The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-04-09
1For THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER.
SOME OF THE ILLS WHICH AT
FLICT THE AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRY AND OPPRESS
THE FARMERS.
No. 4.
[By Maj. R. L. Ragland, of Hyco, Val
MIDDLE-MEN.

MIDDLE-MEN.
One of the misfortunes which has
fallen upon the agriculturists during
the second half of the nineteenth CEN
tury, is the multiplication of middle
men. The producers of domestic,
field, horticultural and other products
are treated in the most patronizing
manner, and virtually informed that
they have neither sense nor capacity
sufficient to superintend the sales or
placing of their products; and capital
lists, acting also in the capacity of
middle-men, encourage agents, brok-
ers, commission merchants, factors,
bummers, canvassers, dealers, drum
mers, peddlers, pin-hookers, specula-
tors; sharpers, traders and traf6cers,
to multiply and fatten upon the sub
stance of producers.
That there is necessity and use for
middle-men, in some business depart
ments, is conceded. The regular mer-
chant who keeps general stock of
goods to supply the wants of
the people in furnishing such sup
plies as are needed in exchange
for money or the products of
the country, is transacting neces-
sary and laudable business and should
be encouraged, so long as he deals
fairly and justly with his customers.
The agent, broker, commission mer-
chant and dealer are needed, too in
their legitimate Spheres and should be
encouraged when they can serve the
producer and guard his interest.
The trouble is, there are too many
middle-men who manage to secure far
better pay for their services in hand
ling products than the producer does
for his labor and expenditure in rails
ing them. Middle-men are necessary,
but not the hordes that are swarming
around like the hungry flies around
the poor dog in the fable. -~ss4
We do not entertain the opinion
that any industry can make itself in
dependent, or transact properly or
proftably all the business necessary in
a well-ordered community. A proper
division of labor is necessary to
well balanced society, and the producer
should patronize the merchant, smith,
shoemaker. tanner, miller, carpenter,
painter, wagon maker, plow and farm
implement manufacturer, etc, or take
stock in such as are most needed in
the community and likely to prove
profitable, or patronize such as offer
reasonably low rates for the aggre-
gate patronage of the farmers of the
vicinity. If such action was general,
a great saving would enure to the
farmers of the whole country.
In order to better control the sale
of products, it is legitimate and proper
for the owners of products to combine
and conduct warehouses for their
sale, to unite in the purchase or man
ufacture of fertilizers, and in securing
reasonable concessions in the purchase
of necessaries at a specific discount
from regular retail rates, or a per cent
age above cost, from the general mer
chants, fair and just to seller and
buyer.
CO-OPERATTvE STORES
have not proved success to any ex-
tent in the United States, and as long
as regular merchants are willing to
concede fair prices where the patron
age is made large and certain in the
aggregate, it seems unnecessary for
farmers to engage in regular merchan-
dizing. In the present condition OF
society and organized business, mid
dle-men, as before stated, are neces-
sary; but it is not necessary that they
should have all the profits.
MIDDLE COTTON MEN.
l. is notorious, that middle-men in
the cotton trade, as warehousemen and
factors are and have for years been
making big fortunes, erecting i'm
mense warehouses and congresses,
building palatial residences, driving
spanking teams to princely carriages,
and employing small armies Of weigh
ers, samplers, clerks, draymen and
laborers on big salaries or wages, while
the poor planters realize but a scant
pittance above the cost of making the
crop, and~are often forced to sell for
less than the cost of production, clos
ing the years labors in worse condi-
tion financially and physically than
when we started.
MIDDLE TOBACCO MEN.
Go to every tobacco town in Vir-
ginia and North Carolina, and among
the first gigantic and costly buildings
which attract the attention of the
visitor are the spacious sales tobacco
warehouses. Go into one of these
modern tobacco marts and see the
number of warehousemen, weighers,
auctioneers. clerks. canvassers, labor