The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-05-04
THE FARMERS TRUST.

THE FARMERS TRUST.
As great deal has been said lately
about the "Farmers' Trust" scheme
originated by Walter N. Allen, Of
Meriden, Kansas, we present the fol-
lowing explanation of it as given by
Mr.. Allen in an interview published
in the Topeka Capitdi:
In response to an inquiry relative to
the farmers trust, which he is 80 earn.
nestly engaged in promoting and
which is of such vital Importance to
the agricultural classes of the north
west. Mr.. Allen said: The formation
of trusts is of modern origin and they
are great educators. The beef, hog and
grain trusts have taught the farmers
how to protect themselves, having, by
agreement, wiped out competition
on their own goods they now enter
the public market and buy
without competition. The prices. are
fixed upon what is purchased as we'll
as upon what is sold. We furnish them
our crop reports through government
officials together with an inventory of
all we have to sell, and from these
data they are enabled to figure down
and enlarge their profits. The legisla-
ture can give US no relief and we can
gain nothing by denoucing these trusts
The remedy il in our own hands and
if we fail to apply it we deserve to be
slaves.
PLANS OF THE FARMERS TRUST.
Hitherto nothing has been published
in regard to the details Of the farmers
trust to be submitted to the convention
to be held in Topeka May l. Those
are substantially as follows: It is our
plan to appoint agents to sell Onr pro-
duce and local agents to gather it to-
gether and to ship 1t to the various
and q bureau of statistics which shall
collect crop reports, regulate shipments
and establish prices. We may have
an overproductiOn, but by keeping the
surplus off the market we can MAIN
tain fair prices for what there may be
a demand. Of course it will take q
very large sum of money to put this
plan into practical operation and we
expect to raise the operating expenses
necessary in this way: A proposition
will be submitted to the Coming con.
ventiOn to incorporate the trust, with
q capital stock OF SO, OOO, 900, to be IS
sued in $40 shares. SIC, 1000, 900 of the
stock to be held in reserve aud SIG, 900.
900 to be sold to actual farmers and
stock raisers at SO cents or less on the
dollar. The stock is to be ap portioned
to the respective States and Territories
according to their farming population
and productive power, and equally
distributed in counties, townships or
districts. The money received in this
manner will be used in inaugurating
the Farmers trust.
1.-THE agents who will be appointed
at Kansas City, Chicago, st. Louis and
produce will have fixed salaries, but
will be required to collect the usual
commission for selling produce. The
paid for marketing cattle,
swine and sheep, at Kansas City.
Chicago and st. Louis in 1887 was So,
49,, Sl6; add to this sum half as much
more for Cincinnati, Omaha, Indian
apolis, Cedar Rapids. Louisville and
st. Joseph and we have the total of
for selling cattle, swine
and sheep of the Mississippi valley-Si,
325, 1924. The annual production of
wheat, corn, oats, rye, fax and barley
in the Mississippi valley is estimated
at 8, 900 ,OOO, 600 bushels. 1t is safe to
say that three-fifths of this amount is
sold in the public markets on which
the commissions are paid by the pro-
ducer, amounting to about $4,000, 900,
making grand total of commissions
paid on live stock aud cereals $40, OOO,-
BOO annually.
MUCH SAVING ON COMMISSIONS.
"This entire business of selling |
could be done under our proposed trust |
system at cost not to exceed ST 900.
700 annually. The sum collected by |
Dur agents as commissions, after deduc- |
ing the amount necessary for the pay
nent of salaries aud running expenses |
IF the trust, would be paid into the
for the benefit of the stock
FOLDERS, and should this plan be gen.
orally accepted aud the farmers and
market all their produce
through our agencies, it would effect a
'aving in commissions of s.. 600, 600 an
lually, and in twOyears at this rate we
~OViu nave Al tu6 tIcoSuHy %AosVW,.
700 placed to the credit of the stock
holders. which could be paid out
n dividends or appropriated in the
purchase Of stock yards and grain
elevators, and thuS another great saw.
ng would be accomplished by reduc-
ng stock yard aud elevator charges.
II think the convention will adopt
he municipal to townships as auxiliary
district trusts, numbering them l. 2, 3,
nd M on DESIGNATING the county and