The Virginia enterprise., 1908-03-13
PEOPLE 70 BLAME
HAVE +HoueHTLEssLv, AIDED IN
: cENTRALlZING INDUSTRIES, n>j
EVILS NOW CLEARLY = = SEEN
unequitable Distribution Of the Earn.
inos Of the People Inevitably Fol-
Iowed-Growth Of Small Towns
and Communities Retarded.


During the last few months of 1907
the people had striking example of
the effects of too much Capitalization.
While all over the United States there
was prosperity, a few embarrassed
concerns IN Wall street, New York,
brought about a financial stringency
that became generally felt. For years
the agricultural sections have been
sending money by the millions to the
great financial centers: Here it was
used for the building up of great
trusts and combinations, which were
greatly overcapitalized. On this
watered capitalization the people have
been compelled to pay ponderous divi-
dends.
One natural law is that of concentral-
ization, segregation, and in these mat
ters Nature carries on it's work we'll,
but unnatural concentration, like 9TH
er infractions of natural laws, bring
quick punishment. The Capitalization
OF industries which has been going on
since the trust era started has
brought about an unequitable distri-
button of the earnings of the people.
1t has retarded the growth of towns
and communities. 1t has brought in
its wake many evils that affect work
ers in every field. Yet for these evils
the masses of people are to blame
Every man, woman and child who la
bors and who sends the products Of
that labor to other places than the
home community assists just SO much
in Capitalization of business and
financial power. Every resident of a
rural community who sends his dol
lars to the large city helps along the
trust builders and the centralizers.
While the mailorder evil is one that
Is serious, It Is only so as 1t is a
means of centralization of business,
and the consequent sapping from CON-
munities the wealth that should be re.
tanned in them.
The commercial enterprises are the
life elements of the rural towns.
When these enterprises are destroyed,
the town deteriorates. With the dis
appearance of the town goes the home
markets, the good schools and the
churches and the other public con-
veniences that the town affords. With
the going down Of the town, real es-
tate values are deprecated, and de-
preston comes to all the community
How would the farmers fare if the
towns were wiped out and only the
large cities allowed to exist? What
kind of markets would the farmers
have for all their produce? How does
the average farmer find dealing with
city concerns at the present time?
When shipment of eggs is made to
the city commission man, does the
farmer get as good returns as he does
from the home dealers? How about
other produce? 1t is the home mar
kets that afford the growers of pro-
duce protection. When the calm
thinker who is engaged in agriculture
considers all these little matters, he
will find that in home patronage lies
the keystone of his success. How
would the agricultural districts be as
living places were there no home
towns? But this is what the situation
would be if all the people of a COM
munity sent to some foreign place for
all the goods required.
Home is word dear to all good
citizens. That man lacks patriotism
whose inclination it is to oppose the
progress of the place where he re-
inc ho%%
town. we are improving the COM
munity of which We are a
part. We cannot improve with
out benefiting ourselves We
cannot give patronage to concerns
In the large cities without giving just
so much help to the trust builders
and the business centralizers. All
these things are worthy of the most
serious consideration Of every citizen.