Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-22
AS to BOycOtting.

Ed. Regiscer-In your last weeks issue
you cautioned the Farmers Alliance to not
boycott, very kindly giving US your reason,
&c. l see IN the st. Louis Journal Of Agri-
culture that there Is aSubAlliance in Madison
county which has passed resolutions to buy
no more plows manufactured by certain
company, giving their reason for so doing
that the Company refused to sell the Alliance
Store in that county the pillow. Now, 1 be-
lieve 1t is the custom with that company to
have an agent at most trading points and the
company protects said agent inasmuch as
they will allow no one else to handle their
goods. Now, this is all perfectly legitimate,
perhaps. I believe in protecting ones in.
terest, so far as 1t is'lawful. Now, it is my
understanding that the farmer has an equal
right with the manufacturer to this system
of protection. For instance, a company re-
fuses to sell their goods and divide or save
little cost to those who use the goods, but
choose rather to sell to one certain individ-
ual and receive no more nor better money
from him than they would have done from
the user, and allow him to make an enormous
profit on the goods. What, now, must we
do In this case? Continue to buy, and en-
rich the agent, when we can buy an article
just as good for less money? If we do,
consider it fine move toward economy.
Now, Mr.. Editor, l like a hog, but some of
these manufacturing companies please me
too well. 1 dislike to see boycotting, but
don't believe that the members of the f arm
ers Alliance in the State of Missouri Will pay
for the privilege of using certain article,
when they pay at the same tine its full cash
value. Now, in this case, Mr.. Editor, it is
made of the company to reduce the price of
their goods, but merely an offer to buy of
them and save, if possible, the agents pro-
fits. I say again 1 think we should have
that privilege If we have the money to pay
for the goods, and i some one will suggest
to us method whereby we can attain that
privilege, otherwise than by boycotting, it
will be very thankfully received by the Alli-
ance. l don't pretend to say that favor
boycotting, but can we not be forced to do it
to protect our own interests? And to pro-
tect our interests financially, is one of the
objects of the organization.
1 hope cps" prophesies concerning the
Alliance members of Black river may prove
iaiso' he Gan hhu "ean mehoeis, lhouSu, III
most all organizations, but 1 think in this
one he can find enough strong ones to hold
the weak ones up. / would like to hear from
some one on this subject, for we need to be-
come thoroughly acquainted with it. There
is interesting matter concerning the Alliance
which the people of Iron county might like
to know, and from what you say in COM
menting on the clipping from the Greearille
Journal, concerning the Wheelers, believe
you would publish it, and believe it could
be given you without in any way encroach-
ing on our bylaws and constitution, and also
create better understanding between
members of the order and non members.
What say you brother farmersg F.
Arcadia Valley Alliance, No. 104, March
IS, 1883.