The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-04
Farmers VS.. Trusts.

r..r,ors have. at last, begun to act to-
., -, the de ensive, says Hon. W. j.
sgartben in the Southern CutttUator. This
:. tho most hopeful sign of the times. Their
d -,,irad efforts against the bagging trust
h-oken down this Ubiquitous organiza-
and brought dreadful forbodings to
w. a-- none the less oppressive in their
operations -. ,
q nv no means past recovery, and
.hat negligence or inaction on the part OF
s.rr,ers NAV furnish another opportunity
-. al serious damage the next season. 1t
NV he the policy of the trust to run up its
-,bita flag and announce surrender, as the
Vs., has passed and no further gains are,
49,. now possible. In this way, they may
tan. TO divert the attention of
farmers from possible dangers,
.b.t they may have the oppor-
.,u;+v for more thorough organization and
totter success in the future. To defeat this
no.sible project, organized efforts should be
ss,rtinued to find cheap and suitable substi-
+,tes for iuUe bagging, SO that there can
t.no possible loss when the next season
en.,s In this warfare, and all others that
are 70 follow, differences as to organiza-
tions must not hinder, but all efforts should
be cooperative and united.
Only one trust has been attacked; there
ara others, even more hurtful The cotton
GOOD oil trust" following the example of the
,qtsndard oil trust" has made millions of
unr,ghteous money from one of the best
,rodncts of southern farms. There is
mine of wealth in the cotton seed of the
south. Year after year they are carted
from our fields, at less than half their
value. to enrich others, who
have united their means and their
efforts to prevent the just valuation
If our products. 1t is for farmers to say
whether or not this trust shall stand. Farm
ers cannot build oil mills, as yet, to make
the most of this product, but they can
withhold their seed, under united action,
until thew are offered full value in the mar
ket
Underlying this suggestion, there is a
business principle that might be profitably
applied in other instances. Farmers should
make LUeIilS6 YES dDLG W GOuOlOl pAICcS
of their own products. They are too much
inclined to take what is rendered them, and
too little inclined to contend for the value
Of their products. The profits, to these or
CARNATIONS and, therefore, the drain made
upon farmers are enormous. The sugar
trust, of which we, probably, hear less than
any other, made, over and above their fair
and legitimate profits, in the season of 1887.
$S0O0,000 The STANDARD oil trust" under
the power they control, that cuts both
ways, has amassed money beyond computa-
sion, and the individuals comprising the
organization are, actually, at u loss to de-
terniue means for its use.
All these ill-gotten gains are making bar
ren our fields; drying up the resources of
legitimate wealth and weakening the very
best elements of our strength. The times
demand united, dete mined action on the
part of farmers. Individual opinions must
be surrendered to the agreed policy of the
majority, and all of us working together,
must seek to recover southern agriculture to
the independence and power it deserves. If
farmers will but rise to the possibilities now
in their power, they will be equal to the
emergency and the crisis in the history of
our oppression will be passed.