The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-03-20
BILL sAnps sLETTER: II. I,iE
Ho Discusses Middle Moi Foiitics
and other Things. ~; 49,

-. iss -
Ho Discusses Middle Sfoti foiitice
and othor Things.
was Illuminating about the grand
army Of middle men that it takes tc
carry On the trade and commerce OF
this country. I verify believe that
they make more money than the
manufacturers and there are twice as
many Of them. A friend Of mine re-
Gently visited a large manufactory OF
sewing machines and tho superinten-
dent told him that the prime cost Uf
a tlrst-class machine was $500 and
they jObbed them Off at 3d. The
JobbcrS sold them for SIS to agents.
The agents retail them ut S35, for llc
has to rent u store room and keep a
horse and wagon and nuke repairs
free and sell on installments and
sometimes has to take u machine
back for non-payment. When the
original Bill Arp moved to Texas Inc
took his wifc'S machine with him and
left his note behind with $40 unpaid.
Shortly after that new agent was
sent here who not acquainted with
the Arp family and hc came out tc
my house and wanted me to pay the
note. had hard work to convince
him that l was another Arp. The
note was signed William Arp, his
mark, and Cinderella Arp, her mark.
My wife was very indignant that she
should be suspected or making hcl
mark.
Well, now you see how much money
went to the middle men after tho
machine left the factory-S S25-twicc
us much as 1t cost to make it. Just
so it is with thousands OF other things
that 30 through the hands Of middle
men.
was Illuminating about this he
cause ! received a report of 500 copies
of my new book that Mr.. Byrd had
sold. The book cost S5 cents to clcc.
troytypc and print and bind il and l
was TO have half tho profits arising
from the sale. Tic price was Sl.25
postage paid, which was ii cents.
Thirty copies had been sold here at
the book store for S37.50. The book
store kept % per cent. Or S9.37. Mr..
Byrd get S2S.l3. The freight and
incidental expenses amount To 3 cents
Il copy. So the cost was SS cents and
it ncttcd 93 cents and my half of The
difference WAS p cents OH a copy. The
publisher and agent or middle men
get about all there is in Il book. l
am not complaining 1T anybody but
myself, for Mr.. Byrd told me that
the price would have to be sl.5O to
make anything, but l wasn't think
ing about agents charging SO much
and wanted the people TO have ii as
cheap us possible. i,;itit can't go Oh
this way. The publication must
stop or the price be raised to ST 80
and il anaycnt WON'T sell for % cents
Il copy, he needn't sell at all. The
books sell themselves OH the counter.
Bat Mr.. Byrd can continue to sell on
mail orders for $l.25 and 10 cents
more for postage This will be Il fair
divide all around and give the poo1
author about IS cents Il copy
Senator lloar's speech at Chicago is
before me. Nothing Since the wal
has so checrcd me and impressed me
us that beautiful speech. Why doesn't
every newspaper in the South copy it.
or that part OF it that pays such a
tribute to the Southern people. When
finished reading it would have
luggcd the old man, il he had beer
near cnongh. Listen My life puliti.
caliy has been Il life OF constant strife
with the leaders Of the Southern pco
| pic, yctaS grow older, have learned
not only to respect and esteem them
but love the great qualities whicl
belong to my countrymcn OF tic
Southern States. They arc Il noDl,
race. We may we'll take pattern from
them in some Of the virtues that give
stcngtll and glory to a free people.
Their love of home; their chivalruus
respect for wOman-their courage
their delicate sense Of hOnor-thcir
constancy which can abide by an opil-
ion or a purpose through adversity
and through years and generations.
And there Is another thing -covctous-
ness, corruption and the low tcmpta-
tlon OF money has not yet found any
place in Southern politics.
My friends, we cannot afford to
live in IL state OF cStrangcmcnt from n
people who possess these qualities.
They arc friends of ours, born Of our
borning, ilcsll Of our flesh, blood OF
our blood and ifl have il right tn
speak for Massachusetts, will say,
Entrcat me not to leave thee or for
sake thee, where thou goest, will 90.
Thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my God. )"
FMS Gn1V rt nr II I 1,. .,r
placed 1T in my scrap book along with
the admirable editorial comment Of
The Constitution.
The Senator spoke truly when said
that corruption in national politics
had not yet reached the South If The
case had been reversed our members
would not have unscated Butler, but
with the Northern members the ends
justify the means. Yes, remember
from away back how the old man
fought us. My father was brought up
in his State and mother in South
Carolina and when the Senator and |
were in our early manhood I've were
born in the same ycar) the war began
between those two States. Yes, more
than fifty years ago, and has been bit
ter and unrclcnting ever since. This
is the first sign Of returning sense Of
justice that has come from any great
man Of the Old bay State and we re-
Joicc that it has come from Senator
lloar, the nObleSt Roman Of them all.
It's Influence will reach from Chicago
To Boston and It's generous sentiments
VIII thrill every breast in the South