The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-08-09
Present Conditions.

The late Presidential election results have
much to verify this oft recurring fact.
There is no class in so much apprehen-
sion as the mercantile, especially the
smaller, retail class. The great depart
ment stores are crowding them to the
ragged edge of the precipice and they are
steadily going over.
The siren song of prosperity and its
continuance with the election of McKin-
ley, and its sudden collapse if Bryan were
elected, threatened by the trust organs
and the stump spellbinders in the CAM
paign frightened that class; and in the
cities, where the great stores pressure on
them is most acute, they almost to
man, we are told, voted for Mckinley.
The future will force them to realize
that their fears and false promises of
the sirens of prosperity have led them to
the fate they sought to avoid. The de-
partment store will continue to widen its
devouring influence and the trust, of
which the mammoth store is branch,
will continue to absorb all unorganized
business under the Mckinley regime.
Let us imagine this policy continued,
where must it lead to9 The great stores
will finally snuff out all the smaller stores
and shops. They will extend their con-
quests into the country further aud fur
Their, establish sample depots in every
town and village, take orders and tele-
phone them to headquarters in the city.
The next day the goods will be delivered
by express at the door of the purchaser.
The competition will then be only
among few Observation-Disclosures
tile concerns, and to prevent competition
and control prices absolutely, they will
join i'll one giant commercial trust-they
are already commencing to combine.
A commercial or store trust of this
character in Philadelphia could sweep in
circle of business whose radius was 100
miles, or till it met its competitors located
in New York.
The manufacturing interests have com-
bined in this way and are steadily moving
on towards completion. The banking
interest is also forming colossal concen-
tration of banking capital, the mamuiot!!
New York banks and trust and insurance
companies taking ti.e lead.
J. Pierpont Mofgan's latest enterprise
is all International bank with capital OF
81 ,ooo 100000 The Rothschilds are to
represent The European interest and the
Rockefellers, ct. al, lie American end of
| this greatest of financial trusts, by which
lis organizers propose to manage the
finances of the eutire commercial world
Is it not about time the people who eer-
stitute the power Of this nation were or
ganizing an Uncle Sam bank for their
| own accommodation
The expense of managing a multitude
of little stores will also be saved by the
department store trust and the commer-
cial agents, drummers or travelling men S
expense be cut off and absorbed as part
of the economic gains TO the big concerns.
The numerous persons employed in
these many small branches of business
will be throYn out to seek other lines
Where can those other lines of business
be foundo They are not IN sight aud no
one has attempted to point them out
With the lessening of opportunities for
employment, less consumption of pro-
ducts must follow. No employment, no
money. no trade. Thus great economy
i'll productions must create poverty for
want of employment. The great econ
ouiy produced by combination is fast
pouring the wealth of the country into a
few hands and driving into poverty the
great mass.
This every observing person must see is
steadily going on. 1t will reach its nat
ural climax finally, but the process will
slacken as the Climax is approached. The
poor and compulsory idle will learn 10
live OH less as they do in the old coun.
tries. The bounties of the rich will be
doled out TO avert actual starvation, as is
being doue now in the great cities by
organized association of charities, and the
waste of the abnormally rich will also
serve to ieugtiien out the road to the
final end.
Now everybody knows who cares 10 DO
little independent thinking that this is
the final of the economic policy the Re-
publican party has adopted and is adj
dressing itself TO. We are in the first
sensation of this new economic policy.
The great captains OF industry and finance
are making the newspaper welkin ring
with its praises. Three billions year is
the wealth the industry of this nation
produces, and beyond an economic living
enjoyed by the best, and very scant
living by poorer class, this vast wealth
goes into possession of a comparatively
few persons.
These present lucky ones are drunk
with their success and are turning their
eyes, like the fool, to the ends of the
earth, seeking Business to invest this
golden harvest iii. fhis state of affairs
could not have been created SO suddenly
had not the light of science dawned on
the world and aided the invention of ana
chinery capable of performing the labor
of millions of hands.
In the meantime the children of this
generation are being educated as never