People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1895 — Page 5

DEPARTMENT STORES.

A GREAT EVIL OF MODERN BUSINESS—AN OCTOPUS OF CREED. Shauld Be Condemned by All Right Thinking People Throughout the Whole Country —It la an Institution of Foreign Origin and a Monopoly. A city 1b something more than merely a large collection of houses. A city should be a scene of busy, bustling activity, where are erected many homes, where are employed many laboring people in factories, stores, workshops and mills. It is apparent that the farmer whose land lies nearest a prosperous city is in better shape than his fellow-farmer whose possessions are not so favorably situated. In order to succeed a city must have stores of every kind, afld many of them for the sake of competition if nothing else. The more stores in a city the more families to be maintained and the more, labor connected therewith, hence the greater demand for farmers’ produce of every kind. This being the case, imagine a city in which the mercantile business of a city is all conducted under one roof! The result would be that a hydra-headed monopoly of the worst form would be in control, and in course of time every interest of the city would pass under its direction. There would be no such a thing as competition. That city would be ruined. Ichabod would be written all over its every industry, and it would eventually become a monument to man’s avaricious greed as represented by that modern devil fish of business life, known as the department store. The practices of the modern department store are those that we might call “cut-throat games.” Its competition is illegitimate, such that no business man of principle can endorse. For instance, “bait” is thrown out to laggard buyers. Twenty-six pounds of granulated sugar is offered for a dollar. Any man acquainted with the price of this commodity knows that no department store can secure sugar any cheaper than the legitimate dealers, however large the quantity they purchase may be. Then who meets this loss —more than 25 cents on every dollar’s sold? This “bait” is thus thrown out that the public may enter and the loss on sugar will be made up on other articles the public may be induced to buy, the price of which they are not so familiar with as they are with the price of sugar. If this be not the proper solution of this problem then what is? Surely the managers are not so magnanimous as to absolutely give away money! Humanity is not built that way. As we have said before, the average department store should be opposed by eVery right-thinking person. Because it is a monopoly. Because it enoourages cheap labor. Because it encourages the manufacture of shoddy goods. Because it is illegitimate competition. Because it is an institution of foreign origin that ought not to be countenanced on American soil. These are some of our reasons for opposing the department store. The department store the world over is a monopoly, or seeks to become such, hence they advertise to “retail everything.” It is just as censurable for a few men to control the retail business of a city as it is for Jim Hill to control the two great northern railways across this continent, which attempt has caused such a stir in the judicial and business circles of this state, and the condemnation of everybody except the Inonopolists.

It is a fact susceptible of the clearest demonstration that coming to this country from Egypt, and from the various cities of continental Europe, every week, are ship-loads after shiploads of rags, the cast-off clothing of the poor of those countries, whose wearers, in many cases, died of small-pox and other contagious and loathsome diseases. These rags furnish, in a great measure, the raw material that keeps the shoddy mills at work preparing the cloth for the manufacture of garments to be sold “cheap,” thus coming in competition with wool growers of the north, and the cotton growers of the south, and whose principal customers are the sweat-shops of the great cities, and factories whose output is sold to managers of department stores. We have it upon the authority of expert microscopists that even after this shoddy material is soaked in hot water and subjected to other treatment it receives before being “made up,” that the cuticle of the skin of the original wearers is still retained in the fibre of the cloth, and that the disease germs still lurk therein! Is it not unreasonable to ask dealers in legitimate goods to compete with dealers in these disease-lurking articles? What has been said of this shoddy cloth may with equal force be said of nearly all the wares for sale by department stores. Products of sweat shops, of penitentiaries. It is strange that public sentiment does not speedily mass itself against an institution so fraught with danger and disaster as that disorgan'zer of business principles, known as the department store, but which should more properly and correctly speaking, be called the big racket store. Wherever aggressive capital may hope to be amply rewarded department stores are being established. Admitting that they are a success, then what of the future? Under our present system a young man may enter a store as a chore boy, then, as his abilities are recognized, become a clerk. As he saves his money and improves his time there is a possibility of engaging in business on his own account. It may be a small business at first, but gradually developes it until he is a fullfledged merchant. This is the possibility before a young man to-day, in

(act, it is the history of many a merihant’s experience, hence the incentive to excellency on the part of young men as they first enter the employ of the merchant under existing conditions. How is it in the department store? Over the front door the young man entering, and ambitious to establish a business for hmiself may see, if he scans closely, these fateful words: “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here.” Department stores with all their glare, tinsel and elaborateness, require a great deal of capital such as no business man can accumulate in a life time. Generally speaking, these stores are established on the money of eastern capitalists. For instance, Armour, who has accumulated his millions by questionable methods, such as, in the wheat and beef combine, is now investing his millions in department stores. It is impossible for a young man just beginning life as a clerk ever to become the owner of a department store. In the event of the success of the department stores, what must become of the thousands of small merchants and the large army of clerks? There is but one opening for them to enter the channel of productive industry, and that avenue, with the flood gates of immigration wide open, is already filled with more men now than can be profitaby employed. This question of the department store is an important one, and it behooves every person interested in the success of city, state and nation to carefully consider, and promptly discourage. Shut it off before it becomes a power in the land. Let every one realize at once the great danger of this insidious enemy to business and industrial life. — Mankato (Minn.) Journal.

