The Globe-republican., 1889-10-30
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.

The Wheat Grower Convention Assem-
bles in st. Louis-walter n. Aliens Ad.
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 a long speech. He
said it was the first meeting of the kind
ever held on this continent I'VE arc not
here" be 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
feebIeness and the great Importance OF
unity of action as a class, we have been
called together to consider the proposition
20 delegate to a power OF our own crea-
ton, 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 in
terests of the Mississippi valley. The
farmer is the only producer who sends On
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.
fice the answer of the master is over pro-
duction. Over production can not, in
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 pubic 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
bring the price down to the lowest limit
at watch 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
thss 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
minimum price that food supply can
be obtained without checking production,
while the other seeks the maximum
price that a food supply can be
sold for without diminishing con.
sumption. The power to establish
the value of one bushel of Amer.
lean wheat and one barrel of mess pork
can control the markets Of the world
This power is to be found in the c.ntr al.
ICED agency of the fed rated farmers of
the Mississippi valley, a company legally
chartered with capital stock Of $50. 600 600,
and, as your 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
Izging unity of action and organization
o: the farmers throughout all the grain
growing States.
Hon. Norman j. Colman, of Missouri
ex-S.cretary of Agriculture, was made
permanent chairman; Walter N. Allen, of
Kansas vice-president; q G. Wilson. of
Minnesota. secretary, and j. P. Lime
burner, of Kansas, assistant secretary.
Mr. Robert Lindb!om, of Chicago, spoke
briefly to the delegates, stating that he
sympathized with them in their cause,
which he thought was a good one.