, 1873-04-07
MiDDLEMEn.


In your weckly edition OF March 10, 1t seems to
mo that tho writori Of the opinion that the farm
ers are opposed to 1niddlemon, and arc, there-
foro, trying to do away with thom through their
farmors' clubs, or in somo other way. This is
great mistake. We ase not opposed to middle
mon, but VIC aro opposed to tho enormous, pitt"
loss profits they aro taking from u.s. because thoy
all soon to ronson just as he doeB :; TINT fs TINT
1t Is impossible, through the maohinntionB Of
monopolists, for tho individual farmer or con-
sumer to get tho article needed or, II he is al
lowed to buy or order 1t Of tho manufacturer,
there would bo so much expense connected with
1t that tho consumer so ordering or buying
would DO glad to get his needs supplied by tho
rniddlemon tho next time. We want tho naanu-
facturera and middlemen to do just as NO did In
the years from 1860 to 1866, when they hold
conventions and raised thoir prices, whom labor
aud food were high. We were silent, and did not
mako any demonstration against their just do
mands. Wo did not complain, but took both
sides Of tho question into consideration. We
e s dS %' ~s doing 3d. Tor to s ss fsa
or flve. years, things havo changed, aud VIC find
that tioy are NOT going to listen to our COM
plaints. We arc forced to do what thoy former
" did; that ie, to hold conventions, and agrce
On some uniform plan to lawfully help our
Allow mo to state fact which will more plain
" illustrate the unjuBt o1tortionH OF these mo-
manufacturers hold . convention. Tho result
was, TINT they raised tho price Of eelt-raking
reapors, which hcrotofore sold at $195 on time,
to e200 on time; but, whon. this farmers
thoy rodueed The price again to s180 On time
not not show pisinly that tic e15 they raiaed their
reapors above tho old price WAS an unjust cxtor.
tue manufacturers gest together and concoot
plan by which they allow their ngents to charge
uB from 25 to 80 Per cent-yes GO, II not oven
more-for nolling us thor implements? For In
stance: We arc living thirty-four miles from
Bo-and-aos implements. They sell their walking
and riding oultiyators to their agentH at e33:
but their agents charge us for the same
s46, and they do not cost quite dollar Of
have tits M lasgo proafs7 Gould Measrs. so-and.so
(who hayo already made fortunes out Of the
farmors Of tho NorthwosD afford to sell those
cultiyatora at their ahop Of, eay s35 cash, would
with tho farmor7 Bit, instead Of doing thiss'
they also charge tho farmer sl5 ut their shop.
Now, I ask these mon, Do you not force
us into aolf-defenae7 Do you suppose
any eshy snd aS 6Soing could stand tan By
yoars, amaasing riches upon riches, millions
upon millions, aud VIC barely able to pay our
exponHos, let alone having decent clothing and
living, End !, educating our children : IL it lust
to oppose our just movement Aro you going
to provoke us into fawleaBueBs7 Do you sup
poso my loving fathor OF mothor can remain
wea aey Ga We s5o ng yof
on the farm and 1.-Two III ignorance; and thereby
your children arc given ohanco to rule over
our children?
We, ns farmers, know worry woll that those un-
1f1pf 1H~ n1yo hyytu
finally regulate themselves, but not until there
is such IN overflow Of middlomeu Us to create o
natural competitions; hut then wo propose to
help to lot supply aud demand Iegalato tho pr,co
regulate tho price OF far1n-produettons. We
claim that midalomen must try to deal on . liy-
Ing profit, Or eherwiao 1t viii be our duty to call
are willing to work reasonably,
" Middleman' statoa that, In modern tiulos
the consumer and producer live so fur apart that
thoy do not know each other. This IL true to a
certain degree, as good many Of ua have gath-
manufacturer declined to doal with tile farmer
directly but, If 1t has come to It, and both tho
manufacturer and the rniddloman refuse to lis
ton to reason, wo will try to Ignore thom, and do
until their supply has Increased to such fiimon-
Bons that they will feel tho necessity OF getting
rid Of some Of their stock,
It is not tho middloman that annoys US 10
manufacturer, corporations, and labor aa-
soolationH. Manufacturers fix their own pricoa
In their conventions. Who is tho sufferer tlloro
from7 Tho farmers. Railroad corporation
passenger faro ratos. Who is tho sufroror7
Again tho farmer. Lhborera meet and agree to
work but certain number Of houra q day7
Who T. Tho sufferer, Agatn tho farmer.
should be- too much expense connected with got
ting one pair of boots, We will order n flo2nn