or condition are of no con-
sequence. or of so little that they need
no attention? Nor are the men few,
unintelllgent and helpless who supply
labor and material to produce the com
moditles which monopoly seizes and
sells to consumption. The men COM
posing the trusts and monopolies are in
fact only middle men. arrogant through
combined strength and capital, who
have usurped commanding position
between the real producers. on the one
hand, and the real or final consumers,
on the other, and their defenders as
sumo or pretend Con what ground we
know noD, that these middle-men, de-
parting from all their former policies,
and changing skin and spots as Ethio-
plans and leopards of their tribe are
not won't to do. will show special favor
to consumers! Is it a fairy tale?e
But how came it that consumers are
the most important parties in this sys-
tenn of trade? Money. it will be said es-
tablishes monopoly. with the aid of
government. and this puts producers
and production absolutely at the will
OF money. which, however must con-
ciliate and favor consumption. so as to
sell freely and engross rapid profits.
furnishing the best quality at the low
est rate, to the mutual benefit of mo-,
nopolst and consumer, at the cost of
the producer. That appears to be the
scheme and it's theory: to appeal to
brute force and sacrifice the people who
furnish labor and supply material to
mlddle-men and consumers who are not
mlddle-men. nor producers or supplers
men on salary or Income, or who live
by their wits.
Labor. enslaved by the Money
Monopoly and Trust and supported by
the government, its courts and arms.
is to be ground. crushed and pressed,
while material is to be similarly put to
the screw. for the benefit OF the nom
producing consumers of the fruits of
the earth. Are they not Counting
without their host" who thus figure out
the matter. especially in the tribunal of
brute force. now being tested and prac-
ticed In the Philippines? Brute force in
men Is a terrible engine. Never since
the creation OF man has it found any,
thing able to withstand 1t even for n
little bit All the course OF time is
strewn with the shattered debris of
naughty nations and empires that dar-
ed provoke brute force too far. Like
Samson. 1t generally Stays itself. but 1t
ends the wrong that aroused It. And
modern ingenuity. invention and cum
ming. with all it's money, cannot stand
a day before the wrath OF a. maddened
population that wealth and power have
been obliged to trust with the key of
their position.
But common-sense. as we'll as COM
mon-1ustice. enters into this subject.
despite debauched temples of Justice.
There is some virtue and intelligence
still extant. in defiance of vice and
wrong. Money,in the last resort, when
1t itself is at stake. may not be master
OF the situation. but rather its weak
ness and betrayer. Laborers and sup
pliers, if not masters of the world in
numbers and condition in WAYS and
means, have many natural allies, be-
Sides all good men and men of sense.
All the owners and tillers OF land; all
the owners and workers in material; all
men not directly mental and mercenary
vassals Of monopoly; all persons and
capital that have been sufferers
through monopoly and it's brutal rule;
and all men who desire to rescue them
selves from base thraldom, and re-
store liberty, prosperity. equality and
human brotherhood-all will unite with
the producers, who must revolt or lose
their very manhood
The trusts must so. But the money
trust Is the real monster that has en-
poverished the people. defies govern
ment and now raises its brutal club of
monopoly to give expiring liberty its
death blow.
A WEAK MAN I'M cTDON1~ AN,r>