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106 The Middleman Question 19. This excerpt begins with the fourteenth paragraph, p. 157, of the chapter “The Middleman Question,” pp. 149–164. The passage begins with the first sentence under the original subhead (here omitted) “The middleman’s part,” p. 157 and ends on p. 164. 20. The first sentence under the original subhead (here omitted) “A system of economic waste,” p. 158. 21. The first sentence under the original subhead (here omitted) “Cooperation of farmers will not solve it,” p. 158. I recognize the service of the middleman to society.19 I know that the distributor and trader are producers of wealth as well as those who raise the raw materials; but this is no justification for abuses. I know that there are hosts of perfectly honest and dependable middlemen. We do not yet know whether the existing system of intermediary distributors and sellers is necessary to future society, but we do not see any other practicable way at present. In special cases, the farmer may reach his own customer; but this condition, as I have suggested, is so small in proportion to the whole number of farmers as not greatly to affect the general situation. We do not yet see any way whereby all farmers can be so organized as to enable them to control all their own marketing . Therefore, we must recognize middleman practice as legitimate. But even though we yet see no way of general escape from the system, we ought to provide some means of regulating its operation.20 The present method of placing agricultural produce in the hands of the consumer is for the most part indirect and wasteful. Probably in the majority of cases of dissatisfaction , the person whom we call the middleman does not receive any exorbitant profit, but the cost of the commodities is piled up by a long and circuitous system of intermediate tolls and commissions. It is commonly advised that farmers “unite” or “organize” to correct middleman and transportation abuses, but these troubles cannot be solved by any combination of farmers because this is not an agricultural question. It is as much a problem for consumers as for producers.21 It is a part of the “The Middleman Question” 107 civilization of our day, completely woven into the fabric of our economic system. The farmer may feel its hardship first because he must bear it, while the consumer, to meet higher prices, demands more pay of his employer or takes another stitch out of somebody else. But it is essentially a problem for all society to solve, not for farmers alone, particularly when it operates on a continental basis. This also indicates the futility of the arbitrary control of prices of the great staples by combinations of farmers. Of course, temporary or local relief may be secured by organizations of producers here and there, or of consumers here and there (probably consumers can attack the problem more effectively than producers), and by the establishment of public markets; but no organization can permanently handle the question unless the organization is all the people. The present agitations against middleman practices and stock market gambling ought to compel Congress to pass laws to correct the evils that are correctable by law, and the organizations then should keep such touch on the situation that the laws will be enforced. It has been suggested that the superabundant middlemen go into farming ; but no one can compel them to go to farming, and they might not be successful farmers if they should attack the business, and the farming country might not need them or profit by them, for it is not demonstrated that we need more farmers, although it is apparent that we need better farmers. It is the business of any government to protect its people.22 Governments have protected their countries from invasion and war, but the greatest office of government in modern times is to develop its own people and the internal resources of its realm. We are beginning to protect the people from the overlording of railroads, from unfair combinations in trade, and from the tyranny of organized politicians. It is just as much the business of government to protect its people from dishonest and tyrannous middlemen lying beyond the practical reach of individuals. The situation has arisen because of lack of control; there is no conspiracy against the farmer. It is said that competition will in the end correct the middleman evil, but competition does...

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