And in looking it over don't overlook the fact that you, you yourself--whatever may be your part in American industry--are laying tribute on the Federal Reserve altar of Mammon. You can't escape its net of pillage. Amid its mounds of gold, currency and securities--the hugest ever massed together on this planet--your contribution is there. Your brain or your brawn, or both, have added to its lootage. If you live and toil in the U.S.A.--in whatever capacity--your "mickle" adds to the "muckle"--of its stored pillage. CHAPTER II THE BIRTH OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM "SLICKER than an eel in a bucket of soap suds" is a fair description of the accomplished financial accoucheurs who ushered this monster into legal existence. You must understand that the real object was to establish what was in truth and fact a Central Bank which would dominate and control currency issues and bank credits in the United States. To weld those chains upon American industry without appearing to do it was the object in view. It could be done only by encasing dirty hands of real pillage in the white gloves of a "Reserve System." The Invisible Empire must remain invisible. Visibility would defeat its object. The Money Masters had read history and knew that the American people stood four square against a Central Bank. If their monster of pillage were called a Central Bank they knew it would die in the legislative womb. Two such attempts had been made and had resulted disastrously thusly. The first attempt was the First United States Bank. It was the child of Alexander Hamilton's astute brain. It began business on December 12, 1791. It met violent opposition from its birth. It was branded as a "Money Trust," struggled along with varying fortunes and finally died on March 3, 1811, when its charter expired--with its renewal vainly sought. American industry rebelled at the idea of a Central Bank domination. It savored too much of that aristocracy and oligarchy whose chains they had recently chiseled.