The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-04-22

The Common People Must Meet Organization
With Organization.

~
With Organization.
correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer,
Much has been written and said
about millionaire and Millionaire
trusts and their operations in this
country during the past decade.
There has been comparatively little,
however, said in their praise. They
are generally characterized as ICON
s~oienoeless" and sy''soulless" or as
some "wild beast of prey, raven
GUS and bloodthirsty, sucking the
life blood of the smaller enterprises
of the country"
While I do not propose TO defend
them or their speculative methods, l
do think shat tue language often en-
ployed in speaking Of them is alto
gether too harsh and unnecessary.
What do the millionaires care for the
bitter arcasm and ugly epithets
often used in speaking of them in
the papers? They have an ey to
business and pay no attention to the
unoouth comparisons and ~invectives
Of those less fortunate than them
selves. Why should they care what
we say about them and their meth
DDS, since the Supreme Court in
nearly every instance protects them !;
deciding, as it nearly always does, in
the very face of anti-tru st laws, that
trusts methods and schemes are
legitimate?
These men r in business for
profit. They are brainy and keen
eyed and see situations at a glance,
and having the means, they do not
fail TO take advantage of conditions
as they are coming. They seize op-
p~ortunity by the foreIock. They
act upon well. known business prin.
oiples even to the minutest details
Of their business. They combine
their millions TO prevent competition
among themselves and to DESTROY all
rival concerns. In this way they
greatly curtail expenses, control the
markets and thus increase their
profits handsomely. They take ad-
vantage of all conditions that make
low prices 80 buy real estate, or the
products of labor, etc that they
may need, IA oheaply as they can,
and alter wards sell for the highest
price the situations make it possible
TO obtain. They actually make on
dltions that cause low prices of what
they buy, and, at the same time, ad
vance the price of what they sell. In
short, they conduct all their business
In suoh a way as to make their
profits as large as possible.
The trust is not a bad thing either
for the fellow in it. The profits ali
DOM out of the hide and tallow of
the other fellow, who is not in it.
Now, all these methods of curtail.
ing ones expenses and increasing
ones profits are regular and legally
rights, the Supreme Court being
judge. They r undoubtedly the
secret Of success in accommodating
large fortunes. Perhaps a majority
oil our farmers and small dealers aim
TO put into practice most of these
principles in their small deals with
one another. For instance, many
persons who happen to have corn to
sell this year, will take the advar-
tage of the short crop last year. to
get the highest price for their corn.
There are plenty of men who take
the advantage of some poor fellows
being in a "cramp," to buy q horse
of him worth $75, for $50; and then
take advantage of some other poor
fellows ignorance aud sail him for
800, and then brag about their sharp
deal. We feel bad and think tina
other fellow mean only when we are
b victims thatlOst by his sharpde
ing. When We succeed in making
big profits in trade, we are much
pleased and congratulate ourselves
on being Fhrowd traders I do not
say that this in harmony with the
Golden Rule, but it ia Legitimate and
is the mOdus oper0ndi of our long
established commercial system.
But why donot the smaller business
concerns, farmers, etc , succeed more
generally than they do, since thev
NEVER is TINE more precious than
when some member of she family is
attacked by colo. 6ysentery or anv
bowel trouble The doctor Is dis
tant bat if Perry Davis PajnKilIer