The Worthington advance., 1879-01-16
that freight rates on the road are ex-
orbitant and we look to railroad COM
petition to correct that as we'll as many
other disadvantages under which the
community lahOrS
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRASS EA;7.
TIE MAT7EE-HOW THE FARMERS
TREAT TIE MERCHANTS
., wad some power the giitie gle lis,
ourselves Il others Sf,,.

IHE1 I TIE MEECHAN1N
q, wad some power the giitie gle us,
To see ourselves as others SCI, us.
ROXY BURNS.
EDITOR ADVANCE: Please allow me the
use OF your columns for Il few remarks
on the wheat buying question. We un-
derstand that Westend are trying to do
away with the dishonest kettles or buy
ers. l would like to say to some of
these oppressed persons, that looking
| at the matter from an impartial point
| of view, we do not see wherein the av-
erage farmer is wronged out Of one
cent. OF course there are some inveter-
ate GROWERS in every farming communi:
ties, and we have our full complement
and Il few to spare. We all know that
this is Il very hard year Oh the business
men as well as the farmers, but more
particularly the bl siness man. The
business mans bills mature and he is
expected tb meet them ut maturity.
The farmers bills become due, but that
is all right. lie has not threshed yet
and cannot be expected to pay his over
due bills. The farmers think that a
week or q month makes no material
difference to the merchant, for, as lie
says, you make your profits on the
goods you sell, and can afford to wait
for your money, and this even, after
the merchants carrying the farmer
from seeding time until after harvest.
I'm ht - liza
enormous, according to their way of
thi liking. Not stopping for moment
to run up their bills ut the stores, until
I-necessity compels them to thresh their
grain and then they bring III their
| grain to market, being very careful to
put their very best wheat in the top
sacks. The buyer steps out and tries
the wheat, and makes his bid. This
years wheat is very poor any way, but
the farmers say you have no right to
say what my wheat will test with your
Internal kettles. The law does not al
low of it. (They have heard this long
years ago, and may have heard of the
repeal of that act, but then it would
not do to say anything against their
interests That is good wheat mot
less than No. 2.) Well, buyers make
bid Oh it, Offering all the wheat is worth
to ship it, and throw in their commits
sion for handling and all. The farm
ers turn up their noses with disgust.
All call the buyers set of cut-throats
trying to rob the farmers. Well, the
merchant buyer says, ''that is all | can
give, and would rather have your
money than your wheat at the price
offered" Tile oppressed farmers say
to the merchant buyer, you can pay
more than that on account. [ have
not got wheat enough to pay my bills. -
The merchant sees his chances of get
ting his due rather slim, BIDS up and
actually pays 35 to 40 per cent. more
for the wheat than he makes on the
goods, and finally when settling day ar
rivcs, wants the merchant to k :ock off
s. or $40 Oh his bill because times are
50 hard, etc. Poor, oppressed farmer,
verify thy lines are cast in hard places.
But this is not all. Our worst Gases
are those that have plenty to pay their
debts. but knowing they cannot be
forced to pay even at the butt end of Il
Judgment SAY to the man that furnished
them their very life blood So to speak.
IL uiU mt sell my grain to pay debts 1T
such prices." What gratitude! How
encouraging to men in business. But
after all these same men that hold their
grain, are the very worst GROWERS ut
the dishonest wheat buyers. III the
course Of time they will dispose of their
grain, aud may have enough from the
proceeds to carry them until harvest
time, paying their ready c,sl, to men
| they have no bills with, and when their
money is gone, come crlnging back to
the merchant, and have the ctfrontcry
to ask the man they used so mranly to
! let them have goods untll after harvest.
| know Of some such cases right here
| in the Westtnd, men WHO have plenty
| to pay all demands against them, but
| will not and canEot he forced or coaNtd
| to pay their just debts, and these very
same parties are making the most noise
about the dishonesty OF :,e wheat buy
ers OF this section. They seem to think
if they can beat the mtltleman in any
form it is all legitimate. People that
do not know these parties say that must
be fact about those buyers, not know
! ing from whence comes the tale. and in
! consequences it casts slur Oh our husi-
ness men that is not readily got rid Of.
We d. not say that all farmers are Of
this class, and feel thankful that there
are IL good many in our farming com
munity that pay out the last dollar they
have. trusting in their honesty to get
relief when needed, and they are rarely
refused, and think if all followed the
same example, it would make times
easier for all concerned. For the far
mer that is willing to pay his debts, as
far as he is able, we have the great
est respect. Yours Truly,
WESTEND.
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| THE ETHI1Y r|Y1' VD SY DJy-y y,siy