7. Follow the Course of the Arrows

Source: Alva Review (OK), August 30, 1894

Populist farmers particularly complained about middle-men.  They appeared to profit with laboring.  In this illustration, middlemen stand between the producers and consumers in order to levy tribute.  According to the labor theory of value, middle-men were speculators rather than producers.  Thus, their profits were considered illegitimate.  The middle-men in this cartoon are labeled (clockwise from the top right) banker, transportation agent, speculator, broker, middle man, and note shaver.

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