Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-29

nation has been gained from tacir
discussions of disease and its treat
ment, and we can trust our lives in
the hands of our physicians with
greater safety as a consequence.
And We have learned To our cost that
they have also been able to secure
much greater rewards for their time
and services than before the found
alton of these associations; SO much
so that ] believe the farmers would
do well to linger along few more
years, then die a natural death, as a
mere matter of economy.
We also observe that he members
of our bar association have braced
each other up, so that the price they
fix upon their services is frequently
limited only by the amount which a
client possesses. Indeed, | imagine
that some of them occasionally feel
grieved because the client has not
been more Industrious and economi-
cal i'll his past life, so that their dis
tinguished services might be more
appropriately rewarded. Nothing
but the earth, and the fullness thereof
will satisfy some of them.
As the curtain rises, we can gaze
into the business world and see com
binations everywhere, each intent up.
on advancing the financial interests
of its members. We have the assoc
iations of iron men, dentists, millers,
butchers, bakers, and boards of trade,
chambers of commerce, and pools
among transportation companies;
and last of all, the association of fun
eral directors, who have combined
together to take one final whack at
us as we 90 to that bourne where
combinations are unknown.
We as farmers and citizens, are
more or less affected by these assoc
iations. 1t costs us more for pro-
fessional services, hardware, farm
impl ements, barbed wire, nails, dry
goods, and groceries, and for the
transportation of our crops; and we
get less flour for our wheat, less for
our produce of all kinds, because
others combine for mutual benefit
and we do not. Coming in contact
thus from the cradle to the grave
with associated power and schedule
prices, we have no choice and are
compelled to organize for self pro-
lection.
The question naturally arises how
can the farmers, even if organized,
protect themselves from these organ
izations of manufacturers and pro
fessional men? In many ways. If
implement makers combine to exact
unreasonable prices for their ma
chinery, farmers, if organized, can
combine and refuse to buy their
machinery until offered at more
reasonable price. The farmers can
much better afford to wait for year
or two than the manufacturers can.
This is often the ease especially with
new inventions, which are very often
put on the market at several times
their actual value. When farmers
are imposed upon by patent right
sharks, bohemian oats swindlers
who 90 about the country collecting
royalties (Which royalties the farmers
often pay without investigation
rather than risk lawsuit). a com
bination of farmers could bring the
matter to a test, and by uniting and
defending a single test case, save
thousands of dollars. This has been
done in many cases. In some instan
ces these swindlers, who had been
collecting royalties from farmers
whom they knew could no; individ-
ually risk a lawsuit, have left the
country on learning that the Grange
was going to make test case.
If professional men combine to OK
act unreasonable fees, farmers car
combine to prevent it. Remember
that we still have the right OF triai
by jury. and jury has the right tc
weigh testimony and refuse to give
verdict for fee that is manifestly
unreasonable, even if it be con
stables fee.
In organization there is much We
can do to develop agriculture. We
know more about our soil, how tc
maintain its fertility, or restore it il
lost; We must know what crops tC
grow and how to dispose of them
we must know what stock to keeI
and how to feed and care for them. Ii
studying these problems we can hell
each other very materially if W.
meet together for practical discus
sions and compare the results of GU
experiments.
We as farmers, bear more than GU
share of the public burdens. Farm
property is all visible and its valu,
easily ascertained, and is placed ubol
the duplicate at much nearest its tru'
value than other taxable property
The estimated value of merchandise,
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