The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-24
DEMANDS OF wHEAT-GROwERs.
Prices to Be Fixed at the Farm and an Effort
Made to Control Production.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 23.-The wheat-growers
of the Mississippi valley assembled in con-
vention at Central Turner Hall in this city
this afternoon to organize for future ac-
ton. Walter n. Allen. president of the
Farmers Federation, called the convention
to order. and made quite a long speech.
He said it was the first meeting of the kind
ever held on this continent. We'are not
here, he said. for the purpose of
~denouncing trusts and combines, but
to meet the issue of new systems
n conditions in trade. Realizing our
individual feebleness and the great impor-
lance of unity of action as q class. we have
been called, together to consider the prop
Ositlon to delegate to a power OF our own
creation the exclusive right to market the
products of our FARMS, and to take such
measures as will afford present relief and
future protection to the agricultural inter-
is the only producer who sends an over
supply OF his wares To market to be sold by
some ono else, and. like the goods of
the bankrupt, at some one else's
PR ces, and. when he dares complain
Ovcr-productiOn. Over-productiOn cannot
in justice be wealth for the nation and
slavery for the producer. If farmers would
organize like manufacturers. to control
pIOOuCUlOn ana regulate the outputs IN CD6
public market, they could, in common with
all producers, set the price on their own
PRODUCTS irrespective of over-production or
the power. of the Liverpool markets. The
unavoidable tendency of the present estab-
down to the lowest limit at which a
food supply can be produced under
the most favorable conditions of soil,
season and climate. Now, in order
to avert impending ruin, we must reverse
fhll nrIa hu cuh cfrfrfIn q nuv cyvafana
fixing the price of farm products at the cost
of production on lands that produce only
t~hirty-fold. This will restore the natural
law of exchange with equal and exact JUS
between the present trade structure and
the system proposed is, the one tends to
the minimum price that a food supply
can be obtained for without checking pro-
duction, while the other seeks the
maximum price that a food supply can be
sold for without diminishing consumption.
The power to establish the value of one
bushel of American wheat and one barrel
OF mess pork can control the markets of the
centralized agency of the federated farmers
OF the Mississippi valley. a company
legally chartered, with a capital stock of
u ,OOO,O OO, and, as your servant, this COM
pany awaits your bidding to enter upon its
Ex-Governor Charles Robinson, Of Kan
sas. was made temporary chairman, and he
addressed the convention. strongly urging
unity of action and organization of the
farmers throughout all the grain-growing
States.
Hon. Norman j. Colman, Of Missouri, ex-
Secretary of Agriculture. was made per
manent chairman; Walter n. Allen, of Kan
sas, vice-president; u. G. Wilson, of Min
nesota, secretary. and j. p. Limeburner, of
Kansas. assistant secretary.
Mr.. Robert LindblOm, of Chicago. spoke
briefly to the delegates, stating that he
sympathiZed with them in their cause,
which he thought was a good one. A com
mittee IN resolutions was appointed, to
which all resolutions are TO be referred
without debate, and the convention then
adjourned until tomorrow.