“‘But how is it that the banks and insurance companies get all those millions that rich people can control?’
“‘They come from the savings of the industrious classes.’
“‘Don’t the banks and insurance companies risk more than they have a right to in loaning that money?’
“‘No,’ I said, ‘they secure it by mortgages or in some other legal way.’
“She studied for a moment, then said:
“‘After all I don’t see how some people know when prices are going up.’
“I answered, ‘If you had all the wheat under your control and had money enough to keep it there, you would soon know for the people would pay any price to get it. A cent or two extra on bread when millions are consumed each day amounts to a large sum of money,’ I told her.
“‘Why, of course,’ she answered, ‘I see now.’
“‘I don’t think it is honest,’ she said after a while.
“‘Well, no,’ I answered, ‘that is why I started this society, so that the people could protect themselves from the money power.’”