The Power of the Middlemen
Carefully compiled statistics show that in the city of New York, sixty per cent of the cost of foods goes to the middlemen. The farmers and the railroad companies get the other forty per cent. Were it not for the great combines of capital, such facts as these would be impossible. One of the modern sources of investment of the large corporations is in the big cash stores, where either dry-goods or food products may be the leading thing sold. The large combines of capital that are making their millions every year are on the lookout in every direction for places to invest their surplus funds; and if they find a man that seems to be making a success in handling a large grocery business, a dry-goods store, or anything of the sort, they will back him with all the money he needs, and allow him to sell in a wide range of territory. Of course the individual that has such backing as this, can always buy in large quantities, and in the best markets, and in every way has the advantage of his competitors. It will be said that such things as this serve to help the consumer by giving him his products at a lower rate. In a few instances it may work out in this way, but the general tendency of the whole business is to give the control of all domestic products into the hands of the big money power, and this thing is creating conditions in this country and throughout the world that will give more and more trouble. The question is not one of the benevolent working of this system in some particular things, but it is that of allowing a small handful of men to get such control of commerce that everything must be done according to their pleasure. There is where the great danger lies.