The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-26
THE pIow MAKERS AND THE FARMERS

THE PLow MAKERS AND THE FARMERS.
We nre inclined to think that the Hi
nois plow makers have made big mistake
in quarreiug with the farmers. The far
mers are their customers their only Gus
toners, in fact. If the farmers will not
buy their plows what can they DO with
them
For some years past the plow makers
of Illinois have had secret association, In
which they combine to fix prices, rules OF
business, etc. They refuse to admit news
paper reporters to their meetings, and their
business is done in secret. There they lay
their plans to get the highest prices pos
sible for their work; to monopolize the
business, and prevent competition They
have not only done this, but they have now
taken further step and signed an agree
ment pledgiug themselves not to sell to
farmt RS or farmers clubs at less than re-
tail prices, no matter what quantity they
may wish to purchase. They will make
liberal discount TO men who wish to buy 10
sell again-but not cent to farmer VINO
wants the very same quantity to divide up
among his neighbors. What course is there
left. then. for the farmers, but submission
to the insult or refusal to buy at all and
make arrangements for supplies outside OF
this combination
The pillow men have organized them
selves into monopoly TO compel the mer
who use plows to submit to their rules auC
prices. We think they have made mis-
take. Most people will say that they should
conduct their business upon the SAM
principles which govern business general!
yiz-let competition have fair play; lie
brains and industry and economy win; lie
the man who can make the best pillow TO
the least money have the advantage whicl
his ability entities him to; make no dis
tinctions between customers but trea
all alike-have one price, at retail, with
scale of discounts in proportion to tn
amount purchased, That's all the farmer
ashland that is right
But when pillow makers declare that the
will not sell to one set of men as low 8
they will to another set, they provoke a
opposition which they may find somewh;
formidable. They may say that farme
cannot go into the business of manufaetu
ing without losing money that it require
n knowledge of that business as we'll as
60 20 10 - a
that; and still it does not change the cas-
No class Of men would quietly submit
the insult put upon the farmers No ella
Of men would cease an effort to retaliat
The farmers are men of the same sens
bilities Of other people and are governed
the same motives and impulses. They W
gointo the business themselves. They ha
already made an arrangement at Millin
ton 10 that effect They are making a
engagements to do so at Lyndon TIL
mag lose money; probably will do s
They may get dishonest and incomplete
agents and they may do business at loc
But that vii not deter them from uudt
taking II and 10 doing so they will great
il. are the men who put this insult up
them. They viii not be told that the
ut0ey IS DOT a. good as the money of ct
G. Een-ani quietly submit to it, II
Y7v makers should, as we have befo
sid. conduct their business upon the pr
c.ples which GENERALLY govern business
al Countries. Not to do so is an acknoy
eigement Of their lack of capacity to
conduc, it. A free field and fair play
oil thog should ask. 1t is all any 60
business man asks If he is not smi
enough to manage his business successfi
ly it is his fault. But a combination
monopoly to compel trade and conn
prices is the very way TO create opposite
Let some pillow man have the courage
break this combination, fix reasonal
prizes, make no distinction between Gus
mers, grade his discounts in proportion
amount sold,an he would have cash dov
trade enough 10 double his help at once.
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