There has recently come to light in San Francisco the existence of what is practically a continuous boycott. At least the machinery of the organization is so arranged that it is understood a boycott will begin at any time when the rules of the association are infringed by any one. A retail fruit merchant recently rented a store, but before he started in business, he learned that he would be boycotted by the Retail Fruit Dealers’ Association. He would not be allowed to buy or to sell. He states the matter in the following words: “Here I am, willing to go into business and to employ two men; but I am not allowed to do so. I know that I could get fruit even with the association opposed to me, but I would have to do so secretly. A new man going into the business would be unable to get fruit without the permission of the association. The commission merchants would not dare sell to such a man, on the wharves or anywhere else, because he would be watched by the members of the association, and as soon as a merchant sold to any one against the wishes of the association the members would refuse to buy from him. They would not say anything to him, or make any complaint, but would just boycott him, and it would not take him long to find out the reason for his loss of trade. When a merchant offends the association he has to pay a fine and promise solemnly to be good thereafter. I know many of the merchants and know how to get fruit without letting the association become aware of the fact, but I would rather lose my rent money than go to the bother at present. It is possible to arrange to get fruit through the intervention of other persons. Of course this must be done cautiously and carefully, as a man’s store is liable to be watched, and the association may be able to find out from where the fruit comes. Then the commission merchant will suffer, and the storekeeper may be effectually prevented from getting any more fruit until he joins the association.” Thus do we see how confederacies are forming to bring about the very conditions predicted in Rev. 13:16, 17. This and much more of a similar nature is schooling this generation for participation in the work there set forth.