Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-10-05
JOHN SMITH CHANGES PARTY.
A Simple story Which illustrates the
Oppressive Power of
Trusts.

1nlS is lne simple story OF now
John Smith came to change his party.
His father was republican His
grandfather was wing. John him
self had always voted just as his
father did. From his early youth he
had always evinced an interest in
politics, but it was quiet interest.
He didn't go much on getting into
arguments. He was always content
to believe that the republicans were
more right than the democrats. SO
he voted straight republican ticket
every time.
John keeps small store in the sub
urbs of large city. He sells grocer
les, oil, candies, stationery for the
school children, and deals little In
meat. especially in the winter time,
when it is easier to keep meat than in
the summer.
John has noticed of late that his
profits amount practically to moth
ing, still he does fair amount of bust
ness: he is steady and does not spend
his money extravagantly, tries to buy
pretty good things for his store, al
|
he keeps things neat and clean about
his place.
A few months ago John got hold
of newspaper with some interesting
articles regarding the growth and de-
lstructiveness of the trusts His bust
ness was quiet, he had nothing else
to read. so he glanced over the ar
ticle. Very soon he became interest
ed and read them very carefully. AS
a result he is in predicament, IL
worried considerably. He can no
longer accept the presentment of the
republican side of the case as he used
to. Yesterday he read in paper
about the great prosperity through
out the country, abut the enormous
amount of goods shipped and bought
by Uncle Sam, of the increased
amount of business being done and
of the increase in the amount of
money in circulation. He does some
thing now that he never did before.
He questions the truth of these state
ments. For instance. he wants to
know where the money goes. He is
not making any, his friends in bust
ness tell him that they are not MAX
ing any money. Some years ago they
used to make money, and they used
to spend it literally, too, but now
they are forced to play close to the
cushion.
John is doing little figuring now
| all by himself, and is doing consider
able thinking. He wonders why it
is that he and his old friends, those
he knows in town. are not making
any money. He figures that there
are more people around town than
there were in the days when business
was good. He figures that they
should eat as much as ever, in fact
should spend about as much money
as ever. But do they? He answers
himself by saying that he does not
spend as much money as he used to
spend, he doesn't get hold of it to
spend. He figures that what is true
of him is true of other people. The
question, who gets the money, is
what he is trying to figure out. He
looks about the store at his small
"-,,T''ly of goods and recalls from
whom he buys them. Neaffy every
thing he has in stock is handled by
trusts. There is no competition. He
must buy from that one party or
not buy at all. They bull the price.
He has to pay large sum for the
goods, but he cannot always charge
large price, because the people won't
pay it; for, what is equally as bad,
they can't pay it, What is the re-
suit? The result is that the trusts
make the money. The merchant is
forced TO buy his stock from concerns
that tolerate no competition. He is
forced toNsell his goods in competition
with his fellow merchants, owing to
the combines that are formed, the
profits of the wholesale houses are
never cut. If the prices of the goods
; are raised to the small merchants it
| simply follows that its profits are di-
minished. The merchants loss is the
combines gain. And it is equally true
that the combines gain is not only
the merchants loss, but the public's
as well. This is the fact which John
, Smith has discovered and about which
he is energetically telling his friends
and neighbors. And as a result of
having at last seen the light upon the
| trust question, he has decided to vote
, against them by casting ballot for
Bryan. Thus ends the simple story
of John Smith.
DEATH IN CUPS AND GLASSES.