ed finance stocks declined in
sympathy. The power of publicity had been triumphantly vindicated and
the cries of frenzied financiers, their mouths full of their own
fish-hooks, resounded through the land.

That this condition would be allowed to prevail long, I knew was
improbable. The "System's" leading votaries got together and organized
to stop the frightful decline in prices. The old cuttle-fish methods
were at once resorted to--a campaign of falsehood, deception, and
trickery began. Lest the people should realize that it was their power
which had wrought such havoc, the touts and tipsters shouted in chorus
that the slaughter of prices was the work of the "System" itself, and
that I was secretly in league with the "System" against the public;
that, the public having been robbed of its stocks, prices would advance
with an extra bound. Scores of millions were drawn from the banks and
trust companies to stay the slump. Under the influence of all this
industry and clamor the market began to boil again; prices recovered,
and the people, confused and bewildered, were once more about to be
entrapped. A sharp advance was followed by a cry from the votaries that
I was a trickster and that what had been in reality the most notable
demonstration of "the people's strength" ever given was only another
evidence of the "System's" infallibility. If this deceit had prevailed,
the task I have undertaken of enlightening the public would have had a
setback. Relying on my previous work, I put forth the following
announcement Monday morning, December 12th, and confidently awaited
results:

INVESTORS AND SPECULATORS--WARNING!

For six months through my story, "Frenzied Finance," in
_Everybody's Magazine_, I have been educating the people to
the terrible condition existing to-day in America--the
people are plundered of their savings by a few men through
the working of the "System."

After a close study for six months I concluded that the
people were awakening to the truth.

I decided to make a test.

I advertised certain truths. That was all.

For three days Wall Street and the "System" were
panic-stricken--paper values melted to the extent of
hundreds of millions.

The laws of the land are strict about panic-breeding by
public statements.

If any of the terrible statements I have made had been
false, I should to-day be in prison or my body su