we first delegated our political choice to the middleman, then neglected it altogether. Similarly in commerce, we early delegated our selection of goods to dealers; neglected to specify our preferences to them, until we not only lost the privilege of active choice but became almost indifferent to it.
And when we cannot find the grade of products we would like on the shelves of the stores, we meekly choose from the assortment the store keeper has chosen for us. We have not recognized that our commercial system has very readily lent itself to the presentation of inferior products.
And just as politically the people's control is being reëstablished by direct primaries and direct election, so commercially the consumer is regaining the right of selecting his products through the medium of advertising. And precisely as direct nominations and direct primaries are bringing out better men in politics, so our commercial direct choice is bringing forth some of our very best present day commodities.
For, under the conditions which have been portrayed in previous articles, good products stood no fair chance of being presented by dealers in some quarters. Time after time a superior product could not get on the dealer's shelves, for while it was better for people to eat, or wear, or
