i 3 o THE THIRD POWER 



government itself. Heretofore farmers thought 

 when organizing they must fight every institution 

 on earth to get their right. This we admit is human 

 nature, but also is a relic of barbarism. There are 

 too many such relics remaining. The farmers really 

 have no light against anybody or anything ; all they 

 need is equity, and this they can take, regardless of 

 the disposition of other parties. 



Many schemes have been devised, and many more 

 suggested, for the regulation and control of trusts. 

 The law does something, and more stringent legal 

 enactments might do more. But no curb can be as 

 effectual as an organization of American citizens 

 greater and stronger than the trusts themselves. 

 Through this and through this alone can trust ex- 

 tortion be prevented, and fair treatment be secured 

 for all. The people can do it for them. And the 

 trust magnates understand this. With the help of 

 shrewd and unscrupulous attorneys they can usually 

 find a way to evade the most formidable statute, and 

 to organize so as to get within the letter of the law. 

 But they could make little headway with the people 

 organized against them, and when the farmers are 

 organized the people will be organized. How could 

 the cotton or woolen manufacturers get along with- 

 out the farmer's cotton or wool, or the packers with- 

 out his cattle? This but indicates the power which 

 the farmer could exert as a member of the American 

 Society of Equity. He could oppose his trust — if 

 you choose to call it so — to the manufacturing trusts, 



