The Washington times., 1917-11-04


the face of big Biz that Congressman Baer made ia
in the Northwest You look at the farmer who must
give two pigs for the suit of Clothes and the tailor who must
give two suits of clothes for pig.
Then you the happy flce of big Biz expanding
when the whole thing is done and the story is told
This picture represents the problem of this century and
Of every nation
One producer raises pigs and at the end of his life has
had just barely enough to live.
Another producer makes suits and at the end of his
life has had just enough to keep him alive.
Between the two the bridge called monopoly
stands the power that produces nothing and always
great deal more than needs more than it can use
a Do not suppose however that Congressman Baer or
any sees in this picture reference to the legitimate
necessary, and USEFUL commerce of the world.
Trade carried on as speciality is necessary in this age
Of specialization.
Is In the primitive tribe might make pair of
shoes while another killed bear and they might trade
~ But in complicated life there must be somebody
act as tradesman, as buyer and seller.
The farmer cannot walk into the city with pig his
back and look for tailor with suit to fit him And the
tailor cannot take his suit of clothes walk out into the
Try, give it to the farmer and say: "Give pig.
Commerce is necessary, commerce is USEFUL, and
carried the field of real competition is
Quoted on small margin Of profit.
What Congressman Baer shows in this picture and what
you the intelligent reader it. is not legitimate bust
ness but BIG MONOPOLY. .
81 The Trust that monopozes the whole product of ma
ton, the coal or the OIL is the enAn this bridge.
To tho that nnss the coal he gives lust enough to
keep him alive And from the who needs coal or oil
he demands than twice what be gave the producer
This picture of "Big Biz" on the bridge of monopoly
represents railroads privately owned which literally the
bridge between producer and consumer between farm and
city.
These railroads, pleading poverty and asking extra
rates now have had taken out of them thousands of swollen
fortunes based every conceivable form of commercial
crime rebates for the big man. extorion from the little man
Public ownership of railroads. of telephones of tele
graphs municipal ownership of street lines of electric
light and companies ought to be- and WILL be- the first
step in the abolition OF the monopoly that Big Biz enjoys
In oden times the baron the man with his castle on the
hill actually stood the bridge and took from the miser
able traveller half of what he owned he traded he paid
him in bad money when he bought of him. and cheated him
In weights and measures
That seemed perfectly right to the lord on the hill
BE said 81 the road and the bridge, and if you
want to pass over it. pay my price.
1t perfectly legitimate to the big business of mod
days when it says 81 the streets the railways the
monopoies. Pay my price
The red Indian would trade his winters collection Of
furs for few red beads and bottle of whiskey..
The African savage would pile up ivory tusks high
as his head and take in pay piece of looking glass and
heavy wornout overcoa in which he would soemnly pa
rade up and down in the sun, perhaps with pair Of cuffs
around his ankles
Millions of serfs in Russia were content for generations
70 live as slaves.
But their condition happy compared with that Of
the miserable Helos of Sparta-saves beaten and driven
Tc educate the young of Sparta and accutom them to
blood these young would be sent out dark night
with daggers and for practice in killing would spring upon
and murder miserable Heots that they found the road
starting to work in the early morning.
Human beings have accustomed themselves and re-
signed themselves to all kinds of outrages.
At each stage they believed that conditions
sarily they were and would remain
We look back with compassion the body slaves and
quite conen-90 per cent of us-to be nothing but
wage slaves working long hours getting about much
will keep alive, and getting through" short old age
somehow.
- "Big Biz standing the bridge which represents
monopoly has stood there, differently dressed with differ
et schemes but heart the same since the beginning Of
organized society.
si. But remember this and cheer up:
This is the first age of all long history in which Every
BODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO READ.
Out of the thinking the education and the protest will
come action economy for the many less unnecessary
accumulation for the few greater happiness for all
s.. SOME DAY THIS BRIDGE IS GOING TO BELONG
TO THE PEOPLE AND big BIZ WILL BE DIS