Gustavus Myers (1872–1942)

From page 98 of the 1936 edition (though probably written for the first edition in 1909):
"...a profound truth, the force of which mankind is only now beginning to realize, that the pursuit of profit will transform natures inherently capable of much good into sordid, cruel breasts [sic, I think was meant 'beasts'] of prey and accustoming them to committing actions so despicable, so inhuman, that they would be terrified, were it not that the world is under the sway of a profit system and not merely excuses and condones, but justifies and throw a glamour about, the unutterable degradations and crimes which the profit system calls forth."
History has proved, and continues to prove, how prescient this author is. He was condemning the actions of John Jacob Astor, whose minions used liquor--while charging outlandish prices for it for it--to systematically defrauded Native American of their just payment for the furs he sold to Europe, bringing him immense wealth
How much does this, from the same page, sound like today?:
"Like all other propertied interests, Astor's company regarded the law as a thing to be rigorously invoked against the poor, the helpless and defenseless, but as not to be considered when it stood in the way of the claims, designs and pretensions of property."… (meer)

281. History of the Great American Fortunes (Vol. I), by Gustavus Myers (read 3 Sep 1946)
282. History of the Great American Fortunes (Vol. II), by Gustavus Myers (read 5 Sep 1946)
283. History of the Great American Fortunes (Vol. III), by Gustavus Myers (read 7 Sep 1946) On Sept 4, 1946 I said: "Stayed up till 12:30 AM to finish first volume of 'Great American Fortunes'--a bitter tirade against the rich guys who, according to the author, were worse than devils Astor, Marshall Field." On Sept 7 I said: "Finished third volume of Great American Fortunes: Morgan, Hill." I read these volumes in a hurry because I was leaving for college on Sept 15 and wanted to get them read before I left.… (meer)

182. History of Bigotry in the United States, by Gustavus Myers (read 18 Mar 1945) I started to read this book on March 11, 1945. On March 14 I said: "Progress in reading the book is slow. Interesting enough." On March 15, 1945, I said: "Stayed up till 11:30 PM reading History of Bigotry. Certainly interesting. Just finished reading about the intensely anti-Catholic movement of the 1890's : the A.P.A." On Mar 16 I said: Just finished reading a chapter in History of Bigotry which told of the life of Thomas E. Watson of Georgia. Wow. Nothing quite shocked me like that. What an obnoxious guy he was. Told of his anti-Catholic and anti-Jew attitude and of the lynching of a Jew in Georgia, encouraged by Watson!! " On March 18 I said: "Finished History of Bigotry. It was an excellent book for its information but is not well-written. The writer mostly leaves the facts speak for themselves. I'm glad I read it.… (meer)