The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-10-26
Some Prices Given Showing How the
People are Robbed BY the Great
CombFneE

People are Robbed BY the Great
Combines.
From Interview, STAFF Correspondent, Kansas
City Times.l
Mathew NJ. Roberts, an extensive
dealer in hardware at Independence,
No, and a lifelong republican, wiz
support Bryan In an interview, re-
ferring to the democratic platform,
said he had changed his political af
because Of the s're- creation Of
the declaration Of independence at
Kansas City, No, on July 4. 1900"
In this interview he gives his rea-
sons for becoming a democrat:
'sMr. Roberts" 1 asked, "why did you
become a democratic"
sFor several reasons" he replied.
aFirst, because I love my country,
its people and its institutions. 1 be
iieve in the declaration of independ-
ence and the constitution Because I
revere the traneendent wisdom and
patriotism Of the men who gave Us lib
erty and those who preserved it until
this critical hour. Because I believe
in a republic before any other form of
government yet conceived or designed
by man.
Second, because I am q business
man. Under a system Of fair competi-
ton I prospered moderately, but stead
lily. Under the trust regime, fostered
by republican legislation and encour-
aged by republican policy and friend
ship, not a business man in Independ-
ence-and ElznOW them alI-has made
any money since the Inauguration of
William Mckinley and the ascendancy
of men Of the type Of Marcus A. Hanna
in the affairs of our government. We
deceive ourselves because We are sell
ling goods; but every man who stops
to thiRk and figure knows that what
we sell is without profit, business ex-
penses-and they have increased
considered. If the retail man inereas-
es his prices in proportion to the
prices demanded Of him by the trust
and they control everything in our
line-we would be regarded as robbers,
and consumers would rise up against
Us.
ave are the men who suffer most.
We are simply agents for the trusts,
and are working for them for nothing.
Under the present system the trusts
have everybOdy-the laboring man,
the retailer and the eonsumer-by the
throat, with the most unreIenting grip
on the retailer.
"YOu can take, as an example, any
thing in this store" continued Mr..
Roberts, sand you viii find it advanced
in price By the trusts without ca1se.
The raw material, the metal in the
earth, has practically the same value
that it has had for thousands Of years.
The laboriug man who digs it out is
working for the same old wages. The
mOuldeE does not get any more pay, or
if he does it is practically nothing
compared with the dvance. The re-
taller and the consumer have to pay
twice more for the finished article. The
man who gets the big rake of is the
man who has the least TO do with it
the man who is at Newport in the
summer and In the sunny southland
In the winter-while the man Who
digs, the man Who moulds, the man
who sells and the man who buys are
compelled, under the vicious system
which Mark Hanna justified, to pay
his prineeIy expenses and to pile up
his wealth"
The following advance in prices was
brought out 10 the interview:
HWhet was that rope worth in 1855,
sud what is it worth noH?n I asked. 1
Mr.. Roberts called his stock man to I
answer the question accOrding TO the
bills on fle.
He opened the file book, and it hap
pened that the house had received a /
consignment Of rope the first week IN +
Nay, 1898
@Is was worth fhen.s he said, $50
last BAY It vas Werth SO
Sin Nay, 3. barb we WIS worth
s120s last Nay 81 vas worth g 40
an Hay. 159s wire nails we're worth
lIz5s iss EF they we're p1Fth