WILL DO SAME IN OTHER STATES

What the People’s Party Has Accomplished In Nebraska. A people’s party handbook, issued by the campaign committee of Nebraska, tells what the people’s party has done for that state. The same results will follow the election of the people’s party ticket in other states. The reforms enacted by a people’s party administration in Nebraska are as follows: It enacted a maximum freight law, but republican courts suspended its operation. It cut down extravagant appropriations, but a republican legislature brought them back. It brought to light the corruption existing in state institutions. It made possible the passage of the Australian ballot law. It enacted a law requiring state and county treasurers to make all banks give bond that handle public money, and to collect interest for the use of such money and turn it into the public fund. The last republican legislature sought to repeal this, but the governor sustained it. It enacted a law requiring intersecting railroads to build transfer switches, and, by means of such transfer switches, ship all freight the shortest distance to destination, but a republican board cf transportation has nullified it. It repealed the special bounty given to sugar refineries, which was re-enact-ed by the last republican legislature. It enacted the eight-hour law. It gave the state a warehouse law. It was instrumental in securing the passage of a law to have the books of all county treasurers examined at least once every two years. It secured the passage of an antitrust law. It secured the passage of an antiPinkerton law. It was instrumental in having passed many other good measures. It elected the ablest United States senator that ever represented Nebraska. It elected the ablest and cleanest governor who ever occupied the executive office of the state. Under his administration it saved the state money by the veto of several useless and extravagant appropriations.

Wall Street and a Third Term.

The Tribune puts the whole question in a nutshell when it says “the business men of Wall street are not unfriendly to the idea of a third term for Mr. Cleveland.” This is all there is to the Cleveland third-term movement. Business men of Wall street would be ninth-power ingrates if they did not remain loyal to Mr. Cleveland. For them he repudiated his party’s solemn declarations of faith; for them he broke his party’s solemn pledges to the people of the United States; for them he filched the public treasury of millions of dollars. Some of the business men of Wall street, our contemporary says, “think the objection to a third term is purely a sentimental one. Others do not, but seem to have a feeling that with Mr. Cleveland in the white house there could not be any tampering with the money standard.” With the money standard of Wall street, the Tribune means, the money standard which debases the value of one-half the metal money of the country and appreciates the value of the other half. The patriotic business men of Wall street have no fear that Mr. Cleveland will tamper with their gold money standard. It is with the money standard of the constitution that Mr. Cleveland tampers. That standard is the silver dollar enjoying all the rights of gold. It recognizes the demands of all sorts and conditions of men instead of just the roundbellied greed of the business sharks of Wall street. In tampering with this standard Mr. Cleveland violates his oath of office and slaps in the face a holy tradition of the democratic party. In so doing he fosters his third-term movement on Money Shark’s street and kills it in the rest of the country.— Chicago Daily Press. If there is any other brand of prosperity, let as wuapto it, please.

THE PEOPLE'S PILOT, RENSSELAER, IND., THURSDAY, DEC. 5. 1895.

A LITTLE DISCUSSION.

THE DAILY PRESS DEPRAVES THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE. Do You Realize That Plutocracy Controls Every Line of Telegraphic News That Goes Into the Great Dally Papers of This Did you know that a control of the press by any one person or class was dangerous to the public welfare —and that no republic has ever been able to survive it? Did you know this, my friend? If not, why did you not know it? Was not a free press lauded in your childhood? Why? Let history tell. And yet you know that seven men, or that a certain number, all men of wealth, and bond-creators, control every line of news that enters the daily press! You know this, my friend. You certainly know it—we instst upon it that you are aware of the fact. You certainly know of the Associated Press (and the United Press with the same stockholders or paper owners.) Do you now fly in the face of all human history, and declare that this press control is safe? Oh no. But you do not realize the extent and the awfulness of the blanketspread despotism. You do not realize that this agency of aristocracy controls all the columns of every daily paper except the editorial and the local —and the local is now prepared by the “Press Agent” where it is of general importance.

