Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-17
MIppLEMEN.

mluulemen are necessary, aud being 80
will always exist. But too many Of them
are an evil, just the same as too much of
good, wholesome article Of food is hurtful.
The Patrons Of Husbandry aud the farmers
movement are not opposed TO middlemen
they are opposed to having too many of them,
and they propose, by an Independent COM
petition, to make their business more and
m ore Improbable until the number Of deal
ers and agents become reduced to the desired
standard. In this process the least capable
dealers will be driven out first, while those
having the best business requirements, being
able through their shrewd management to
longest withstand the pressure, will remain,
and if they improve the lesson and do bust
ness on the principle of small profits and
large sales, they will remain permanently.
1t cannot be denied that there is call for
such work as the Patrons are doing by
their cooperative sales and purchases. The
transaction Of that kind of business has too
long been LETT in the hands of few, with
out those restrictions which were necessary
in order to secure justice to all parties.
The merchant knew what his goods cost, but
the farmer knew nothing about it, and had
to pay the price asked for his purchases,
whether it was high or low. The merchant
also kept posted upon the market price of
produce, and the farmer took his word and
his price for his crops Competition, in
many departments Of trade instead Of prov
ing benefit to the people proved burden,
because competition almost invariably has
resulted in combination of the competing
parties. =.
A store in country village is doing
good business at fair profit, and the trader
accumulates money, as he probably is en-
titled to by his talent. Soon some one with
a little capital sees this, and thinks he will
get portion of this profit, so he goes into
business. For a while they both sell goods
at the former prices, but the trade which
gave one a profit will not support two, so
they agree to sell at a higher per cent. of
profit. BY and by third dealer comes up
on the scene, and again there must be an ad.
vance. The trade has hardly increased at
all, but the people are supporting three fam
lilies instead Of one This is the way an in
crease of middlemen increases the farmers
home market, about which We hear SO much
said. They improve his condition as the
hawk does that of the chicken.
A sample of this occurred in this town
recently. A dealer advertised spool cotton
and prints cheaper than the usual price.
The other dealers in those lines of goods
went to him and told him that could not be
allowed. They would combine and UNDER
sell him, even if they had to sell for less
than cost, until they would drive him out
of trade. They succeeded, and he marked
his goods up again to the Irregular" rates.
The profits of the farm arc none too large,
and for the farmers to be called upon to sup
port ten men and their families to do the
business which three men can do as well is
unjust. Therefore they are organizing to
certain extent to rid themselves of these un-
necessary burdens, and he is wise who adapts
his prices and terms to their requirements.
Large sales for ready cash, with low per
cent. of profit, is what they ask for and will
have, and those men who stand out against
them and "ki,k against the pricks" will find
themselves taking advantage of the bank
rupt act one Of these days.
At low estimate two-thirds of the capt.
tai now invested in trade in Vermont might
be withdrawn and put into manufactures,
and the business be much more satisfactorily
and proftaby done. This immense capital
invested in manufacturing enterprises would
ensure home supply of the articles manu-
featured, saving the sums now paid to rail-
road companies and shipping agencies for the
same articles manufactured in other states
and countries. Workmen in great numbers
would be required, and the products of the
farm would be in demand for their susie
nance. Here again the sums now paid to
iahiOau OOlhpahiSo auu OOuhioalOH hOuoSs
for carrying these products to the workmeu
who make the very machinery and other
manufactured goods we consume would b.
saved and added to the profits Of these pro
ducing classes. IftwO-thirds of the vulturel
who are now feeding upon the vitals of hon
est industry, in the form Of agents, commits
sion merchants, dealers, &C., were removed
we should all feel the results in increase
prosperity, and the next census would no
make as humiliating showing Of the statu
of the population of the Green Mountain
State as did the last.
The middemen are good in their place
and 50 is green corn, but too much Of eithe
is an evil. We have too much of the on
now. If thirty or forty farmers eau unit
and procure an invoice of provisions, gro
ceries or tools and machinery at better fg
ures than they are charged by the local deal
ers, who ought to be able to make purchace
more advantageOusly than inexperienced par
ties, they may pretty safely calculate tina
those dealers are charging larger per cent
than necessary for their services.
IMITATION AND VALUES.
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