The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-02-07
WHY THE FARmrRs REBEL.
Editor Democrat.

the great need of speedy organiza-
tion of the farmers. While we see a
splendid country, covered over with
beautifurtarms, well stocked with the
necessary domestic animals, and find
these farms owned and controlled BY
intelligent, enterprising, practical
farmers, whose investments in lands,
stock and improvements, are worth
from three to ten thousand dollars
each, still majority of these farmers
are hard run to make both ends meet,
and yet they have abundant crops OF
staple commodities, but these are not
convertible into cash, except at ruin.
GUS rates. And this is not so much
attributable to the low rates their sta
Piles bear in the markets, or the prices
consumers actually pay for their pro-
ducts, as the cost Of transportation to
market and tho commissions Of middle
men through whose hands these pro-
ducts, under the present system, must
pass before they reach the consumer.
Consumers of bread and meat, vege-
bles and fruits, in most instances pay
fully as much, and doubtless in many
instances much more, than they
ought to pay on the principal of" live
and let i've while the producer is not
renumerated for his toll, to say moth.
ing of his investment.
Now, while we concede the utility
of transportation companies, we main.
tain that they should not have the
power to tax us unjustly; to impose
burdens upon us without our consent;
TO fix the prices on our products, as
we'll as upon their own services, and
then to take the lions share. We
have 10 objections to these classes
while they pursue fair and legitimate
course, but when they transcend these
limits and impose unjust burdens on
us, we propose TO be heard in self.de.
fence, to stand up tor our rights and
TO maintain them ut all hazards. This
is our position, and we believe a true
one. We expect to be charged with
making war upon middle men. II
middle men are necessary-which we
don't doubt-let US have them out OF
our own numbers, ,(iarners, mean,) and
and not keep too many of them,
either, for the fewer the better. We
cannot see the propriety of supporting
fifteen men and their families, includ.
ing house rent, Office expenses, etc,
where one or two only are necessary.
Some will ask, How will all this he
donc?' We answer: Nothing easier,
when we have an organization; first,
by selecting our agents, we shall
probably make some mistakes, but
they can soon be corrected. When
we find reliable, trustworthy man
who is willing to act as our agent, we,
as company, can afford to pay him
renumerative wages, and to him we
can consign our staple commodities.
When we can, We propose to deal di-
rectly with manufacturers, but even
then, we shall want agents At different
localities-not a surplusage- whom
we propose shall be fully paid for
their services. We propose in all
cases where it is practicable, to make
these selections from our own joint
stock company. We expect by this
course to have only to sustain just
about men enough in the several de-
partments to do our business, and TO
pay them well for their services, at
much less cost than under the present
system. BY this system we expect
to save much larger per centage OF
our earnings than by the present one.
So much at present for middle men.
AS to railroads: While we recog-
nize their great importance-yea, their
necessity-the policy in their manage
ment is at war; with our interests -
They commenced this war and with
out shadow of just provocation.-
Not only this, but We were their
friends and allies, having given them
substantial aid and comfort by volun-
tary contributions toward the building
of these roads. And yet while we were
pursuing this liberal course of policy
toward these roads, they inaugurated
a policy of oppression, and by con-
tinued perseverance in that course,
against our remonstrances and earnest
appeals for more just and liberal
policy on their part, We asserting all
1.-THE while that our interests were mu-
tual, all these appeals have been by
them disregarded until we are now
forced by considerations of selfre-
spect and self-defence to accept the
challenge and to measurse swords,
with powerful monopolies as our ene-
mics. This warcfare, then, on our
part, is of a defensive character. It is
forced upon us. We shall wage it
fearlessly, and ! trust fairly and hon.
orably. We do not intend to claim