Who are these men? Why, Jay Gould owned 3-llths of the combination before he died. Men like Russell Sage, bogus bond creators, and trust and loan companies, make up the entire “company.” Do they suppress? The ignorance of the American people upon great national transpirations is absolutely abominable. Civil war in Tennessee was carried on at Coal Creek, and sentry fires illumed the bordering ridges for three months before a line of news reached the press—and then because the miners captured the stockade. Bloodshed took place in the Berlin riot —but the press says, “not a drop of blood was spilled.” Strikes are won triumphantly—the press says, “the men gave in.” The people’s party have a love feast with 8,000 northern blues, southern grays and labor delegates. The press informs the world —“Populism Split Asunder!” The world is informed that a gigantic national association demands unsecured worthless money, printed by “wagon loads!” Whereas the populists are the first political organization to demand that worthless, wind-secured, debt-creating national bank and other bank currency shall cease to exist—that every dollar shall be secured with two or four times its face value—shall be as changeless as the everlasting hills —and shall be a debt-payer and not a debt-producer. The people are crammed with lies about anarchists —about bombs —about European conclaves and American banditti, and all manufactured lies —the bombs are placed by hired villians (See sworn statement of Chicago Chief of Police) and the U. S. Deputy Marshals are arrested in the very act of burning cars, and firing pistols over the heads of troops. Meantime the press depraves the public conscience—reduces patriotism and statecraft to base-ball and golf—and makes public gambling reputable. It sustains the vast combines, the fearful trusts which control the price of food —until the western farmer gets l%c for his beef, and the Chicago citizen, three days after, pays 20c per pound for the same. And still our good citizens —seeing prosperity destroyed, constitutions wrecked and public morality debased — will vote the same cruel organizations Into power—year after year.—East and West.

Punishing Criminals.

Taylor, the South Dakota thief, who stole $300,000 from the state, was sentenced to five years in state’s prison, but on appeal the state supreme court reduced the “punishment” to two years. Of course he will get out long before the two years are up. Here is a meter of punishment prepared for the benefit of monopoly judges: PUNISHMENT FOR STEALING. A loaf of bread 30 days in jafi $lO GO days in jail $25 six months in jail SSO one year state’s prison SIOO two years state’s prison SSOO five years state’ prison SI,OOO ten years state’s prison SIO,OOO five years state’s prison $50,000 a trip to Canada SIOO,OOO, he settles with the people he stole from and becomes a “respectable” citizen of the community. A man who steals say half a million or more hires smart lawyers, gets free and may buy his way into the United States senate. —Milwaukee Advance.

The people’s party is called the third party, but that is only partially true. , The democratic party is now the third ! party in the following states: Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, North Dakota, Washington, Nevada, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Arizona. | The republican party is the third party in the following states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia and North Carolina. The people’s party can afford to extend a welcome hand to everybody, but it will dicker with no one.

The Third Party?

LESSONS IN BANKING.

Farty Prejudice Defeats Good Principles of Banking. The attention given to banking matters by the people generally and the press, regardless of political affiliation, is highly encouraging and significant of a growing interest on a most important subject. Until recently the questions which are now freely discussed were ignored by the public as being too intricate for the ordinary mind to grasp, but as the necessity of a better system becomes so evident, the subject is attracting deserved attention. A recent issue of the Kansas City Star contains a leading editorial from which we quote as follows: “The condition of a little bank in Kansas when it failed yesterday emphasizes the need of better legislation in that state for the protection of depositors. When the bank commissioner took charge he found less than twelve dollars in money on hand to meet liabilities of nearly $13,000. The owner of the bank had used the assets in grain speculations. “Last winter Bank Commissioner Breidenthal prepared an equitable bill for the regulation of the banking business. He particularly sought by the bill to protect depositors. “The enactment of Breidenthal’s bill into a law would have enlarged the commissioner’s authority and kept the business of banks within their means, but influences were brought to bear to kill it.

"The fate of this bill, admitted to be a meritorious one, illustrates what may be accomplished through party prejudice. Breidenthal is a populist, and when the great necessity for a better banking law was presented to republicans argument went for nothing. The author of the bill was a "Pop” and was holding a valuable office by virtue of the law and of his own peculiar fitness for its duties, which republicans wanted as a part of the spoils of victory, and by raising that prejudice members were easily persuaded to permit no legislation of that kind. Often since in the disgraceful bank failures which have occurred throughout the state, the necessity for such a law as Breidenthal proposed has been realized, but probably it has never once occurred to the victims that party prejudice was responsible for their losses.” Whenever any reform is secured it will come through the effort of populists and as the victims of old thieving methods multiply voters will be added to our ranks. The Star may not again dare to touch this question of securing depositors, but the man who penned that editorial will continue to think after he has been silenced by the power behind the throne which never fails to look after these matters. The victims of the banks, which go down owing depositors twenty-five million dollars a year, will some day get their eyes open to the true solution of a very simple problem. The banker who cannot secure depositors should not be allowed to run a business that deceives the people.— Chicago Express. An absurd rumor was published by the daily press about President Cleveland being assassinated. Only good presidents have ever been assassinated In this country. If Grover had been as devoted a friend of the people as he has been a tool of trusts and corporations, the money power would have had him assassinated long ago.

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