Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-31
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.


The wheat Growers' Convention Assen-
bles IN st. Louis-Walter N. Aliens Adj
Observation-Disclosures.
ST.. LOUIS Oct. 24-The wheat growers of
the Mississippi valley assembled in con.
vention at Central Turner Hall in this
city yesterday afternoon to organize for
future action.
Walter N. Allen, president OF the Farm
ers' Federation. called the convention to
order and made quite long speech. He
said it was the first meeting of the kind
ever held on this continent 1--WE are not
here" he said. for the purpose of de-
nouncing trusts and combines, but to
meet the issue of new systems and condi-
tions in trade. Realizing our individual
feebleness and the great Importance of
unity of action as a class, we have been
called together to consider the proposition
10 delegate to a power of our own crea-
ton, the exc usive right to market the
products of our farms, and to take such
measures as will afford present relief and
future protection to the agricultural in
terests of the Mississippi valley. The
farmer is the only producer who sends an
over supply of his wares to market to be
sold by some one else, and like the goods
of the bankrupt at some one else's price;
and when he dares complain of the sacri-
flee. the answer of the master IS over pro.
justice, be wealth for the nation and
slavery for the producer. If farmers
would organize like manufacturers to con-
troll production and regulate the output
in the pub ic market, they could, in COM
mon 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 established trade system is to
L. L .-,:k
at which food supply can be produced
soil, season and climate. Now, in order
to avert impending ruin, we must reverse
this order by substituting a new system,
fixing the price of farm products at the
cost of production on lands that produce
only thirty fold.
This will restore the natural law of
exchange with equal and exact justice to
all. In other words, the difference be-
tween the present trade structure and the
system proposed is. the one tends to the
min imum price that food supply can
be obtained without checking production,
while the other seeks the maximum
price that food supply can be
sold for without diminishing con-
sumption. The power to establish
the value of one bushel of Amer
lean w heat and one barrel of mess pork
can control the markets or the WOrid
This power is 10 be found in the c,ntr all
lied agercy of the fed rated farmers of
the Mississippi valley, company legally
chartered with capital stock Of S2O. 0OQ 900,
and, as our servant, this company awaits
your bidding to enter upon the work of
redemption"
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
permanent chairman; Walter N. Allen, of
Kansas. vice. president; G. Wilson. OF
Minnesota. secretary, and j. P. Lime
burner, of Kansas, assistant secretary.
Mr.. Robert Lindblom, of Chicago, spoke
briefly to the delegates, stating that he
sympathzed with them in their cause,
which he thought was good one.