The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-06-15


political influence not in partisan
sense, but in way to secure that kind
Of legislation which the agricultural
interests of the whole country every
where deserve and should receive.
While the tillers OF the soil are plow.
ing their burrows, sowing their seed
and reaping the harvests to provide
bread for the hungering millions of the
earth, and are too much absorbed by
their duties, political demagogues are
busy with their devices to mould and
shape possibilities for their disadvan-
tage. This state of things has been
going on from year to year until the
inexorable moneyed power aided by
venal law makers in state Legislatures
and in our national Congress, has laid
its hand upon our agricultural interests
with SO strong grasp that nothing less
than a simultaneous uprising and an
earnest cooperation Of all the farmers
Of our land through the ballot box can
break its hold. The issue is SO i'm
portant and the consequences involved
SO momentous that party fealty must be
waived and subordinated to the one
great purpose Of self protection and
safety.
The tricksters and tools who have
crept into high places of trust and re-
sponsibility and are working the mis-
chief of which we complain, must be
marked and set aside and their places
be filed by capable and honest public
servants. Sewers and reapers are you
ready for the work?
Fairfax Co., Va. S. II. W.
TThe above writer in the American
Farmer for June 1st is sufficiently
accurate in his statistics for all prac.
tical purposes, but his conclusions and
deductions are crude and superficial.
The sbutcher, the baker and the can
dlestick maker and the rest of them
do not make fortunes out of the wheat.
The large milling firms make the most
because they reduce immense quantities
Of wheat in short time, and with even
a small percentage of profit, make large
aggregates.
The commission merchant the baker,
groceryman, etc., generally get living
as the farmer does and that is about
all. The competition for business stands
and places in the cities is SO great that
the real estate or land owner puts up
his rents as the demand for business
places increases, taking about all the
surplus above fair living; thus we
see that little of the increasing profits
of the wheat remain in the industrious
hands ofthose who handle it in its var.
ious stages after the grain leaves the
farm.
The real estate, or more properly
speaking, land owners in the cities, the
gamblers in the Boards of Trade and
railroad corporations, it will be found,
if the subject is traced up, get nearly
all the surplus after fair living for
the manual laborers comes out Of the
wheat. This law is not confined to
wheat but governs alike every article
produced and consumed by the labor
ing masses. It is of little avail to rail
against "demagogues' and "tricksters"
and "tools," and "unjust discrimination
against" the farmer. 1t is mainly the
fault Of farmers that these parties are en-
abled to prey upon him year after year,
until the memorable "money power,
aided by venal lawmakers in state leg
islatures, and in our National Congress
has laid its hand upon our agricultural
interest" etc. And it is futile to exhort
farmers to rally to the ballot box and
put down this state of affairs. The
great trouble arises in the ignorance of
the farmers of those business problems
which produce the deplorable state of
ffirs complained of. A vote is only
the measure of the intelligence which
casts it. Men who are ignorant of how
to achieve what they desire to accom-
plisb, may vote till dooms day and ef-
feet nothing. Farmers as mass will
do little else than plod. They will not
join associations and endeavor to master
the intricate problems of government
and business, They do not sec that