The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-05-16
Is There Great Common Danger

county llmes, Vfnton. loWa.)
More and more plainly the fact
dawns upon our mind that the sys-
tenn of centralized distribution now
gaining strong hold on the people
is a menace to the institutions of
our common country, and system
fraught with danger to our very lib
ertise. We have seen light; we
have been converted. Heretofore we
have looked upon the great CATALOGUE
houses as agencies filling certain
want; but that theory will not stand
an impartial and intelligent investi-
cation. Suppose this idea is carried
out to the limit and. that the cata-
logue concerns absorb all the, BUSH
ness of the. country. What then
We will tell you what then" ac-
cording to our lights. Say that the
catalogue concerns have supplanted
the local distributaries, what fol-
lows? Is it to be supposed that
they will rest content with one half
Of the country's business? Not much
The selling of everything will be on
ly, one function of the great central
lied system of istribution; next
will come the buying of everything
and with the selling of all articles of
commerce in the hands of the few
and the buying OF all products in
the hands of those same few, where
are we, are common run of people,
to find a place in which to exercise
our powers as individuals; and what
is to become of the freedom and
liberties our farmer friends now en-
JOY under a widely spread competi-
tive system; This Is no time or place
for fault finding, neither are we in
the business of finding fault We
have all along gone on the theory
that the man who earns his money
has the right to spend it where he
wills, and we still believe in that
theory, with certain restriction and
modification, but the question OF
buying where one Wills has some
thing involved beside the mere ques-
ton of right. There is.the future to
think Of Are we as a community
going to aid few men to, get rich
that soon they will control all the
nations resources, as manufactures
from the farm yard?
This is not a question for the day
or the hour, but question that has
to deal with future. 1t is not a.
proposition based on sentiment, al
though sentiment should play an
important part, but proposition
based on the individual future well
fare. II the present tendency re-
mains unchecked the United States
of the future will comprise few ex-
stremely rich, who will manufacture,
buy and distribute and millions up
on millions of ordinary men, wholly
dependent upon those few manufac-
tuners, buyers and distributors. The
greatest good for the greatest num-
Der is the underlying principle that
should guide man and governments
in their attitude toward all public
questions The few, the classes,
should be ignored and forgotten be-
cause that is the natural. law 1t is
the natural law that no one man or
in the way of any movement that.
gives promise of retirement to the
general run. of man or. the general
run of communities. We have come
to look upon this natural law as God
given, therefore just and right. Now
If the increased power of the cata-
lougue houses will mean a greater
RI hn nj, lot
welcome that increased catalogue
house power and the few of us who
may be seriously affected seek in
other lines of human endeavor, the
success we hope to attain.
BUT WHAT May SEEM A. PRES
EMIT ADVANTAGE TO THE GREAT
EST NUMBER, GIVES PROMISE
OF ACTUAL DISASTER TO THE
GREATEST NUMBER.
We all of know how the money
power has taken a firm grip on this
nation and all the nations of the
world. Now it only remains for the
kindred spirits OF that money power
to secure a grip on the material
wealth of this nation and all other
udClOAS. Will q lew iiCh cClhii6 di-
most all the manufactured products,
Row long would it be before few
men would be buying all the pro-
ducts of the farm.
| This question of distribution is
the greatest question before the
American peope, All other questions
dwarf into insignificance If the fears
we now entertain are we'll grounded
Let us think men. and think hard.
Let us wipe out all sentiment with
Preference to local associations and
look this proposition squarely in the
/ face
j Let us consider the, question in
this wav: Will it be best for me and
my children end my children's chill
dren to maintain the present com
petitive system, or will be best tc
gradually adopt the socialist doc
4 trine of centralized system of dis.
ltributions? Will it be best to have
keen. progressive local business in
1 terested. buying and selling farm
4 products orr will 1T be. best to have
| great centers where the buying and
selling of farm products viii be car
ried on?
This question of catalogue house
system of distribution has gotten be
yOnd the local merchants 1t is not
his interests that are to be consider
n 4. L a -